Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-11-07

4A" iioui olI0l "dluS WAS pursuing the 6amI
road, and rapidly approaching the end of my
days journey. The immediate district through
which | was travelling, had been settled BY
Germans in the early days of Pennsylvania
scattered community that had been thrown some
what In advance of the more slowly extended
settlements. In populousness and fertility it die
not compare with the regions on the eastern side
OF the mountains but the immense stone bars
which though few and far between occasionally
met the eye, not less than the language spoken
around me, indicated that the inhabitants were
OF the same origin of the ignorant but industri-
GUS denzens of the lower country. One Of
these stone buildings, an enormous edifce stood
upon a hill Immediately back of Wolfswald Ho-
tea miserable wooden hoveI where was to
pnss the highland while descending the hill
in the rear ofthe village, had leisure to observe
that 1t presented a somewhat different appear
ance from the other agricultural establishments
OF the kind which had met with during the
day. The massive walls which we're pierced
here and there with narrow windows, which
looked like loop-hoes, and clumsy chimney
had been fitted up by some unskiIlful mechanic
against one of the gables, with prodigalitv Of
materials which made its jagged top show like
some old turret, in the growing twilight. The
history of this grotesque mansion, as | subse-
quently learned it, was that of hundred Others
scattered over the country, and known generally
In the neighborhood as Smiths" to "Thomp-
sons folly" 1t had been commenced upon an
ambitious scale, by person whose means were
inadequate to its completion, and had been sac.
rlficed at public sale when half finished, in Or
der 10 liquidate the claims of the mechanics en-
ployed upon it, After that it had been used for
granary for while, and subsequently compile
ted without any reference to the original plan,
1t had been occupied as hotel for few years
The Iuinous inn had however, for a long period
been abandoned, and now enjoyed the general
reputation in the neighborhood of being haunt.
ed; tor the gibbons are always sure to take big
house off landlords hands, when he can get
no other tenant.
1--WE havt no room pfor mynheer," said mine
host' Peter Scmidtson, laying his hand on my
Drldle as rode up to the door of a cabaret near
'nlS Old building, while three or four wagoners.
smoking their pipes upon bench in front of the
mouse, gave grunt Of confirmation to the frank
AVo"ai OF Peter. was too old stager, how
ever to be summarily turned away from an inn
at such an hour; and throwing myself from nv
horse without further parley. IAalaaslsallA.sAs.s
- get 'sonie supper, and we would talk OF lodg-1
ing afterwards.
1t matters not how got through the evening
until the hour Of bedtime arrived. | had soon
ascertaned that every bed in the hostelrie was
really taken up, and that unless chose to share
his straw with one of the wagoncrs, who were
accustomed to sleep in their numbering vehicles,
there was no resource for me except to occupy
the lonely building which had first caught my
eye upon entering tine hamlet. Upon lnquiring
as to the accommodation it afforded, learned
that though long deserted, by any permanent
occupants,it was still occasionally ynotwithstand.
ing its evil reputation, resorted to by the passing
traveller, and that one or two of the rooms were
yet in good repair and partially furnished. The
good woman of the house, however, looked very
portentous when expressed my determination
to take up my abode for the night in the haunted
ruin-though she tried, Intellectually, to rouse
her sleeping husband to guide me thlther.-
Mine host had been luxuriating too freely on
some old Monongahela, brought by return
wagon from Wheeling, to heed the jogging of
his spouse, and was obliged to act as my own
gentleman usher.
The night was dark and gusty, as with my
saddle-bags in one hand, and stable lantern
in the other, sailed from the door of the caba-
ret, and struggled up the broken hill in its rear,
to gain my uninvlting place of rest. A rude
porch, which seemed long to have been uncon.
scious OF door, admitted me into the building,
and tracking my way with some difficulty thro'
long corridor, of which the floor appeared to
have been ripped up here and there, in order to
apply the boards 10 some other purpose, | came
to steep and narrow staircase without any bal
listers. Cautiously ascending, found myself
in large hall, which opened on the hillside a.
gainst which the house was built. 1t appeared
to be lighted by couple of windows onlv,
which were partially glazed in some places and
closed up in others by rough boards nailed a.
cross in lieu of shutters. 1t had evidently, how.
ever, judging from two or three ruinous pieces
of furniture, been inhabited. A heavy door,
whose oaken latch and hinges, being incapable
Of rust were still in good repair, admitted me
into into an a. ,ijJiniug chamber. This had eyi-
IDENTIFY been The dormtory of the establishment,
where the guests, after the gregarious and most
disagreeble fashion of our country, were wont
to be huddled together in one large room. The
waning moon, whose bright autumnal crescent
was just beglnaing to cast shadows above the
hills shone through high circular window full
into this apartment, and indicated comfortable
looking trucke bed at the farther end, before the
rays of my miserable lantern had shot beyond
the Threshold.
Upon approaching the pallet, observed some
indication Of that end of the apartment beino
still occasionally occupied. The heavy beamt
which traNGrsed the ceiling appeared to have
been recently whitewashed. There was a smal
piece of carpet on the floor beside the bed, anc
a decnpt table, and an armed chair whose burl,
body was Precariously supported upon three
legs, were holding an innocent trte.a tete in the
corner.
I've had rougher roosling-pace than this
thought |, as placed my lantern upon the table
and deposting my saddle-bags beneath it, be
gan to prepare myself for rest.
My light having now burnt low, was com
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