Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1850-01-09

,
with this Difference perhaps: it is told
better. we think. by the Delta" than he
narrated it, Ed. Pal.
From the New Orleans Delta.
THE WALTZ OF THE WOLVES.
Wolves abound in the waste and desc
late woods along Leaf River Louisiana.
\ year or two since. wedding beng
about to .'come off, there. il was neces-
sary to send some twelve miles for an old
..nigger fiddler who was Indispensable
at every frolic. qultin'. or houSe-rasing
forty miles round. wild billy, unsettled
country lay between. In the mean time
the company gathered. the Squire per-
formed the ceremony, the groom had taken
half dozen ''horns' with his particular
friends, and the jests at his expense had
all been perpetrated and laughed dt. The
bride and the young ladies sat ranged
round the room. like SO many statues
pinned to the walls. The bashful gallants
stood outside, about the door and windows,
anxious to be in, but reluctant to approach,
and urging each other to ..break the ice."
The Squire. and knot of old 'uns,
were taking politics, and as the evening
was warm, guzzling, every ten minutes,
from huge hump -shouldered, short
necked, four sided bottle. several Of which
might be seen on stump before the door,
while score Of matrons in white caps
and aprons, bv the blaze of light
torches were bustlng about the supper
table in an adjoining house. At length
the girls began toyawn. The pretty bride
herself grew drowsy. \ scraping Of feet
was heard in the gallery, and one or two
impatient young bucks commenced ''shuf
fling" cracking their heels together, and
cutting the ''pigeon wing Still no fd-
dIer came. Hour after hour rolled by
supper was deferred-the drinks came
faster and stonger. the yawning more fire.
quent among the ladics-the talking louder
among the gentlemen around the stump,
and yet"OM Joha." was not forthcoming.
As the night wore on, and the seven stars
were high in the heavens, the impatience
Of the company became unbounded. and
it was suggested that he should be sent
for. \ wedding without a fiddler was not
considered lawful, and the Squire swore
that there should be no ''greasy doings''
or 'chicken fixins' till old John came.
The idea flashed across them that, per-
haps he had been bcset by wolves. No
dozen young fellows mounted, and gal
loped down the path that led to the forest
About four miles distant stood waste
house, and as they approached it, an in
fernal howling was heard, and now and
then. amidst the din, the squeaking of a
fiddle. The old place had long been re-
ported 70 be .haunted" One moment
the boys lstned with surprise. The howl
of single wolf had no terrors for them
but the diabolical serenade from dozen,
and the twanging Of the catgut in tina,
dark old house, Davy Crockett himself
couldn't have stood it, so they '.turned
'ais'' and ''cut dirt for the place they
came from. and reported that the devil had
nabbed old John. and was then at the
haunted house. dancing break down
with gang of shewolves for his partners!
So wonderful a story. supported by sundry
emphatic oaths. threw every thing into
confusion The young ladies didn't quite
go into ''duck fits but they exchanged
mysterious looks. and gathered round a
wlthered old woman, whose voice sank
into a whisper as she related strange tales
Of that deserted dwelling. The Squire
the oracle Of the settlement. discredited
the story. lie took big drink and in.
sinuated that the boys had tipped the
bottle once too often before they set out
and roundly swore that he ''would face al
the wolves on Leaf river, if the company
would back him.
4 horn was taken all round on the
strength of this speech. and in few
minutes the men were all en- route for tn.
scene of action. They rode on in grea
glee for mile or two. but gradually lapset
into silence. and at length the wolf choru
, came floating on the breeze, and then tn
sharp notes of a fiddle were distinct,
heard The horsemen dismounted, AM
crept on cautiously, concealed by tn
bushes, towards the haunted cabin. A
that moment the moon burst forth. an
, within sfe building might be seen the oil
a fiddler. poised in the air. playing Vii
ginia reel, while crowd Of wolves, O
demons, were leaping. bounding an
: howling to the music! 4 council wa
. called. The company. satisfied that