Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1828-08-09
From the London Magazine
THE GERMAN GIRRFT'

n tut thou art all cc thy kindness eezesRIcHAnp III
IL was evening, towards the latter end of au.
| tumn, when the warmth of the mid-day sun re-
MINDS us OF the summer just gone, and the cool
ness OF the evening plainly assures that winter
Is last approaching; L was proceeding homewa
on horseback, fortified by strong great coat
against the weather without, and refreshed with
grass OF eau de vie, that might feel equally secure
within. My road lay for some time along an ex-
tensive PLAIN at the extremity of which there rose
small and thickly overspreading wood which the
ROAD skirted for some distance: and on slight
emlnence, at an angle where the last rays of the
setting sun threw their CLEAN across the path,
were suspended the remains of maefactor in
Shains. they had been hanging there at least
ten years; the whole Of the flesh was consumed
and here and there, where the coarse dark cloth
IN which the figure had been wrapped had decay
ed, the bones, bleached by the weather, protrudod
confess am rather supersttous, and certain
~ dld push on, in order that, if possible I might
pass the place before the sun should have set: to
accomplish which L afterwards increased into
haid gailop. The sun, however had set, and the
t"iilght was last changing into darkness as rode
up. could not keep my eyes off the spot, for
the flgure swung slowly backwards and forwards.
accompanied by the low harsh creaking of the
irons, as 1t moved to the breeze.
What with exertion, and NAV add fear or
something very like it, the perspiraton fell in
large drops from my forehead, and nearly blinded
me, so that L could not refrain from imagining
mat the white bony arm (hand il had not) of the
hgure, relieved against the dark wood behind
was reckoning to me, as it waved in the wind
On passing 1t, put my horse to full speed, and
uiu not once check bis pace, or look around I'M
til left the German Gibbet (or so it was calledO
good mile behind
1t was now fine, clear, moonlight night. and
had not gone far when | heard the sound of
morse feet at little distance behind, and about
the same time began to feel myself unusually cold
buttcned up my coat but that did not make
much difference; | took a large comforter from
my pocket, and put it round my neck / felt still
colder; and urging my horse forward, I hoped
That exercise would warm me; but no, / was still
cold. However fast gallopped, | still heard the
sound OF horses feet behind, at apparently lust
the same distance, and though looked around
several times, i could not see living soul The
sound got faster and faster, nearer and nearer.
Till at last small grey pony trotted up, on which
sat tell, thin, melancholy looking man, with
long pointed nose and dull heavy eyelids, which
hung so low, that at first he appeared to be asleep
His countenance, which was extremely pale and
cadaverous, was oyershadowed by quantity Of
long thin white hair, which hung down to his
shoulders. tie was dressed in thin white Jack
ct, which he wore open, white fustan trowsers,
White nat, his shirt collar open, and no cravat
round his neck!
we rode for some time side by side, the stran-
ger never once turning round, or lifting up his
eyes TO look at me; could not help regarding
him intenHy, until my eyes ached with the cold
was obliged every now and then to let 90 the
relDs TO blow my fingers, which l thought would
drop OH and, on touching my horse, found he