Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-05-22
THE IRON FoOT.srEp
From the Knickerbocker edited by Lewis Ga,
lord Clark

per by Its author, at the suggestion of 8eOffrey
Crayon, who had heard it with admiration from
the writer's lips. 1t is a strange and mysteri-
GUS narrative, and yet, in all its particulars,
strictly true. a.
Most families, believe have their tradition
airy ghost story; which, when narrated to the
group that gathers round the wintry ireside,
exeites, according to the age and character Of
the listeners, terror, sympathy, doubt, incredu-
hty, or ridicule Still il continues t0 be told,
even by those who are urgent i'm their disavOwal
of belief In supernatural appearances: the story
Is kept sliye, and recOllected in after life for
the biss is strong one of the mind, to dwell
ever on the shadows that pertain to that world
of untried being, which approaches toward US
with its slow and nOiseless, but Irresistible and
overwhelming movement / remember in my
youth To have listened with my whole heart to
the following remarkable incident, rs one which
had undoubtedly occurred few years before
in the island Of Dominica
During a season of great mortality among the
inhabitants of that island in the year - a
veteran Scottish regiment was stationed upon
the high bluff Of land that forms one point of a
crescentular bay, and OverlOOks the town and
harbOr. Inland, towards the east, small plain
extends itself; while on the west and north
which is nearest the shore, and almost over
hanging it, were several long One-story build
ings, hastily erected Of wood, for the aceOmmO-
datiOn Of the officers Of the corps and consisting
all Of three or four rooms on each end, with
the whole length OF the structure, and forming
shaded and agreeable promenade during the
earlier part OF the day. The rooms opened
upon the piazza, and communicated with each
other by means of n side door, which was oeca-
siOnally left open for the freer circulation of
alr In one OF these barracks were quartered
three Othcers OF the regiment Major Hamilton,
Captain Gordon, and n third whose name can
not at this moment recall. Major Hamilton's
apartment was in the centre. He had lost a
leg in the service, and usually wore a wooden
pin, or stick, shod with iron and being an alert
man, fond Of exercise, used To walk up and down
this piazza for hours together, stopping Occa-
siOnally at Gordon's door or window, and some
times looking in at that of the other officer, ex-
changing q cheerful word with them as they sat
each in his apartment, endeavOring to beguile
the time with dressing, reading. writing,
thoughts Of promotion, of home, and of a speedy
AID happy return to Britain. The sound of
the Majors step was peculiar. 1t was only the
blow given by the iron ferule at the end of his
wooden leg that was heard; for, although a
stout man, he trOd light with the remaining
foot, and heavily only with the wooden substi-
tute, which gave forth its note at short inter-
walls, as he paced to and fro, 50 regularly, that
there was a certain pleasure in listening to it.
Sounds that strike the ear in this measured
way, affect Us more than others The attention
becomes engaged, and they grow emphatic a.
we listen The calker's hammer-stroke as it
some placid bay into the green and peaceful
country. is an instance Of this truth; the song
ster has it, in the line,
q His very step has music int.
When he comes up the stairs;''
and Lamb felt IT. when he said of his physician
that - there was healing in the crack OF his
shoes, "a he approached his apartment As
ssOciated with this measured movement Of the
Major. WAS his deep eheery voice, that made
litrbf "a - Al
field of battle or as now amid the sickness which
IN mOckery OF the beauty of tropical skies and
scenery, was devastating the colony ut this
melancholy period. This sickness proved fatal
70 several Otf GERS of the regiment, and after
some time Major Hamilton was taken down with
1T 1t was a fever attended with delirum. The
Major was confident of recovery, aud, indeed,
from the great equanimity and happy temper
ament of his patient, his physician had hopes
almost To the last. These, however, were not
destined TO be realized. He expired the seventh
day after he was seized, while endeavoring to
speak 10 his friend, Captain Gordon, and was
buried under arms at sunset Of the same day.
Now, IL was on the secohd night after this
InOurnful event that Gordon, having retired to
bed rather later than usual, found himself un-
eIPeetedly awake. He was not conscious Of
any distressing thought or dream which should
have Occasioned this shortened slumber and a.
he commonly made but one nap of the night,
and as his rest had been latterly broken by the
kind Offices he had rendered his comrade he
was half surprised at finding himself awake
He touched his repeater and found it only past
one O'Clock lie turned on the other side and
composed himself afresh Thoughts of his
friend came over his heart. and as cheek reached
the pillow, he said e. Poor Hamilton, Well
God have mercy upon US! - lie felt at the
moment that some one near him said a. Amen
with much sJlemnity. He was effeetually roused
and asked, = W no Is there?'' There was no re-
late apartment, and he then remembered that
the door WAS open that communicated between
the two rooms. lie listened intently but heard
nothing save the beating Of his own heart. He
said to himself, 1t is all mere Imagination" +"
and again endeavOred to compose himself and
think Of something else. lie laid his head once
more upon the pillow, and then he distinctly
heard for the first time the Majors well ll-knOwn
step. Ii was not matter TO be mistaken
about The ferule sound, the pause for the
foot, the sound again, measured in its return
as If all were again in life. He heard it first
upon the piazza heard il approach pass
through the door from the piazza into the centre
apartment, and there il seemed to pause as if
the figure OF the departed was standing on the
other side OF that open door, in the room il had
- lately occupied. Gordon rose lie went to
the window that opened upon the piazza and
looked out. The night was very beautiful; the
moon had gone down; the sky was Of the deepest
azure, and the low dash Of the waves upon the
rocks at the foot Of the bluff, was the only thing
that engaged his notice, except the extreme
brightness and lueidity of a solitary star that
traced its glittering pathway of light toward
lLn across the distant waters OF the ocean. All
else was still and repOsed. - 1t is very remark
able :" said he; " I could have sworn heard
it" lie turned toward the door that stood
1pen between the two rooms The Majors
=. 1artment was darkened by the shutters being
cIo 'ed, and he could distinguish nothing inside
II tie wished the door were shut, but felt
ren,y nance at the idea OF closing it, and while
he 400 gazing into the dark room the thought
,f hsin, in the presence OF disembOdied spirit
r',sc IN h, mind and, though brave man he
rouIj NOT , immediately control the bristling SEN
s,tion oe te, TOR that began To possess him lie
I1uged for I, Ne voice Of any living being; and
trrrr1 him he determined on calling up the
officer who oecup led the other apartment lie
n,s.-J s.,t ON the piazza and rs he approached