Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-09-22
INSTALLATIONS
'Taxai fsLGODY HAND.
BY J. L. DOW, ESQ.

There is blood upon your hand, John,
said a tall, masculIne.ma woman, in a
nomespun dfess, as she swept up the
hearth of the solitary farm house, IN the
interior Of England, at the close OF cold
DEFENDERS day, in that year Is.
The person thus addressed, was an IRON
faced farmer, of about the middle size,
with dark eyes peepiDg underneath pair
Of shaggy eyebrows. His cheek was
flushed, as though old age had been cours.
ing like wild fire through his swollen
veins, and his brawny hand, as he looked
at the cot Of fresh blood that stained it,
seemed to have been made for a descen-
dant of Cam.
There is blood, said Brown, for such
was the mans name; but il is all off
now--bring me my supper.
The wilc-lor such was the first speak
er-looked him long and anxlousy in the
face. Horrid visions seemed TO be float
ing before her eyes, and murder almost
escaped from her compressed lips.
why, what in the name OF nature ails
the woman 2 said Brown, endeavoring,
by an ill-contrived laugh to silence her
fears. If the people go where sheep are
slaughtered, they must expect 10 get
bloody
'The blood Of sheep has not been on
your hand said his wife firmly. There
was melancholy looking man on the hill
to-day. lie had money and valuable
watch. He offered me piece OF gold to
direct him to the next village, and set his
watch by our clock. Have you seen the
stranger, John Z
The IRON features of the hardened hus-
band now contracted into fearful scowl.
Woman said he, what have to do
with travellers on the hillside Mind
your own affairs Then changing his
tone to sort of whine, he said, give
me my food, Meg. am cold and hun
CRY, and cannot joke with you any long
err
Joke with met said the poor wife, with
countenance agonlzed with horror,
God grant that il proves joke
The supper was now placed upon tbs la
bic. The farmer ate his food IN silence,
and then went to bed. In few moments
he was lost in deep, though terrible
sleep. Having seen every thing was
quiet, the good wife put on her hooded
cloak, and went out upon the lawp. II
was cold and cherries evening. The
hills seemed turned into misty shadows,
before the wand Of an enchanter, and the
waving tree tops seemed like the bosom
of the midnight deep. The bleak wind
howled sadly au2 amid tho elm trees by
the way side, and the bay of distant
watch dog came echoing up the vale
The unhappy wife followed the track OF
her husband about mile. She now was
startled by deep groan. Scanning mar
rowly the hill side, she perceived P lace
where some persons had apparently s!rug-
! oled together in a now.driit, and beyond
| a h,tle distance she beheld the melancholy
stranger whom she had directed on his
course several hours previous, lying upon
the ground with dreadful wound on his
| forehead. Browns wife was a strong and
resoIute woman. She raised the wound
cd man, and wiped the blood from his
eyes. Finding that life was no: extinct,
she bore him upon her shoulders to her
dwelling. Having laid him down in the
passage, she opened the kitchen door
where Brown was sleeping. His thick,
heavy breathing gave evidence that the
sleep of drunkenness was upon him. -
She carried the stranger through the
kitchen into little bed room, where she
usually retired when the abuse Of her bru-
tai companion became insupportable. AS