Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1857-07-18
The Iron Foot Step.

The Iron Foot>Step' was committed
to paper by its author, at the suggestion
of Geofrey Crayon, who had heard it
with admiration from the writer's lips. 1t
is STANCE and mysterious narrative, and
yet, in all its particulars, strictly true.
Most families, believe, have their ira
ditionary ghost story, which, when nara
ted to the group that gathers round the
wlltry fire-slde, excites, according to the
age and character of the listeners, terror,
sympathy, doubt, incredibly or ridicule.
Still it continues 70 be told, even by those
who are urgent in their disavowaI of be-
lief ia supernatural appearances; the sto-
ry is kept alive, and recolected in after
life: for the bias is strong one of the
mind, 10 dwell ever on shadows that per
tain TO that world of untred beings, which
approaches toward us with its slow and
noiseless, but irresistible and overwhel-
ming movement. remember in my
youth to have listened with my whole
heart to the following remarkable inc~
dent, as one which had undoubtedly oc-
Cured few years before in the island Of
Dominica
During the season Of mortality among
the inhabitants of that island in the year
--a veteran Scottish regiment was sta
toned upon the high bluff of land that
forms one point of a crescentular bay, and
OYerlooks the town and harbor. Inland
towards the east, a small plain extends
itself, while on the west aud north. which
is nearest the shore, and almost overhang-
ing it, were several long one-<tory bull
dings, hastily erected of wood, for the ac-
commodation of the officers of the corps,
and consisting all of three or four rooms
on each end, with piazza on one side
towards the sea, extending the whole
length of the structure, and forming sba.
ded and agreeable promenade during the
earlier part of the day. The rooms open
ed upon the piazza, and communicated
with each other by means of a side door,
which was occasionally left open for the
freer circulation of air. I'm one of these
barracks were quartered d three officers of
the regiment, Major Hamilton, Captain
Gordon, and third, whose name [ can
not at this moment recall. Major Ham
iEton's apartment was in the centre. He
had lost a leg ia the service, and usually
wore q wooden pin, or stick, shod with
iron; and being an alert man, fond Of ex-
ercise, used to walk up and down this pi-
azza for hours together, stopping occa-
sionally at Gordan's door or window, and
sometimes looking in at that Of the other
officer, exchanging cheerful word with
shem, as they sal in his apartment, eo
deavoring to beguile the time with dres-
sing, reading, writing, thoughts of promo
ton, Of home, and of speedy and hap
py return to Britain. The sound Of the
Majors step was peculiar. It was'enly
the blow that was given by the iron ferule
at the end of his wooden leg; for. although
a stout man, he trod light with the re-
naming foot, and heavily only with the
wooden substitute, which gave forth its
note at short intervals, as he paced to and
fro, so regularly, that there was a certain
pleasure in listening to it. Sounds that
strike the ear in this measured way, af.
feet Us more than others. The attention
becomes engaged, and they grow emphat.
ic as We listen. The caIker's hammer.
stroke, as ii flies from the dock-yard Of
the busy post, across some placid bay, in
TO the green and peaceful country, is an
instance Of this truth; the songster has it
In the line
sHis very step has music int,
When he comes up the stairs;;'