Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1854-10-07
THE SPECTRE OF WlNDERERE;
Ur Wat Robinson, the Bully Butel

'y "'H ououl W tSll naQ from
an old aunt of mine who has long been
gathered TO her kindred dust.
Naturally ofa strong and vigorous mind
my aunt did not herself believe in suner.
natural agencies but they amused her
and she told these stories so well. that she
never tired her auditors. 1t is one,oC the
Iales that | am about 10 relate. She had
lhe facts from my grandfather, who was
himself personally acquainted with Mr..
Lelhwaiie, one Of the actors in the drama.
About a hundred years ago there lived
IN the town Of Kendall, Weslmoreland,
England, a man Of gigantic stature and
great strength, who followed the trade of
a butcher. The person who was called
Wat Robinson, was noted for his quarrel.
some rufflanly disposition, which won for
him the aPPelation of Bully Robinson, the
big butcher Of Kendall. Foremost in the
scenes Of riot and dissipation, he was uni.
versally feared and hated.
/ This man was very fond Of practical
jokes. But his jokes were like himself,
and originated in the cruelty and malice of
his mind. The pain he inflicted upon 9th.
ers afforded him the greatest PLEASURE
The grazing tones Of his coarse brutal
laugh inflicted a deeper wound than the
most bitter of his biting iess.
/ There was lonely cross country road
in the vicinity Of Kendall, which formed
short cut 10 the beautiful lake Of Winder.
mere. The path was rocky and narrow,
and seldom irequented by any pedestrian
or equestrian travellers. For some months
previous TO the period of which am now
wriling, this road had got the character of
being haunted. A hideous Opparilion in
the form Of hairy monster, with horns
and hoois, obsiructed the passage of trov.
oilers through the lane, chasing them back
with dreadful bellowings and other dobol.
ical noises.
Many persons had been frightened into
fits by the spectre; and one feeble old man
had lost his reason, by Unexpectedly en-.
countering the demon in one Of the most
lionel y turnings on the rocky road.
This rrightlut phantom had been seen
/ by so many respectable persons in the
town and its vicinity, whose yeracity, from
the well.known integrity Of their charoc.
ters, the most scepjical could scarcely
doubt, that the public mind became greatly
agitated by the nightly recurrence Of such
startling facts. People were no longer
laughed at for their crcduIity, in believing
that which so many respectable Witnesses
declared 10 be true.
The Windermere ghost became the gen.
eral theme Of conversation and the road
was abandoned by all who were acquaint-
ed with the tale, and could reach the lake
by more public lhoroughlarc.
One night a large party assembled in a
public. house in the suburbs Of Kendall, to
drink their ale and discuss the news oflhe
day. These were chiefly farmers and
sheep-groziers from the moors and lels,
who had disposed of the Gtlings of their
hocks at the market, and were returning
in a body 10 their lonely homes among the
hills. The centre Of this group, and man
of no small Importance among them, was
the big butcher Of Kendal. He had been
a large purchaser; and the jolly ycomen
had flung back few shillings from the
money they had received, 10 furnish gen.
eral treat--big Wat himself placed in the
chair, as the great man olth company.
This was an honor the bully butcher
never failed 10 abuse. As the fumes olthe
ale began TO ascend into his head he grew
loud and quarrelsomo, engrossing all the
conversation 10 himself while his buster
ing manner and i'll natured jokes so dis.
gusted his companions, that one by one
they silently rose to depart, dreadng by
word or action TO rouse into active opera.
ton the mischieyous disposition of the
man.
The guests a; the "E1olly.Tree" had all
dropped away, until the butcher and one
young man, who had been a silent specta-
tor Of the scene, alone occupied the chin.
ney.corner This person, who was vast.
ly superior in his appearance to the men
who had lately filled the table, and was
dressed in the grey home.spun cloth ofthe
country, and looked like wealthy yeo.
man of the middle class. To Robinson he
was stranger, and that worthy continued
10 eye him with sinister glance Of curl
osily and inquiry.
The landlord entered TO throw on a
fresh billit Of wood, for il was winter, and
the night was very cold.
"Is the moon up, Lowlherl" said the
yeomnn, rising to his feet, and buttoniDg
/ his great.coat TO the chin. at is time
was on the road"
eyes, Mr.. Lelhwaite, she has been up
some time, but, sir, if | were in your
place, would never travel that road a
midnight"
"Whv, what The deuce is the mattel
with the roadl Are you troubled viii
robbers in these parts r.
"No sir, the road is haunted"
! "Haunted ~ exclaimed the yeoman
] IL. ;n,o n p,orr,, Ia nah