Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-05-08

UT, we experienced SllgnJ reVutSlon OF 1eellng,
whenever these humblest children of sorrow
somewhat petulantly rejected our profered bread
and cheese, and demanded instead glass of
cider. Whenever the temperance society might
in such cases have done, it was not in our hearts
to refuse the poor creatures draught of their
favoritc beverages and wasn't it a satisfaction
to see their sad melancholy faces light up as we
handed them the full pitcher, and on receiving
it back empty from their brown, wrinkled
hands, to hear them, half breathless from their
long, delicious draught, thanking us for the
favor as dear good children" " Not unfre-
quently these wandering tests of our benevo-
lence made their appearance in interesting
groups of man, woman and child, picturesque
in their sqnalidness, and manifesting m audlin
affection, which would have done honor to the
jewellers at Poosie-N e-Nansies-immortal in the
cantata of Burns. | remember some who were
evidently the victims of monomauia, haunted
and hunted by some dark thought, possessed by
a fixed idea. One, black-eyed, wild haired
woman, with whole tragedy of sin, shame,
and suffering, written in her countenance,
used often to visit us, warm herself by our win
ter fire, and supply herself with a stock of cakes
and cold meat, but was never known to answer
question or to ask one. She never smiled the
cold, stony look of eye never changed a silent,
impassive face, frozen rigid by some great
o., NJ u,od 70 1oo1y
the g still woman" and think of the demoniac
of Scripture, who had " dumb spirit
One--Q think see him now, grim, gaunt,
and ghastly, working his slow way up to our
door) used to gather herbs by the wayside,
and call himself Doctor. He was bearded like
a he,goat, and he used to counterfeit lameness;
yet when he supposed himself alone would trav-
on Justify as if walking for wager. AT
length, as if in punishment of his deceit, he
met with an accident in one of his rambles and
became lame in earnest, hobbling ever after
with difficulty on his gnarled crutches
Another used to go STOPPING, like Bunyan's
pilgrim, under pack made of an old bed sack
ing, stuffed out in most plethorc dimensions,
tottcring on pair of small meagre legs, and
peering out with his wild, hairy face, from
under his burdern like big bodied spider
That " Man with the pack" always inspired me
with awe and reverence Huge, almost sublime
in its tense rotundity-the father of all packs
never laid aside and never opened, what might
L. A.: - bot No,h
curiosity used to creep round abount it at a
safe distance, half expecting to see its striped
covering stirred by the motions Of mysterious
life, or that some evil monster would leap out
of it, like robbers from Ali Baba's jars, or arm
ed men from the Trojan horse.
Often, in the gray of the morning, we used
to see one or more of these " "gaberlunzie men, "
pack on shoulder and staff in hand, emerging
from the barn or other outbuldngs, where
they had passed the night. | was once sent to
the barn to fodder the cattle late in the evening,
and climbing into the NOW to pitch down hay
for that purpose, was startled by the sudden
apparition of man rising up before me- just
discernable in the moonlight streaming through
the seams of the boards Imade rapid retreat
down the ladder; and was only treasured by
hearing the object of my terror calling after me
and recognizing his voice as that of harmless
old pilgrim had heard before.
Our farmhouse was situated in lon ely val
lev, half surrounded with woods, with no neigh
bors in sight One dark, cloudy night, wher
t our parents chanced to be absent, we were sit
0 ting with our grandmother in the fading lgh
of the kitchen fire working ourselves into a very
: satisfactory state of excitement and terror, by
recounting to each other all the dismal stories
s we could remember of ghosts. witches, haunted
houses, and robbers, when we were suddenly
q startled by loud rap at tho door. A strip
70 pling of fourteen, | was very naturally regar
f ded rs tho head of the household and will
J. many misgivings advanced to the door, which
l. slowly opened, holding the candle tremulousl.
is above my head and peering out into the dark
| ness. The feeble glimmer played upon tn
h apparation of gigantic horseman, mounted OIL
D stecd of size worthy of such q rder--col
lossal, like images cut out Of the solid night
l. The strange visitant grufily saluted me an
= after making several Intellectual attempts to urg
" his horse in at tho door, dismounted, and 70
I'd lowed me into the room, evidently enjoying tn
It. terror which his huge presence excited. Ar
ne nouncing himself as DIR. Brown, the grcG
,c Indian DOCTOR" he drew himself up before til
v fire, stretching his arms, cenched bis fists struc
" his broad chest, and invited our attention
or what he called his "mortal frame" lie d.
rs ina nded in succession all kinds of intoxicatin
n. liquors and, on being assursd that we la
Vs. nothing to give him, he grew angry, threatene
" to swallow my younger brother alive, and sci
ID ing me by the hair of my head, rs the angel d
pc the prophet at Babylon, he led me about fro
ne room to room. After an Intellectual search,
~ the course of which he mstook jug of oil l(
,lf one of brandy and, contrary to my explanation
be and remonstrances, insisted upon swallowing
n. portion of its contents, he released me, fell
crying and sobbing, and confessed that he W,
Id so drunk already that his horse was ashamed
as him. After bemoaning and pittying himself
Dr. his satisfaction, he wiped his eyes, and sat dov
= by the side of my grandmother, giving her
cir understand that he was very much pleased wi
I'D her appearance adding that, if agreeable
- her, he should like the privilege Of paying
md addresses to her. WhilAyainly eudeavoring
IS" make the excellent old lady comprehend his We
der altering proposition, he was interrupted by
ing return of my father, who at once understand
air the matter, turned him out OF doors witho
my ceremony.
ike On one occasion, a few years ago, on my retu
'or, from the field at evening, | was told that {
ray egner had asked for lodgings dnring the nigh