The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-07-05

- fssettssS< 80 = .'f-- 5fs--s' :
Many years since, there was q seques-
tered little town about twenty-five miles
from the city of New York, and situated
in the most unlrequented part Of that,re-
mote quarter OF the world called Queens
county. II was at that time an out of the
way unexplored region, utterly unknown
20 tie world at large, and hall smothered
In fable and dIndian,tradition. Long after
ghosts had been exercised and laid al rest
In other parts Of tho world, they maintain
cd their foot hold here.
A quiet. shadowy lane, which ran thro'
wood near the village, had a goblin rep.
utaiion, and was said to be haunted by the
ehost Of . hard drinking miller. who had
finished his life and his bottle at the foot
Of large oak tree which grew there.
Whether this asttradition be true or not
il is certain that this little town was more
subiecfto supern atural yisitations than any
other town Of its size on Long Island.
In those days. too, there was an old mill
ON the border of tree-fringed lake on
which the village stands. 1t belonged TO-
hardfsted. hard swearing. roystering fel-
low named Billy Harold. who feared Meth.
er-rhost nor devil. but had peculiar eye
tosi1is interest. II was a ruinous building,
roefless and without sashes, the water
wheel had rotted and fallen into the pool
below il; and the race-way had become
broken. and discharged its foaming waters
atfandom. The heavy beams Of the build
ing had saeged and settled away; and
plies Of rubbish caused by the tumbling in
of the roof and the gradual decay OF the
structure. had gathered in it. Dark gran
arios and store-rooms, and gloomy pas
sages, N ade for no one knows what, were
still standing. s
The mill, however, bore the same COB
ling reputation with the lane. On certain
nights in the year, when the wind howled
through the trees, and q storm was raging
sfeanee and unearthly sounds were heard
Issuing from it, and it became rumored
about that it was tenanted by unearthly
yisisants Of rather cracked regulations.
These reports at last reached Billy's
eass, and fairly excited his choler; for al
though he felt personally Indifferent to the
character OF those who occupied his mill,
vet as tenants Of that description are very
apt TO omit the payment of rent. he had
no idea Of having his property depreciat-
ed by their presence. Accordingly, on
ono. stormy night when the thunder was
crashing through the sky. the blue lights
dancing about the old ruin. and the hob.
gobIins were said TO be in high revel, he
sallied out with his cudgel, and disappear.
"a in the thick OF the storm, directing his
stSps toward the mill; "determined,'' he
6aid ito put stop TO such goings on
WhAtfook place there was never known;
but above the roar of the elements, the
listening neighbors heard Billy's voice bel
lowing out execrations; and as the light
ming lighted up the interior of the roofless
building. they caught sight Of the undaunt.
ed Billy laying Justify about him, as il be.
set by, q legion .oi adversaries. He did
NOT desert his post until the believing ol
the storm had sunk into distant mutterings
and the forked lightning had subsidized into
. dim hickering in the distant horizon
Then Billy returned with his oudgel under
his arm. and his hands in his breeches
pockets. He gave no account OF his ad.
venture but merely shook his head, and
said "that il they come 10 his mill again
4sthsy'd catch it.''
Whetber the fear Of A.catching it, KEEP
OF his visitors or not, we cannot tell; bu
Il IS certain that from that time the build
ing lost much of its wizard reputation and
subsidized into q mere common place ruin
But this. Is history of the past. Billy
long, since went swearing to his grave
Like sll iron ,souled characters, he left hi
mark in The memories of those about him
and as the green hillock which rested Owe
hispnee study breast was pointed out, th'
simple villagers seemed TO wonder thatth'
grass could grow SO quietly over the grave
or one so redoubted; and not few OF ths
veterans who remembered Billy, in hi
pridte when they were boys. ventured th'
prediction. that when .,Old Nick got hole
Of him, he'd meet his match.''
After Billy days, the mill became mor'
>dilapidated. Time and Storm wrote thei
story upon ii in strong characters. Every
fhing about il ran wild, Tho grass formed
L sAfk35ts4sl. 8SBS