Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1844-01-11
From the OH North State.
"rHE Old GRAN E. "

4
there lived 10 Perquimans, jolly old cod
ger, who by some means, bad obtained
the sobriquet of The OH Crane He
WAS a man in good easy circumstances
shrewd, enterprising, but would occasion.
ally have a roaring. rous ng spree. Our
story begins in Norfolk, where the Old
! Crime had been 10 dispose Of q drove al
attic, iogs. &C., and 10 exchange for
which h. had received $500 IN the hard
stuff. FEELING in the humor for lark, M
det rmined TO have It. So at It he vert
and for an entire week he enjoyed him.
self to his hearts content.
But pleasures are like peoples spread,
You seiEe the flower it's bloom is she'd
Our hero bad to get sober-and when
he began to collect his scattered senses,
he found that his $500 had disappeared
almost as mysteriously as his reas,n He
applied to every person likely 10 know
anything about it-but alas no iidings
could be heard oft, and his money was
never more TO greet his eyes.
10 despair the Old Crane started for
home. and in state OF mental stupefac.
ton, reached the Great Bridge--tfor at
the time of our story the Caral had not
been dug.) His appearance a, this time,
was by no means prepossessng-his per-
son was filthy; his linen had not been
changed for two weeks; his beard had
Re manned unshorn for the same length OF
time, and for the last two days he had
scarcely broken his st,--the whole out
ward man betokening one of the vagrant
tribe. While standing on the Bridge,
CT nsidering whether he should drown him.
self, runaway, or go home and t,ke
The cons quences with his 'sullen, sulky
dame, a young man rode up, and after
surveying him Tor minute or two, inquii.
ed # he was not conjurer?
The Old Crane seeing prospect Of at
least something 10 eat and nights lodg-
ing instantly answered that he was.
well, SAID the stranger, some person
has stolen all my silver ware, and # YOU
will discover the thief or the property, III
give you $50
The 0 Crane determined to make the
most of the adv' n,ure and repli. d Tint
he thought with moderate share of luck
he could discover The thief
The gentleman carried him home, and
it was soon no'sed among the negroes
that the master had brought home a con-
jurer to tell who stole the silver. Afer
supplying him with good supper the
host conducted him to room. where
alone he could perform his deviish incan.
taiions.
While considering in what way no
should get clear Of the scrape into which
he had involved himself, the Old Crane
heard sight tap at the door--he opened
it, an I a stout negro fellow slid quietly in.
The Old Crane demanded his business
'Why, sar, dey says you is conjurer,
and dat you is gwine 10 find out who stole
dem things from MASTER
Yes, it's true replied the Old Crane,
'and am now about to discover the thief. ,
The negro then informed the coniurer
that he knew who stole the slver--that
none oft had been sod--and if he would
promise mot to give up the thief, he would
res'oreit. The Old Crane gladly prom.
ised. The negro left the room. and in a
few moments return. with the silver,
and acknowledg d hmselfih thief Hsv
ing succe ded in COMPUTATION vond his
utmost expectations. the Old Crrne be-
took himself to bed and enjoyed good
nights rest.
In the morning the hos: entered the
room ard inquired 'what luck 2
oh ,olerable.' replied the conjurcr,
'look under the head Of nv he'd
The gentleman did look. and there
found all the m ssing articles. Noih,ng
could niure the OH Crane 10 TIL the
III, ans bv which he had obtained ,h.m--
he stouuy asserted that he hid got pos
session Of them by virtue ofhs au.
IL appears that most " The persons in
III" neIghborhood had idi uled the Young
O. n,eman On account 81 his opinions in
regard to witches. coniuratiou. &r.-and
ms this appeared most GLORIOUS triumph
OF the black sr,- nj beng considerably
elai,d by the recovery Of his prope riy, he
sent nut invitations To his neighhors 10
pnrtske nf a dinner with him. In due
tim" the guests assembed-thp o d Crane
was inirodured-and during dinner his
miraculous recovery of III" silver was IN"
th"me Of conv, rsa,on. Some became
converts, but most Of the company doubt.
ed the powers Of the coniurer, and more
than hunted that he had obtained a know.
ledge Of Hhrre the stolen property was
| deposited bv other than supernatural
means. The host who had drank rather
FRI ely, contended most siouilv that he
was a coniurer ind no mistake, and to
show his implicit faith in tn" magca pow
ers Of The Old Crane offered 10 bet any
Of the company $500 that they might 90
one or two miles, shoot bird, tie it tight.
ly in bag, bring it to the house, and
without seeing the bag, his conjurer would
tell what bird it was.
The Old Crane advised him not to
make the bet, as il was impossible for him
| 10 tell.
% psha y replied the host, you can
tell easy enouah.--and if win the $500,
I'll give you half
The Old Crane again asserted that he
was unable to tell, and strongly protested
against the bet being made.
IN risk it, was the only response Of
the Young man.
One of the company took the bet-and
s.o hx. fr,apd