American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper., 1845-09-23

linenCt, NO IOUDtI uU SllCCtIu E'loS'S ''N'N
forth at the solemn hour of one, striking terror
into the guilty heart and discovering, by their
interference, the existence Of some long hidden
wrong. Ilobgobbns have become obsolete,
witches are numbered with the things that were;
even the visits of old cloote, himself have late
ly become so like "angels' riSitS," few and lar
between, that some sccptical individuals have
affected to doubt their occurrence all together;
nevertheless it is to be regretted that mankind
has not become a whit less naughty on that ac-
count. The more think upon the subject the
more do | feel inclined to come to the concln-
sion: that steamboats, hare spoiled poetry and Tdt
roads hare ruined romance; SO presumng that
every rejecting reader will agree with me,
drop the subject.
And now for the tale, which, if you do not
feel inclined to believe, dear reader, remember
that many men, who were and are yet, ac-
counted sufficiently wise, have believed more
wonderful things than these which am about
to tell.
About a which, as Il very vail
able distance, do not compromise my veraCl-
ty by naming-the said distance, as take 1t,
depending considerably on the force with which
the stone is thrown--about Il Stone-throw from
the place where was born, stood, and sup
pose stands, the ancient, tinc-Worn, hereditary
teudal castle Of the Marquis Of \. 1t
was fine specimen Of casteated Gothic arch-
lecture, with moat and draw-bridge all conf
plote, only that the time | speak Of, the former
was perfectly dry, and the latter would certain-
ly have required some repairing, to have ren-
dered it of any farther use than to walk over.
The building stood upon the summit of a
gentle hill, which slopcd down on three sides
into magnificent wood, and on the other was
/ bo,,doi k, knontt,l Sbppt nj which
always lay calm and smooth az mirror, ex-
cept when the southwestern winds came down
from the hills in autumn, breaking up It's CLASSY
bosom into waves, which have often, as lay
I under the shades of the trees that sklred the
banks compared to band of haXen headed
children let loose from school Of Il summer after
noon and sporting on the grassy lawn. The no.
! Bile owner had not for years honOred his place
with visit and no one seemed to harbor an idea
of the slightes, possibility of such thing, when
the ancient house keeper, and shortly after the
whole neighborhood, were thrown into fever
of excitement by note from the agent, one
bright August morning, conveying the un-
expected intelligence of the intention OF the
Marquis to spend the shooting season on his
domain Workmen Of every description were
instantly in demand-painters. carpenters, pa
per hangers, and in fact artizans of every sort,
were instantly at work in an endeavor TO mo-
dernise, as far as possible, the interior of the
building. Where all had for years lain quiet,
was now heard nothing but the NOISE OF tools
from morning till night, mingled at intervals
by the ca,c-cGcing from an enormous rookery,
which had from time immemorial been accu-
mulatng amid the venerable and dusky tur-
rets, and the ma estlc trees around. 1t was
the custom of the workmen, who were from
town some miles distant, to stay through the
week at the building, and return to their homes
at its close, leaving the place on Saturday
nights and Sundays to the care of such appren-
tices as they could prevail upon to stay
! These again were in the habit of inviting some
one or two of the youths around, to bear them
company, and as they generally made emPha-
tically "nght OF it" an invitation was ac-
counted 10 small favor.
was among the favored ones, aud it was
with no slight feeling Of qualification, and GER
tainly with large expectations OF fun, that on
a certain Saturday evening, in company with
another, a school fellow, found myself wlian
sight OF the castle, on my way to JON the par
ty who formed the watch for the night We
reached the place and found our friends, who
it happened were only two in number, just
waiting our coming as the signal for an attack
OIL very plentiful and inviting supper, winch
with no small skill they had themselves pre-
pared for the occasion. While we were dis
cussinr the good things, which can be III no
wav interesting TO the reader, will Just take
the opportunity for describing my companions,
and something of the interior Of the house to
which beg the attention of the reader. Both
our hosts in time gone by had been my school
mates, so | knew them well, they were free
5 hearted, careless fellows, with a spice OF dare
deviIishness in their composition, which rem
} dered them much better friends than enemies
Their names were Harry Stanly and Fred
} Parker. My companion from the village was
Of different stamp. Joe Wilson was as SIM
pie a country lad as one could well Ind III
summer days travel, His homely, sunburnt
: face, surmounted by shock OF red halr, was
generally devoid of any expression save one oi
honest simplicity, which, while II snDJectea
him mostly to the fire Of his comrades VIII: al
ways secured to him kind of friendly respect
All sly jokes at his expense he bore with sucn
exemplary patience as might have disarmed
any compassionate tormenters, but hls com
! panions were not often of this class, aud
wherever he went he seldom received much
mercy. Indeed, had occasion to believe that
: on the present occasion, he was invited for the
purpose of serving more as butt than any
thing else. If 1t were so-verlly he had his
revenge. So much for the party; and now for
the house.
The room in which we were sitting was stu
ated at one side of the great stairway, and had
in other days been occupied as a sort of SER
wants hall. There was a door opening from it
into the great hall, and one on a back stairway
: which led to sleeping rooms above. The great
stairway itself was magnificent affair; occu-
pyng more space, if cleared out, than would
} hold one of our modern built three story houses
entire, with room enough, beside. whereon to
stand and admire the architecture if you chose.
To this on the third floor the back stairway
Joined, from whence long entries went off in a IL
} directions on which the doors Of the several
chambers opened. The space at the bottom OF
the principal stairway was at that time filled