The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1852-10-20
THE HAUNTED HOUSE
CnarnwoO Forest.

Charnw ood Forest.
One fine blusteii, g, autumn dav, quiet ven
erable looking old gentleman might be seen,
with stick in hanl, liking his way through the
streets of Leicester. If any one had followed
him they would have found him eirecIing his
steps towards that side Of town that leads TO
Churnwood. The old gentleman was Qua
ker and ,ok his way leisurely, but thoughtfully.
stopping every now and then t, see what The
farmers men were about, who were blowing up
lhe stubbles 10 prepare FOR smother years CROP
He paused, also, at this and thnt farmhouse.
evidently having pleasure in the sigtt Of good
TAT CO e, and in the fiocks Of poultry-fows,
ducks, geese ana turkeys busy about the barn
door. where tho sound OF f all, or the swi gle,
as they term it. was already heurd bu>i knock
lg out the corn Of The last beautiful harvest
Our old fri4nd-a friend-for though you dear
render do lot know him. he was both at the
ime we speak of-our old friend again lrudgng
or, would pause on the brow Of a bill. at stlle,
or on s ,me rustic bridge, casting lis little amb.
ling arch over brooket. and inhale the fresh
auiumnal air, aud after looking round him, nod
TO inself. us il 10 say, AYE, all good, all bea--
Iiful. and went on III. way again by clusters oil
rich. jet:y black berries hanging from some old
hawthorn hedges or by clusters Of huts, hanging
By the way 81 lie through the copse. 10 oil these
natural beaaties our cd fri nd seemed to have
the enjoy melt of child. Blackberries went
int, his mouth. and into his pock els, and SO
with quiet. inquring and thoughtu, yet
cheerful look, The good ola man went on. He
seemed bound for long walk, and yet TO be
in no hurry.
| ln one place he stopped 10 talk to very old
laborer, who was clearing out ditch; and you
would have been near. you would have heard
that their discourse Of the past days, and the
changes in that pnrt Of the country, which the
cd iuborer thought were very much for the
worse. And worse they were for him, for for
merly he was young and full of life. Then he
wns buoyant, sang songs, made love. went ta
wakes and merry makings, now his wooing
days and his marrying days were over
His good old dame, who in those young.
buyom days was round faced, rosy, plump, ano
light hearted damsel, was dead. and his children
were married and had enough to do In those
days, the poor fellow was strong and lusiy, had
no iear and no care in these. he was weak apd
tottering; had been pulled and harrassed lhous
and why's. and was left as he said, like an ole
d-y kex-i.e. hem,ock or cow parsIip stalk
hollow and trodden in the dust some day. Yes
sure enough those past days were much better
days than these days were 10 him. N com.
parison. But Mr.. John Basford, our old wan
derer, was taking more cheerful view Of things
and telling the worn out laborer. that when The
night came there followed morning and that The
mex. would be heavenly morning. shining on
hi Is of glorv and walers Of life on cities Of the
blest, where no sun rose and no sun set nnC
where every JOYFUL youth, who had been dear
to him and true t, him and G,d, woulo
again meet him, and make times such as shou,o
cause so"g of praise 10 sp'ing out Of his hea t
just as flowers sp ing out OF vernal tee i: The
rex n,ed warmth of the sun.
The oldlnborer leaned reverently on lis spade
as the worthy man stood talking TO him. lii
gray locks, uncovered, IT his labor by my ha'
were tossed in the autumn wind His dim eye:
were fixed on the distant sky, that rolled its dari
muses. of clouds on the gale, the deep wrnkle
Of is pne and feeble temples seemed TO grow
deeper ut the thoughts passing within him. H.
was lis'ening t. a sermon, wli;h brought 10
! geher his youh and his age. his past and hi
iLt ire; and there were verified on that spo
words which Jesus Christ spoke nearly Nv,
, thousand years ngo. "Wherever two or tire
are met together in my name, there um i'll tn
nj lit of them.
lie was in the midst of the two only. Their
was temple there il, those open field, suncii
fed by Two ipus hearts, which, no ringing @
bells. nc sound OF solemn organ. voice u
congrf galed prayers, nor any preacher but III
ever present md invisible One. who there an
then fulfilled his promise and was gracious, coul
have made more holy.
Our old friend again turned to get forward h
9 shook the old laborer kindly by The hnnd, an
there wns gnze of nsonshmeht in the ol
, mans ince-ihe stranger had not only cheere
/, h,m by his words, but left something to chez
lin when he was gone.