The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1850-02-22
The Waltz of the wolves.

woods along Leaf River, louisiana A year
or two since, a wedding being about to "come
oil" there it was necessary to send some 4
twelve miles for an old nigger fiddler" who
was indispensable at every frolic, quiltin', or
house raising forty miles round A wild, hill
", unsettled country lay between. In the
mean time the company gathered, the squire
performed the ceremony, the groom had ia
ken half dozen ''horns" with his particular
friends, and the jests at his expense had all
been perpetrated and laughed at The bride
and the young ladies sat ranged round the
room. like so many statues pinned to the wall. |
The bashtul gallants stood outside, about the
door and windows, anxious TO be in, but re-
Iuctant to approach, and urging each other to
break the ice"
The Squire and knot of old 'uns were
talking politics. and, as the evening was warm
guzzling every ten minutes from a huge
| hump shouldered, short-necked, four-sided
bottle, several of which might be seen on a
stump before the door, while score Of mat
rons in white caps and aprons, by the blaze
OF light-wood torches were busting about the
supper-table in an adjoining house. Atlength
the girls began to yawn. The pretty bride
herself grew drowsy. A scra ping OBJECT was
heard in the gallery. and one or two impatient
young bucks commenced shutting" cracked
their heels together, and cutting the pigeon
wing" Still no fiddler came. Hour after
hour rolled by-supper was deferred-the
drinks came faster aud stronger-the yawn-
ling more frequent among the ladies-the talk
ling louder among the gentlemen around the
stump, and yet odd john was not forth
looming.
AS the night wore on, and the seven stars
were high in the heavens, the impotence Of
the company became unbounded. and it was
suggested that he should be sent for A we'd
ding without fiduler was not considered law
Eful, and the Squire swore there should be no
r .'greasy doings" or chicken fxins' till old
John came. The idea flashed across them
that perhaps he had been beset by wolves
, No sooner was this thought of, than half do
zen young fellows mounted and ga!loped
: downtae path that led to the forest About
? four miles distant stood a waste house, and as
they approac he'd it, an Internal bowling was
heard, and now and then amidst the din the
squeaking ofa fiddle The old place had long
been reported to be 'haunted" One moment
0 the boys listened with surprise. The howl OF
a single wolf had no terrors for them, but the
diabolical serenade from a Dozen and the
twanging of the catguTin that dark old house
t Davy Crockett himself couldn't have stood il
a so they turned tail'' and "cut dirt' for the
1 place they came from, and reported that the
devil had nabbed old John; and was then a
the haunted house, dancing a break dowr
with gang ofshe- wolves for his partners
So wonderful a story, supported by sundry
n emphatic oaths, threw everything into con
fusion. The young ladies didn't quit go into
'duck fiji" but they exchanged mysterious
$ looks, and gathered round a withered old wo
r man, whose voice sunk into whisper as sht
a related strange tales of that deserted dwelling
The squire, the oracle of the settlement, dis
credited the story. He took a pig drink anC
u insinuated that the boys had tipped the bot
e tie once too often before they set out, and
roundly swore that he 'wouId face all the
wolves in Leaf river, and all the devils il
hi, ii the company would back himi"
n A horn all round was taken on the strength
S. of this speech, and in few minutes, the mel
r were all en- rOWte for the scene of action
! They rode on IN great glee for Il mile or two
but gradually lapsed into silence, and at length
e the vol chorus came floating on the breeze
and then the sharp notes of Il fiddle were dis
tinctly heard. The horsemen dsmounled
and crept on cautiously, concealed by the
bushes: toward the haunted cabin. At tina
moment tee moon burst forth, and within thu
is building, might be seen the old fiddler, posec
k in the air, playing Virginia reel. while
; crowd OF wolves, or demons. were leaping
bounding ndhowling to the music A coun
re Gil was called. The company, satisfied tina
is 1T really was the devil, voted an immediate
,e retreat, but the Squire jcrked out his prayer
:; book and swOre he would run his nos,
:" through the chinks, if every man scringeC
IS from him." He started forward. with b0ol
he in hand, while two Others half afraid anC
Is half ashamed, dropped into line. The neare
- he got, the louder and more devoutedly h'
~ spoke. The bowling became terrific; tn,
d idding grew sharper, and suddenly the diI
al and yell rose to such a tremendous key tina
IL human nature couldn't stand it. The lint
n paused, then broke in every direction, and tn,
;, Squire, shouting 'deviI take the hindmost,
mounted his ''singecat," and was the first II
n carry the word to the ladies. There was NJ
u sleeping that night. The rose leaf on thu
al brides check paled away; the jessamin,
dropped on her raven locks, though nourisheC
by the sigh that came ever and anon from
her gentle bosom. The groom sat by, clasp
= ing her velvet hands, and gazing with long
al fond looks into her lustrous eyes
: At length day came, and more haggard. dis
u appointed set Was never seen. 1t was deter
t mined once more to repair to the fatal spot
lie There was clear sky and sparkling breeze
They road boldly forward There stood thu
house. The tumult was as loud as ever 4
ie dozen wolves leaped up and down pantin!
. for breath, their eyes red and fiery, thei
70 tails switching furiousIy and there, on tn
~ Joist was perched-not the devil-but oil
John himself!
I? The story is soon explained. He had Sc
y ont rather late IN the Oreredinr evenino