New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-02-09
DAILY CRESCENT.
.. OFFICIAL JOURNAL
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE SECOND MUNICIPALITY.

OFFICIAL JOURNAL ...3
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE SECOND MUNICIPALITY.
From the Dublin University Magazine. ..
A Legend of the East Neuk of Fife.
1t was cold night in the March Of the year
17O8 The hour Of ten had tolled from the old
Gothic tower Of the Collegiate Church; beating
on his drum, the drummer i'll the livery OF the
burgh had proceeded from the Market-cross to
the ruins of St. David's Castle, and from thence
to the chapel of st. Rufus, and having made one
long roll or flourish at the point from whence
his peregrnation began, he adjourned to the
Ihane Of Fife to procure a dram, while the
good folks of Grail composed themselves for the
night, and the barring of doors and windows an
nounced that those who were within had re-
solved to make themselves comfortable and Sc
cure, while those unfortunate wights that were
without were likely to remain so.
Hollowly the German Sea was booming on the
rocks of the harbor; and from its hazy surface
u cold east wind swept over the fiat, bleak coast
of Grail; q star peeped at times between the fly
ing clouds, and even the moon looked forth once,
but Immediately veiled her face again, as if one
glance at the iron shore and barren scenery,
unenlivened by hedge or tree, were quite enough
to prevent her from looking again.
The town drummer had received his dram and
withdrawn, and Master Spiggot, the gudeman or
landlord Of the Thame Of Fife, the principal
tavern, and only inn OF hostel in the burgh, was
taking a last view Of the main street, and con-
sidering the propriety OF closing for the night.
1t was broad, spacious, and is still overlooked
by many tall and gable-ended mansion, whose
antique and massive aspect announces that, like
other Fifeshire burghs before the Union in the
preceding year, it had seen better days. Indeed,
the house then occupied by Master Spiggot him
self, and from which his sign bearing the pano-
piled Ihane at full gallop on caparisoned
steed swung creaking in the nigkt-wind, was
one of those ancient edifces, and in former days
had belonged to the provost of the adjoining
kirk: but this was Gas Spiggot saidD "in the
auld warld times o. the Papistrie.'
The gudeman shook his white head solemnly
and sadly, as he looked down the empty thorough
fare.
"There ,cas time he muttered, and paused.
Silent and desolate as any in the ruins of
Thebes, the street was half covered with weeds
and rank grass that grew between the stones
and Spiggot could see them waving in the dim
starlight. ..
Grail is an out-of the-way place. 1t is with
out thoroughfare and without trade; few leave
it and still fewer think of going there for there
one feels as if on the very verge of society; for
there, even by day, reigns monastic gloom, a
desertion, a melancholy, a uniform and voice
less silence, broken only by the croak of the
gleds and the cawing of the clamorous gulls
nesting on the old church tower, while the sea
booms necessarily as it rolls on rocky beach.
But there was time when it was otherwise; /;
when the hum of commerce rose around its
sculptured cross, and there was daily hustle
| in the chambers of it's Town-hall, for there a
| portly provost and bailies with battalion Of
seventeen corpulent councillors sat solemnly de-
| liberating on the affairs of the burgh and
| swelling with q municipal Importance that was
| felt throughout the whole East Neuk of Fife;
| for, in those days. the bearded Russ and red
! haired Dane, the Norwayer, and the Hollander,
| laden with merchandise, ftirled their sails in
| that deserted harbor, where now scarcely fish
erboat is seen; for on Grail, as on all sister
| towns along the coast, fell surely and heavily
the terrible blight of 1707, and now it is hasten
ing rapidly to insignifcance and decay.
| On the sad changes yearhad brought about,
| Spiggot pondered sadly, and was only reused
| from his dreamy mood by the sudden apparition
| OF a traveller on horseback standing before HIM
for long and SO soft the grass of the street
that his approach had been undeard by the
dreamer, whose mind was wandering after the
departed glories of the East Neuk.
GA cold night, landlord, for such | take yOr
to be-" said the stranger, in bold and Cheerful
voice, as he dismounted.
l. 60 A cauld night and dreary too,'' sighed
poor Boniface, as he bowed, and fastening tc
seize the strangers bridle buckled it to ring
at the door cheek; ''but the sicht of visitor
does guide to my heart; step in, sir. A warm
posset that was simmering in the parlor for my
self is at your SERVICE and I'll set the STALL boy
| to corn your beast and stable it,
81 thank you, gudeman; but for unharness-
| ing it matters not, as | must ride onward; but
| | will take the posset with thanks, for | am
chilled to death by my long ride along this misty
coast
| Spiggot looked intently at the traveller as he
stopped, and entering the low-arched dool
n which was surmounted by an old monastic le-
gend, trod into the bar with a heavy clanking
A stride, for he was accoutred with heavy jack
boots and gilded spurs. His rocquelaure was
of scarlet cloth, warmly furred, and the long
Il curls of his Families wig flowed over it. His
beaver was looped upon three sides with some
II thing of military air, and one long white
feather that adorned it, foated down his back
II for the dew was heavy on it. He was a hand
some man, about forty years Of age, well sun
! burned, with keen dark eye, and close-clippet
moustache, which indicated that he had served
, in foreign wars He threw his hat and long
] jeweled rapier aside, and on removing his roc
, quelaure, discovered white velvet coat NOR
richly covered with lace than any that Spiggo
/ had ever seen, even in the palmiest days o
7 Grail
j According to the fashion of Queen Anne
courtiers, it was without collar, to display tn
long white cravat Of point dEspagne, withou
cults, and edged from top to bottom with broa'
bars of lace, clasps and buttons of silver tn
whole length; being compressed at the waist b,
Il very ornamental belt fastened by large go
!. buckle.
"Your honor Gamma think of riding on to
night" urged Boniface; &c and if Crail-capo
! done just to perfection and a stoup of the bes
! wine, at least sccan wine as we get by the eas
1 seas, since that vile incorporating Union
''Vile and damnable! say l. interrupted tn
! stranger.
True for ye, sir said spiggot with a kin
| ding eye; &c but if these pur viands can Undue
ye to partake of the hospitality of my puir hos
Z tel, that like our guide burrowtoun is no jus
d what it has BEEN
/ 'Gudeman, tbs impossible, for I mnst ride s
| soon as I have imbibed thy posset.''
!, Gas ye please, sir-your honor's will be dom
Our guests are now, even as the visits of angel
arlco few and far between; and thus, when Oh
I comes, we are loath to part with him. There
y deep pitfall and an ugly gully hole where IL
I burn crosses the road at the town head, and if
: miss the path, the rocks by the beach are stee
+ and in Il night like this
\ '' Host of mine," laughed the traveller, 6
ii know right well every rood Of the way, and
ie keeping to the left near the Audlees may avo
10 both the backpit and the beach,
"Your honor kens the country hereawa then
said Spiggot with surprise
"Of old, perhaps, knew it as well as thee
-l.-.-