Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-02-24
sprung 10 my feet at the sudden repor, SC

sP'u"S " NY ioeS a. '"e suuuen TepoTt 50
near me.
Your gun must be FOUL said, resuming
my seat, very foul, to hang fire so long.
suppose she made flash in the pan when at
tempting to discharge her just before enter
ing
Stumpers looked vacantly at me, shook
his head, muttered something about he and
his mother being ruinated,' and then more
audibly said, Stranger, you may have more
book larnin than me, but tell we, onst for
all, that Satan's got into that gun y
And bang at that moment again went
the gun, as if to prove that his words were
sooth.
: This is, certainly, most extraordinary 1
exclaimed, as l rose to examine the gun for
myself.
You'd better not touch her, Stranger
cried Phillips.
g! tell you she's got Satan in her. re-
piled Hank.
looked at Dawson, enquiringly.
Fact! stranger, every word Of it.
Hanks not been able to get that gun off since
noon; but about hundred rod afore we
struck the clearing she begun firing of her
own accord, Just as you Sec
Bang !-Bang! went the gun.
Il told you that Satan was in her. said
Phillips, IN tone of solemn sadness-some-
times she'll not speak for matter often min
utes or so sometimes she gives two little
short barks like those and sometimes she
gives regular rip-snorter
(BANc Numbered the gun.)
like that
Il told you she'd got Satan in her !! still
repeated Hank.
I confess that it was now only the calm
ness of those around me which prevented
some feeling of superstitious terror being dis
agreeably awakened in me. The men, how
ever, seemed sad and awe-struck, rather
than alarmed while the woman-a thing
not uncommon with resolute minds disposed
to believe readily in the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
ed at once to accept the fearful solution Of
the mystery which had been proffercd to her,
and ready to meet it with an unflinching spir-
1t. Still, puzzled and bewdered as was,
l could not but smile at the manner in which
her emotions now manifested themselves.
We'll! ! she cried, impatiently, what a
poor skImp OF man you must be to let Sa-
tan get into the piece when you had her all
day in yer own Keeping
Ia skimp of man - answered her son
with spirit there is Mt another fellow in
these diggins who'd "a brought that gun home
as did, after he diskivered that SIGH goings
on were inside of her. And if she'd tell her
own story
Bang !-bang !-bang pealed the gun.
THAT'S Satan who speaks now
Bang--phizz--bang!
Its Satan, say, and no mistake. But
If she'd tell her own story she'd own never
let her go out of my hands this blessed day ;
save when Jackson Phillips tux Dawson's
piece and p1iee to watch for deer on the rum
away viii Ne went down the branch to see
1 if we could mt get big sucker or two for
supper out of the deep hole where cotched
so many fish last Fall. No if she'd speak
for herself
BANG Numbered the gun, with report
so tremendous that l Involuntary put my
hand to my ears.
Gin me the tongs--gim me them ere
tongs,' shouted Mrs. Stumpers in great wrath;
while Dawson turned pale, and even Phillips
seemed little disturbed as he muttered, if
the old thing should bust it might be bad
business for u.s.
Hank, however, doggedly handed his
mother The tongs; and before | could inter-
pose, or, indeed, before was aware what
the courageous woman was about to do, she
had grasped the gun with the tongs, near the
lock, and bearing it before her with strong
arm she moved toward the door. why
don't ye OPEN
Bang Observation-Disclosures!
-phis= !-bang! alternately pealed and
sputlered the gun but still the intrepid Vi
rago went on. l sprung 10 the door and
flung it wide before her.
The light from within was reflected upon
the hollow butlonwood trunk which formed
the curb of the well opposite, and in another
instant the gun was plunged to the bottom.
Thar ! said Mrs. Stumper, clapping the
tongs in true housewife fashion as she repa-
ced them in the chimney corner. Now one
can hear hisself talk without the bother of
SIGH a clatter.'
Bang! moaned the gun at the bottom of
the well.
Cant stop Satan that way, NANNY
said Hank, his stupid face sickying over with
an unhappy smile.
The mystery had now deepened to the
highest point of inlerest-that last discharge
was wholly unaccountabe- for my own
part, my curiosity was wound up to pitch
that was positively painful. l remembered,
though, the shattered bucket, and bethOught
myself of asking if there we're any water IN
the well.
About enough to come up to lizards
ear answered Hank but there's smart
chance of mud under it, tell ye, Stranger.
That old gun will keep sinking for week
YET
'She's stopped said Dawson.
YES answered Phillips. and we'd bet
ter fish her GU. before she sinks beyond our
reach
DO nj tell We Satan's in the gum cried
Hank almost furiously-' down-dOwn-
shell keep going down now ill he has her in
his own place all to himself l lost an axe
myself in that we'll onst, and il half that faith
er used to tell about it be true
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