The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-01-31

From the New Esgland Magazine.
ALEGEND or CHRISTMAS EVE.
shall tell you
A PROMISING tale il may be you have heard II, |
But since il serves my purpose, will venture
To scale I little moro. = Coriolanns.
The coniuror sat at his books. The vari.
| Gus utensils of his art were scattered around
him--a horoscope, globe, astfolabe, and quad
rant. cad huge volumes of mysterious char
actes and an unknown tongue. He was an
adept in. the black art, shrewdIy conversant
with whatever might excite the superstition
of the credulous, and usually made his calcu-
ations with a sagacity that bafiled detection.
The o.d man was poring over one OF these
tones, when he raised his keen gray eyefrom
the volume as the door opened, and stranger
presented himself. He was Of small stature,
ajtired in rustic garb his 'visage thin and
lwrinkled, and his little black eyes hardly sep
arated by an attenuated apology for anose.
as IL hestating how to address the man OF
forbidden knowledge.
"He that would consult the stars" said the
coniuror, 'must view them in mirror OF SILL
YER; the book Of fate is sealed to him who
comes empty handed" =,
| At this hint, the stranger drew from ms
pocket we'll worn purse OF heart-case, ana
lingering the contents Of the bag, Deposited
few small coins in the.palm Of the conjaror.
al would know !" said be. .if she.e rs money
hurried on tho s.~av island down the f'ver r.
Il He ofthe horoscope opened one of the huge
volumes of mystery, and began slowly turning
the leaves with great care. Apparently un-
satisfied he handled the astrolabe fof few
+ miautes, and at length fell to figuring with
earnestpess.
sThere is gold there which may not be
touched by mortal hands," said he, suspend
ling his calculations sit is the charmed treas
Iure of the pirate"
II dresmed It'll dreamed it ~ said the
visitor, leaning towards the table and casting
la furtve glance at the salisman "but Is there
no way-have you not power to disencbant
lit ?--where is it buried ?"
The geomancer drew his wand over cycle
!; inscribed with the characters OF the heavens
. land again turned the leaves ofthe mysterious
volume. At length he began muttering,-
|"Seventeen hundred and--Saturn ascendant
.l-Arcurus 2lares like crescent, and Booses
lis grim with blood. Enough there was q
murder when the chest was buried, and the
Esprit Of the dead watches the gold"
Thore was q convulsive movement IN the
features Of the stranger, and his little black
leyes for q moment cleaned with an expression
of horror. 1t soon gave way to the all-absorb.
lag passion Of his being. aii
: "But where 10 il buried ?" he vepeated.
! "On the south end of the island. Some
lrods from the water stands an old elm alono
On the fifteenth day of the moon, at midnight
it's shadows will fall directly on the iron chest
Measure Eve PAGES from the roots, and at the
shadow Of the junction Of great western
} limb with the trunk Of the tree, dig for yopl
/, fe.--You will see and hcar. what would appa
boIdor man, but speak nevor word The
I moment human voice is heard the spell IL
] lbroken. II you succeed there is enough Il
make you nabob." ,.@
Another tribute was levied on the purse
2 1.-The visiter, who took leave in the confidence
! of success.
There was belief prevalent at that time
= among MANY Of the good people Of New
England, that the noted Kidd had in one o
y his cruises ascendsa the Connecticut, an,
: buried on its numerous islands, immens'
!. treasures Of the boarded booty. This belle
was strengthened by the confession of On oil
u African, who declared On his death bed tha
he had been employed ia the capacity Of cool
. on board the piratical vessel; and whose in
lcoherent answers to the eager interrogation
w s"vSS "ho outtvcu uHtus CounbU1co ouuo
dark hints, he had thrown previously. HI
cvon pointed out this island in question, q
1.-THE repository Of the treasures Of Spanis
gallcon he had seen plundered and burned
but whispered with a shudder, that the depo
Isite was guarded by the ghost ofths butcher
ed bostswain. The effects Of this story o
those who FASTENED to be rich were sstoDish
ling.
mot q soul Ia
Bot felt fever ofths mad"
Many were the sdventurers who baunte
this new El Dorado, and fearful were the peril
they were reported to have encountered I
their search for the unhsllowed hoard. tn
lsnbstsnce Of the present legend formed tn
subject Of . fire side tale, which tho writer 4
his boyhood, heard Of a long winter evening
rccounsed BY the identical hero ofthe adven
lture, snd Who was introduced 10 lhc reade
In bic interview with the conjuror. The lat
ter was none ether than the celebrated NEGRO
msnesr, Bsllou; and the OLD esntIsnsn neye
leoncIuded the story without remsskioe, wit
lgSest soIemnity, that shortly amer THE event
q nj kn a. ~.s.s I.~1 n -.