Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1855-06-12
passing breezes. The meadows were
vocal with :.
"The bobolinRs clear, thrilling strain,
nf linu;I -

vocal with b
"The boboinRs clear, thrilling strain, h
or liquid sweet" a
The ground.birds were singing upon q
the fences, and the robins in the trees II
that over.hung the road. As approach tt
ed the house, noticed horses tied by the q
posts. and groups Of men standing about II
tho doors, and heaps Of old furniture 0
scattered here and there, which remind {
ell me that it, was "auction .duy." II \
was large, .old.fashioned house, with {
two ancient etms standing before it,
spreading their gigantic branches far and {
wide. In their. thick; damp shade the
moss had been accumuIating, year after
year, until, tho whole front. had grown
quite green. There was q general air ol
+! !dilapidation and neglec On all sldaa'
hanging boards, broken, rag.stuffed win
dows, rickety fences, and fallen gates
proclaimed the habitation OF the drunk.
ard. On looking about the premises,
found everything in conformity with the
view from the road. Fields half-cultiva.
ted, rrui,.lrees unpruncd, fences that
seemed to have caught the habits OF their
master, and had fallen down, or were
Staggering to their fall gates hanging
, by one hinge, or leaning against their
posts, as If in drunken meditation
ploughs with broken handles, and carts
with broken wheels, exposed to the
wea ,her manpfe, instead OF making the
crops look "lusb and lusly," suffered to
accumulate about the barns as filthy
nuisance the barns themselves ventila.
ted by the loss of here and there board;
in the shed, old Paul's rickety wagon,
and harness tethcred with strings, and
o rens pieced out with bits Of rope; and,
is tied TO post, his poor old horse, aPpa'
rently looking forward to his future pros.
ID poets in the hands Of the jockey who had
lie just bought him for five dollars, on speu'
I'd lalion. :,
ul "Going--going at ten cents!' heard,
rs in a hoarse, husky voice, as | entered
is the house "all this lot Of pens, once
C. the pride of Aunt Polly's heart--bran
!; new only twenty years ago! Gentlemen
vn will you allow property 10 bo sacrlhced
a in this way? Going at ten cents! Gen
IS, men, are you all done? Going--soing..-
tie and-gone to Patrick McMurPhy 70
Of ten cen,sn' Ten cents, then, was tn
.ty public valuation Of what had occupied
is the thoughts Of old Paul's vile to tn
,ut exclusion Of all tho memories OF nit
ve. wears. The auctioneer next came 10 ol
see Paul's wardrobe: "Here, gentlemen,
Id. said he, his red face lit up by serie
up comic look, "here we have somethln
md nicc''--holding up the old white surlo'
thy had seen so many times--"just tn
md thing for one out late at night; warfan
the ed waterproof"
ont CHOW do you know that?" said VI
to Gle Billv. his face radiant with rum ar
ola good humor.
lost "How do know!" retorled the quic
had witted auctioneer: "why hasn't 1t he
and barrels of Deacon Smooth faces run
sed and don't you remember how the wat
on in that froze and burst your bottle Oh
ave night, while you was stopping to war
all. your feet by the light Of the moon, ov
cav. on Rabbit. Hill?"
AT length the house was all clear
,nty except one room. This room old Pa
r for had kept locked for twenty five yea
any never suffering eny one to enter it
= himself. During that time, strange m
lead terry had gathered about it. Jury
orld' neighboring gossips had more than on
ways had the case under consideration, al
hing after due deliberation, aided by la
and imbibings Of green tea, had brought
than unanimous verdict Of "strange and v
fifty mysterious" As no one know anyth
was was about it, every one felt at perfect llbe
DID, TO say whatever her busy fancy mi
ashes suggest. Some said it was haunted ;
ce 10 one cadaverous old maid, who had dl
II be. up in single blessedness until there
Il the but little left save Unsuitable inquls't
told, ness and malicious envy, more
ngues once cast out dark hints abou, PEI
xcePt who had mystoriously disappeared.
n the The children had caught the inject
,rried and, If possible, avoided passing
and Paul's in the dark !; or, if at any
I the benighted, fear would add wings to
i'll 90 feet, and eyes to their imagiaatons
Sc the that ghost story was almost sure t.
and the result, especially if old Paul's v
zzled horse chanced TO be feeding under
oney' windows. This room also seeme
up to possess strange power over old
which himself. He seldom visited it, ant
er ALL ways left it greatly excited. and
c-the monty in tears, and after such
I'd bru' he had been known to be sober for
beauty eral weeks. This mystery, whate'
Y, like might be, was now about to be cl'
: might up. A group Of eager gossips ha'
10 free ready gathered about the door. E'
he pol. ts,ion was on tip.toe. The door h
filliant be forced for old Paul had dispos
ly, un' the key, and Miss Vinegar'face W
the opinion that ho would gladly
abused carried the room itself with him
s wife, grave. One Of the shutters, whic
turning Paul had always kept closed, was
r home ed to let in the light Of day, and
ere her all that mystery vanished. lns!t
some of haunt for the revels Of the sPi'
indeed a darkness, or murder.spots that :"
With ono not OUT" we found nothing but a
!, could SQUARE room, furnished with an
gcntility and taste which evan tn
sed, and Of so many years could not entirel
sick-l - - ~ otro n oo contrast Wi