The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-08-03
:. nls heated condition, was netsaie or pI Z


III not forget my promise to nv dear l;,,l.
sa'9 oeI 70 himself, as he slipped. ..Nof
A.. uUp ~, 9. oIdldy ainne will touch. An.
usess me. now ner precious heart wouId arhs
y she weie to hear this tale Of fhe v;.ssa ioaI
ano Inose dear innocentsl She'd luost ,h;aI
sne could see their pretty upturned &C." ~
Waief. wonder, now. If there's any ,,r,h !.
such queer story And Joel fell ;n,o -. !. -
erie as ne wondered; and sitting down an ~.
bank ne fell asleep. and dreamf Thai ;n.ss.S ~. -
hooking flne heavy Gsh he had pulled On, :
O.Dy gifi: oreat was his horror, and he awoke
with a start, TO find that darkness was r,n;d1.
gathering round him, while few ps,,er;ns
drops now and then befokened the approach a
astorm. as the grumbling thunder family died
away IN the distance. One draught to forify
nlmseif and Joel commenced his homeward
route-a rather difficult undertaking, seeing
that he was a stranger, and obliged to diverge
| frequently from the immediate proximity of the
river, which, however, was sure guide, as il
| nowed past "The Swun's" very door. But
Tver. are stray. winding things; and after an
nours nard toiiing over uneven paths, moving
| SLOWLY and carefully, for caution was extreme
y necessary On the rivers bank, poor little
Joel Jerdan became throughly nervous and ex-
hausted, as the rain peIted down and the thun-
| der burst over head. Wet through in a trice
| ne hao recourse to his brandy flask. "Even
Patty would recommend it now" said he; and
bis thoughts reverted to bis snug little room
| behind the shop, where, beside a comfortable
fire, he was wont to enjoy frugal supper with
his beloved helpmaie. Now here he was wan.
dering and houseless, uncertain of the wav, wet
| through, and no sight or sound Of human kind
to greet his longing eyes or ears. No. He only
heard the rushing Of waters, the waiting of
winds, and those strange mysterious noises
| which issue from desolate woods by night. Ii
was enough to appal a stonter heart than Joel
Jerdan's; no wonder he had recourse to the
brandy flask.
"Caich me going fishing in strange
place again." murmured he to himself; "only
catch meat it, that's ali!'' = a .s,.s.8
An impression that he was trespassing on
| haunted ground, and that. at the same time, his
basket became heavier and heavier, oppressed
Joel Jerdan with sensation almost approach
ing to sufocation; and be calculated aloud, as
if to increase his courage-talking at himself
TO himself-"Who says that Joel is tipsyf
Who dares TO say so is-is-a repTObate
Who dares to say that Joel Jordan carries
basket full of dead babies instead of fish? But
just as the reeling pseato came to this portion
OF his argument, light appeared but short
distance off and, as he made toward il, low
dull sound, as Of ofmonotonous knocking, fell on
his ear, Notwithstanding his perceptions were
not particularly acute.
joel staggered onward until he reached a
building from whence ihs sounds appeared to
proceeds; and creeping slowly toward an aper-
ture, peeped in with a remarkable sagacious
expression Of countenance, no doubt had the
darkness permitted it TO be visible. What he
beheld there caused him to start backward so
suddenly that, coming in contact with felled
tree, whose barren trunk was strched along the
ground, he fell violently on his face, the blood
ulting from his nose, and cry escaping at
the same moment from the helpless intruder.
Joel Jordan had seen three spectral-iooking
men working at coffin, engaged in finishing
the dismal receptacle with all their might, as
if it was wanted in hurry. When he recov-
cred from temporary stupor occasioned by his
fall the scared little man in vain essayed to
speak or move; for his tongue clave to the roof
of his mouth. and his legs were powerless to
sustain his own slight weight. Once. indeed.
he thiekIy multered. "Brandy, more brandy"
but Immediately sank back helpless, fer he
finished; it is just done. We're in good time
and I'LL be the safest place for the drunken ras
cal.r Poor Joel J-rdau! 10 be put in coffin
alive at the suggestion of one whom he con-
sidered an evil spirit!
He heard one say, "Halloo! let's have look |
into his basket! Ho, no, they are fine plump |
ones. Put them il with him, and let's be of
at ence."
of at once. Where? thought the terrified |
and miserable man~where are they of toll
To the "bottomless pitt of Ellendeen, said |
Conscience, and for stealing the dread secrets |
of the haunted pool, in the shape OF the long |
sought for Ellendeen babies! As TO the brandy |
drinking, that was norhing-ghostly beings
never intrrfered with such terrestrial matters!
The knocking discontinued, a tramping of feet
was heard, hustle as Of preparation, and
Joel felt himself lifted up and laid in what he |
felt by instinct to be-a coffin! Ga. It was
most horrible! and, with violent effort,
ne ierked aside the lid which was placed
lightly over him, hall raising himself as he
did so.
"If he turns restive," said an authoritative,
stern voice, I'VE must secure him better, or
he'll be in the water before his time comes,
and make food for the fishes instead OF sport tor
Beelzebub."
So they srere conveying him to his nameless
majesty, dead babies and all, perhaps mistaking
him for the wicked defnnci Lord Of Ellendeen
himselG Oh, as to his fishing in the still,
deem pools, what had il done for himl whiiher
had il led him? Joel retained sense to be aware
that his impolent struggles only rendered things
worse; for he was in powerful hands, and they /,
tossed him about like a feather. Could his |
dear wife behold her husband in coffin, what |
would her feelings be /? And as Joel thought |
Of this, his tears began TO how copiousiy.-I
He sobbed and walled like an infant, whining, |
and in sickly maudlin tone; but il had |
luIling effect, and he fell off into sleep just
as he was conscious Of being lifted into boat, |
and, amid cleaning torches, rowed rapidly |
from land, but whether up or down stream he |
could moi tell. But Of course they are taking |
me to the 'bottomless pitt" and there they |
will cast me in with my unhallowed load, ne
thought.
Could il te the brandy that made Joel Jer-
dan confound the fish he had caught with the
Ellendeen heiressses. who had slumbered be-
neath the wave for upward of century =
Win slifjed cry for pardon on bis lips. insen-
sibili,y sueceeded; and when Joel awoks ne1t
day IN bis own cosy bed ., . The swan" with
The suns bright beams streaming IN through |
The .h;nks of closely drawn curtains, he shud- |
dered at the remembrnnce Of his horrible ad- |
venture, much wondering how he came there, |
and also how he came oy bandaged cheek,
from which the blood was still streaming, and
q head which throbaed to agony al every
breath he drew.