The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1853-10-26
The Mysterious Mansion.
4 LEGEND or rnE NORru Esd.

even JUS, between twelve and one, e'c,l
at turning o theas9e. dame Quickly.
Many years ago, there stood on the
upper horn of Moon Street, ant not
more than stones throw from Friz.
Zcl Square, q low beetle -browed man.
sion, bearing indubitablo marks of an.
tiquity. The moss covered it's dilapid-
atcd root; the drapc:y of the spider and
the moth hung in thick festoons abont
its windows; and the melancholy swal-
low annually built her nest under it's
caves. Unlike the dwelling. houses of
modern days, it bcllicd not into
the street to attract the admiration Of
the vulgar: but chose rather to retire
from the publick eye, and enjoy II
halcyon reposc in the quiet ncighbor-
hood ofa congregation Of pig.sties. It's
whole appearance was that of isola.
ted age, shrinking from the folly and
hustle of the world, to muse in silencc
on its wasting strength and incrcas.
ing years.
The date Of this venerable building
batlird the memories of the most
pains-tak;ng old women of the time.
Granny Scraggs, who had talked away
her sight and hearing in Deacon Quid-
dies chimney, fairly .owucd it was
erected ''h:tGnre her day" Doctor
ll"dge-podgc, grey headed bachelor
wh" had worn Il pair of leather small
clothes out Of the recollection of
the generation about him, remember
ed being measured there for his
freedom suit; which was full fifty years
agonc, come the season for string beans.
Il rcc,llect it., he used to say, 'as
if twas yesterday. The tailor was
James List, q yellow, haired man, who
MAS SO c"rpuleni lie could hardly sit on
the bench. Bless me, how time does
| pass In fine, it was one Of those
pestiIent old mansions, to be found in
most ancient places, which afford mat
ter Of eternal conjecture to the pro
sing block aeads of the ncghborhood.
1t is not to be supposed that sucI,
Il mysterious ediiice should be with
ont corresponding occupant. To re.
peat one half OF the stories that were
told OF old IIaggclwettcr would
rxhans; the lungs of . :nwn crier. He
WAS = gri>ly old Dutchman, that
drank more gin and smoked more TO-
bacco than was necessary to perfume
the atmosphere for lcaguc-and then
! he would swcar-blcss my suul if
his oathS had bccn uttered in inteli-
gent English, the very huilding would
have trcmblcd SO as to topplc down
his head. Aud then, too. he had
been tumblcd about on the salt sea so
long as to have lost the mastery of
his legs, and he was as likely to
Staggcr in one direction As another.
in spite OF his will. Moreover, it was
said he had been Il sinful freebooter,
who had m"rtgagcd his soul to
the devil for more than it VAS worth
and there was no telling how much
gold he had slowed away in sly corn
crs about the old building But then
he was q tremendously fierce old tcl
low, and wore such a threatening pair
OF whiskerS, that nobody dared to
venture within pistol-shot ofhis house;
nay, his very name, whispered after
candle light made one trcmble like
4 gravcdigger at the sight of a ghost.
1t is sage remark, that Time,
though it can do every thing else,
is unable to stop peoples tongues. One
generation of takers passcth away,
and another comcth to take the word
out Of their mo,ths. Though man
should exist to eternity, he would new
cr outlivc the bad opinion ofhis neigh
bours, Thus was it with lIaggcIwct.
ter. Not even his fiery wiiskcrs could
rcpress the voice of scandal. AS he
advanced in years, he also increased in
bulk. He was naturally thick set and
pursy; but he now seemed blowing up
like bladder. Folks noticed this,
and predicted he would eventually cx
plode like torpedo. "IIe is" they
said "in his sintulncss like n corn that
is parchng before the fire; he will
swell and swell, and anon 60 Off in a
tremendous puff! 1t is astonishing, man,
kind will bring upon them such
judgements. by dealing with Satan!''
The usual place where the charac.
ter Of old llaggclwctter was discussed
was the shop of Solomon Sopcr a
famous blood letting barber; and the
time, towards the close Of n drowsy
summers day. Here the blacksmith
the sexton, the skipper of the of Win.
nisimit ferry boat, and old Dozy
the w.tchman, would sit and spin
out their tedious tales until it really
seemed rs if they did not think how
time was wearing away. Deacon
Quiddle, also would occasionally offer
a sententous remark on the subject, as
the barber claboratcly adjusted his
queue; and as for Master Solomon, he
would fret and chatter about il
all day long. 1t seemed to be the