The Democratic sentinel and Harrison County farmer. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1851-1852, 1852-04-21
The Grey Mare in the Garret.
A CURIOUS ENGLISH LEGHHD.

In the portal of the ancient church at Re-
culver, dedicated to the blessed Saint Mary
hung, many centuries ago. picture, the
portrait of certain Dame Mary Maycote
and her two children, of whom this singular
story is related The picture was covered
/ by curtain which she worked with her own
hands. The husband, Sir Cavalerro May.
cote was, in the year of grace ll4o. a rich
/ lburgomaster of the hOurishing city of Can
terbury; though he resided latterly in the
fair town of Reculver, living at the sign of
the Paroquet, in the Market Place. During
his lifetime, fearful plague desolated the
southwest quarter Of Kent, and amongst
others he fell sick; though his wife, Mary.
who also fell sick of the pest, never recover
ed, but to all appearance died. After the
usual period had elapsed she was buried in
the vaults of the church at Reeulver dedca-
ted to the blessed Saint Mary. She was bu-
ried, as the custom then was, with her Jew
Ieled rings on her fingers, and most of her
rich ornaments on her person. These temp
ted the cupidity OF the sexton of the church.
:, He argued with himself that they were ofno
use to the corpse; and he determined to pos
sess them. Accordingly, he proceeded in
the dead of the night, to the vault where
she lay inferred, and commenced the work
Iofsacrilegous spoilatiou. He first unscrewed
the coffin lid; he then removed it altogether
and proceeded to tear away the shroud
which interposed between him and his prey.
But what was his horror to perceive the.
corpse clasp hel hands together; and, finally.
to sit erect in the coffin. He was rooted to
the earth. The corpse made a move al :.
though it would step from its narrow bed.
lie fled, shrieking, through the vaults. Tho
corpse followed, its long white shroud float
ing like a mete r in the dim light ofthe lamp
which, in his haste he had forgotten. II
was not until he had reached his own door
that he had sufficient courage to look behind
him; and then, when he perceived no trace
of his pursuer, the excitement which had
sustained him so far subsidized, and he sank
senseless to the earth.
In the meanwhile, Sir Cavalierro May
cote who had slept scarcely minute since
The death of his dear departed wife, was sur.
prised by the voice of his old man servant.
who raped loudly at his chamber door, and
told him to awake and come forth, for that
his mistress had risen from the dead, and
was then at the gate of the courtyard.
"Bah! bah" said Sir Cavalierro, pettish-
ly; Ego thy ways, Jacob; thou art mad or
drunk, or thou art surely in dream. What
thou sayest is impossible. l should as soon
believe my old grey mare had got int the
garret, as that my wife was at the courtyard
gate
Trot; trot, trot, suddenly resounded high
over his head-trot, trot, trot.
/ " What's thar" asked he of Jacob.
81 know not" replied Jacob "and if itbs
not your old grey mare in the garret, Sir
Cavalierro"
They descended in haste to the courtyard
and looked up to the window of the attic.
Lo, and behold! there was, indeed, the grey
mare with her head poked out of the win
dow, gazing down with her great eyes on
her master and his man, and seeming to en-
Joy very much her exalted situation, and
theirsurprise and CONSERVATION at it. Knock,
knock, knock, went the rapper at the street
gate.
at is my mistress' exclaimed Jacob
''It is my wifeF' exclaimed Sir Cavalier
70 in the same breath
The door was quickly unfastened, and
veloped in her shroud.
"Are you alive or dead?" exclaimed the
astonished husband.
"Alive, my dear, but very eold," muir
INJURED the lady family, her teeth chattering
the while, as those of one in fever chill;
'help me to my chamber"
He caught her in his arms and covered
her with his,es; then he bore her to her
chamber, and called up the whole house to
: welcome and assist her. She suffered alittle
from fatigue and fright; but in few days
she was as well as could be expected under
all the circumstances.
The thing began to be the talk Of the
!, good town of Reculver and thousands flock
ed to see not alone the lady that was rescu-
ed from the grave in SO remarkable man
ner, but also the grey mare who so strange
ly contriyed to get into the garrett and SO
contribute to that rescue.
This excellent lady lived long and hap-
pily with her husband; and at her death,
/, was laid once more in het old quiet resting
r place.
5 The grey mare, after remaining in the
garret for three days, was got down BY means
of ropes, pulleys and machinery, and on in
clined planes, quite safe and sound. The
interesting animal sometime survived her
mistress-and grew to be a general favorits
with the good people of Receiver. When
she died, her skin was stuffed and placed in
the arsenal of the Roman station ~ euri-
osty.
The sexton went mad with the frighths
had sustained; and in short time entered
that bourne from whence he had so unin-
tentionally recovered the wife Of the rick
burgomaster.