The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-02-07

Z While the woman was feeding me, Boil
5 was eating his beefsteak. 1t was piece of
: meat that might have sufficed for six persons
but the man seemed as hungry as ifhe hac
not eaten anything for three days. He cuI
off wedges half as big as his fist, swallowed
| them with ravenous eagerness, and instead
of bread bit into some unpeeled potatoes
All this was washed down with glass after
glass of raw spirits, which had the effect of
Weakening him up, and infusing a certain de-
gree ofcheerfulness into his strange humor.
He still spoke more 10 himself than johnny,
but his recollections seemed agreeable; he
nodded selEapprovingly,an sometimes laugh
ed aloud. AT last he began to abuse Johnny,
for beng, as he said, such a snealing, cow
ardly tellow-such treacherous, falsc-heart-
ed gallows-bird.
Its true, said he, 4 am gallows-bird e.
nough myself, but then Pm open, andn no man
can say Pm a-teard; but Johnny, Johnny,
who'-
/ do not know what he was about TO say,
for johnny sprang towards him, and placed
both hands over his mouth, receiving blow
i'll return that Knocked him as far as the door,
through which lie ret Gated cursing and grum
bling.
| soon fell asleep again, and whilst in that
state ] had n confused sort of consciousness
ofvarious noises in the room, loud words,
blows and shouting. Wearicd asI was, how
ever, | believe no noise would have reused
me fully, although hunger at last did.
When opened my eyes saw the mulatto
woman sitting by my bed and keeping off
the mosquitoes. She brought HE the remain
der of tie soup, and promised, if | would
sleep II couple ofhours more, TO bring me
beetstenk. Before the two hours had elapsed
lawoke, hungrier than even After ! had
eaten I'LL the beetsteull the woman would al
low ne, which was very moderate quantity,
she brought ne II heer-glass full OF the most
delicious punch ever tasted. ] asked her
where she had got the rum and lemons, and
she told me it was she who he'd bought them,
as well as Il stock ofcCfiee and tea; that John
ny was her partner, but that he had done
nothing hut build the house, and badly built
it was. She then began TO abuse Johnny, u
said he was II gamblers AID worse STILL tlut
he had had plenty of money once, but had
lost il ALL that she had first known him in
Lower Natchez, but he had been obliged 10
run away from there in the night 10 save bis
neck. Bob was 30 better,she said; OH the
contTary-und here she made Il gesture OF
cutting mans ilmoat-hc was very bad
fellow, she added. lie Lad got drunk after
his dinner, knocked johnny down, and brok-
Ell every thing. He was now lying asleep
outside The door; and Johnny had hidden
himself somewhere.
How long she continued speaking / know
not, Tor again fell into deep sleep, which
this time lasted six or scven hours.
was awakened by "A strong grasp laid up
OH my arm, which made me cry Uut, more,
however, from surprise than pain. Bob stood
by my bedside; the traces OF the reccding
nights dchauch plainly written on lis lag
gard countcuancc. His bloodShot eyes we've
infiaued and swollen, ard rolled with even
more tun their usual wldness: his mouth
was open, and the jaws stiff ard fixed; lie
looked as if lac hid just come from commit
ting some frightful deed. could fancy the
first murderer TO have worn such an aspect
wien gazing On the slaughtered brother. II
shrunll back, horror struck al his appearance.
'ln Gods name, man, what do you want"
lie made 10 reply.
You are in fever. You've the aguen
Ay, Il fever groGlcd lie, slIiveriug aa he
spoke but not the one you mean; fever,
' Dung man, such rs God keep you from ever
having
His whole frame shuddtred as lie uttered
these words. There was short pausc.
Curious that continued he; 1Ne served |
more than one III the sume way, hut never |
thought Off afterwards Was forgotten in
less than nothue. Got 10 pay Tie whole
score at orce, ! suppose. Can't rest min
UiS III lilt open llull IL IL 'ht hbi''' 'hSAN
stands the old man, 80 plain, with his silver
beard, and the spectre just behird HIM
His eyes rolled, he clenchtd his fits, and,
striking his forehead furiously, rushed out Of
the hut.
IN few minutes he returned, apparently |
more composed, and walked snaght up to
my bed.
Stranger, you must 90 me a service said
he abruptly.
Ten rather than ono,' replied ]; anything !
in my power. Do ] not owr You my liie?'
You are gentleman, | sec, and n Chris
TAM You must come with me 10 the squire
the Acado.'
TO the Alcalle, mun VIVA: must l go
there lor?'
You'll see and hear when you get there;
Ive something TO tell him-sometlling for
his own ear
He drew deep breath, and remained ST.
lent for short time, gazing anNously on all
sides of him.
Something whispered he, that nobody
else must hear
But there's Johnny there. Why not take
him?'
JOHNNY said he, with scolhfIl laugh;
johnny. WHO'S ten times worse than | am,
bad as l be; and bad am to be sure, but yet
open and above board, always till this time;
but johnny! he'd sell his own mother. He's
a cowardly, snekin', treucherous hound, is
johnny - ...
1t was unnecessary TO tell ne this, for
character was written plain enough |
upon his countenance.
But why do you want inc to 20 to the Al
calder? N' '
why does one want people before the
Judge? He's Judge, man; a Mexican one
certainly, but chosen by us Americans; aud |
m, Am hinnsnE ns Nnil and ME,