The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1845-06-19


pendant
doors creaked, and windows capped,
And nights foul bird, rook'd in the fpire,
Screamed loud"-
Amid the pealing OF the thunder. the
howIIng Of the tempest, and the roaring OF
the wild Atlantic, r. set 10 work,
whisting, however. this time, Old Huns
died, or some similar tune; and soon be-
came so much absorbed in his occupation
tina. he took no note of time" though
5usiIy engaged on other notes. And THE
CLOCK STRIKES TWELVE. 1t seems 10
HIN thai every toll calls up spirit. The
Storm increases the drarery and banners
were tapping; and low moaning sounds
seem 10 issue forth "from the low vaults,
the mansions of The dead" His whistle
gradually becomes minor, and very ada>
'gio, with q close Shake-bul hark what
shrek is ,hat2 Ii is followed by another!
and another ! LIS hair stands on
end bis whistle fains away in false ca.
dence; great drops OF perspiraton stand
on his forehead, and his candle fl'ckeTs in
its socket, and goes out! This was too
fearful As he crept 10 the stairs, with the
intention of making the best of his way
ou;, a blow in the face, from some spectral
hand, somewhat accelerated his pace and,
horror of horrors, Just as he opened the
door, the skirt of his coat was seized with
frantic energy oy an unseen hand J.
Il tore himself away, leaving the
skirt behind, banged the door after him,
and dashed out into the graveyard, fol-
lowed by the despairing shouts of the
spectres, and the wild hooking laughter
of iends.
In the pitchy darkness he los, his way,
and after stumbling over some ancient
tombstones, he had recourse TO his hands
and knees. In this attitude he pursued
his way for a considerable length OF time.
when a flash of Zig Ginning discovered to his
terrified vision, the vicinity Of The suicides
grace. He could see through the paIing
thn, it looked decomposed. fla ! then It's
tenant had indeed left it for his nocturnal
watch, and might be even now returning.
Here was a diIemma-lhere was no time
to lose; l. quickly resumed his
eccentric gymnastics in another direction,
and making use of the vehicles most in de-
mand, set out for home, at good round
rate; which home, tOrIorn, minus one coat
tail, plus sundry rents in his other gar
ments, (he consequences of aforesaid gym.
naslics,) and with firm belief in ghosts,
he reached as the old clock struck one.
Save to his wife, [who, of course was
blest with an anquaring mind) l.
said not word CT his adventure; for the
subject was too serious 10 mention; besides,
ghosts do not like to be made common
subject of conversation, so he went 10
church. Nothing could exceed in subs
!lmiry The effect OF the organ under his
command-the singing too, was exquisite,
all were enchanted Alter divine service,
the attention OF the assembled wise heads
was called 10 the fact, that robbery OF the
church had been attempted the night pres
vous, The sexton corrobora,ng The fact
with a stray coat-tail which he had found
fastened on a nail near the front door he
also had found lantern in the organ loft,
which the sacrilegious villains had p,oba
bly, left behind on some sudden alarm
Some of the windows were broken, but
whether by the robbers or the storm could
not be ascertained. Some OWLS feathers
were strewed around, aud dead bat was
lying near them. The blow Of bats
wing does very likely feel similar to that
of a spectral hand. l. held his
peace; and when he reached home, dark
ly limited that it might be as well to say
nothing of his last nights visit to the
church, particularly as the ghosts might
not like it,