Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-06-13
PROVIDENCE.


have been well received by an indulgent pub
lick, and commended, we are urged on, and
propose giving our readers, tale of" Domes-
tic Fabric" when time and convenience
will admit of our doing so. II our original
stories have not pleased all, they have at
least found favour with few, and have been
frequently copied by our cotemporares; and in
almost every instance, those who have copied
them, have neglected TO give us the customa-
ry credit. But as we shall not set this day
apart, as /" a day of private griefs and lamen-
tations," we shall proceed to relate in our un-
lettered way, tale, founded on facts, which
occurred during the late war.
Sometime in the month of January lsl3, the
keeper of a country Inn, was reused from his
sumbers, by hoarse and unknown voice; and
on asking the usual question " who is there"
the speaker replied, am a benighted travel
Ter, an officer of the United States Army, and
having lost my way, beg that you will in
stantly let me in, for it is exceedingly cold and
stormy, and am almost perished.
The Innkeeper was one Of those suspicious
Jonathans, who are ready to doubt the integ-
rity of every man, save the Parish Clerk and
Curate; and lest he should be imposed upon,
informed the stranger, that he had frequent
ly suffered in consequence Of affording enter
tanment to benighted travellers, and before he
Il. L \
somo assurance, that ne was a man Of honor,
and capable Of defraying the incidental expen-
ses of the house. AS for that, said the trav-
eller, bring no credentials with me, save my
sword and commission, to prove my rank and
respectability, but if you need any assurance
of my being able to pay my bills, give you
this purse, which think will be found to con-
tain sum of money, fully equivalent to any
demands you can make for the trouble l may
cost you The inn-keeper, eagerly picked up
the purse from the ground, where it had been
Indignantly thrown by the traveller, and grasp
ing it with feelings, mingled with pride and de-
light, begged his guest to aight, and assured
him, that he was welcome to the "Black
Cow and that whatever it contained from the
hostess, down to the sculion, was at his SER
vice.
The north winds blew a chilling blast,
and the snow fell gently upon the earth, as the
inn-keepcr and stranger stood conversing; and
as the occasional glances of a half grown
moon, merged through the old grey Clouds"
of a winters night, mine host" started sud-
denly back, with amazement, and exclaimed,
" in the name God, tell me if thou art man
with ghosts and goblins; for by the life, thou
hast ghost or ghostess on yonder seat, of the
carriage! As the terrified inn-keeper closed his
speech, the figure in the carriage, which he
had mistaken for a ghost, burst into playful
laugh, and springing forward, clasped the
hands Of the soldier and the host, and with |
sylph-like step, glanced into the mansion, eav-
ing the keeper of the Black Cow, to enjoy the |
modification Of his mistake, and to mako the !
best apology he could to the soldier, for his |
rude and singular department
TIE traveller, having seen that his horses |
were properly provided for, repaired to the Inn;
and having room provided, accompanied by
the female, he repaired to it, and ordered some
refreshments There was something mysterious
in the manner of the strangers, which naturally
excited the curiosity Of the prudent host and I
hostess, and thoy avowed that as no body
could fathom the mystery that hung over
them, but the Parish Curate, he should be sent
for early in the morning; and in the mean
time they INDUCED in ten thousand ridiculous
and whimsical conjectures. For my part, said
the ho~ess, l do not half like these strange
travelling gcntlo-folks-and, continued she,
placing her hand upon the chm of her hus-
band, between you, /, and tho post, I'll
bet dozen of our spring pigs to black
cats tail, that the female is witch and the
soldier is a wizard Indeed" replied the
Host, 4" indeed my dear, if that be the case,
out of this house they go this instant But
when the good natured, hosptable man thought
Of the money lie had already got, and should
get, he wisely concluded it would be better
TO suffer the guests to remain, though they
were very devils incarnate. S
Refreshments having been provided for the
strangers, they were summoned to the supper i
-oom by Betty, the maid, who was a faithful il
good girl, and was always very particularly :
attentive to the commands Of gentlemen, and .
he often vowed that n afforded her the utmost .