The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-07-15
THE WOOD FIEND.
BY sYLvANUs COBB, JR.

central position gave it advantages whict
larger towns did not possess. The mar
ket was here once'a week-on Thursday
at which we're bought and sold everything
either raised or consumed in the country
Horses, cattle, meat, vegetables, butter
eggs, milk, together with various articles
of "Dry aud West India" goods, were to
be found for sale on market days, And
Monmouth had been a market town for
many years-for so many that even the
Oldest inhabitant remembered no time
when it was anything else.
North from Monmouth stretched away
a fine agricultural country with
out other break than few bills and
streams, while in the south lay a deep
wood which had never been cleared up
because the ground was so swampy, and
wet and cold. One edge of this wood
rested almost upon the village, being
within two miles of the market ground.
1t was some eight miles broad, from Mon
mouth across to the next town south, and
in length it extended through a boggy
vale oftwenty miles. 1t was called Mon
mouth wood, and was really a dismal
place, full of bats, and owls, and all sorts
of horrid serpents and deadly reptiles.
The next town south of Monmouth was
Emmerton, and the road lay through this
deep wood, over which all the people
who lived in the southern towns had to
travel.
One market day-it was damp, dis
NAL day, and the sales were all effected
under cover-tbe whisper went round
that the wood was haunted. Those who
lived north took up the theme freely while
those who lived south would not believe
it, as they had seen nothing of it.
That very night, however, as the first
party of southrons started for home they
saw the Wood Fiend 1t was dark when
they entered the wood, and they had got
about one third of the way through, when
they beheld sight that froze their blood
with terror. Right ahead of them, and
directly in the road, stood gigantic being
with eyes and mouth of fire, and flames
issuing from his nostrils. He raised his
arms aloft like the huge branches of
tree, and uttered yell that made the
very earth quake. The party turned
back and rode towards Monmouth as
quickly as possible. To all whom they
met they told the fearful story, and some
turned also back, while others kept on
But those who thus kept on their way did
not 60 far. They met the horrible feud
in the wood, and then retraced their steps
in haste. So that all who lived beyond
Monm outh Wood save few that started
off before dark, were forced to rem ain in
the market town over night. But Mark
Hattom, the jolly old host of the Hound
and Stag gave them good entertainment.
His inn was capacious, for sudden storms
often caused great numbers of people to
remain over night, and he wished to ac-
them.
But Mark laughed at the good peo-
ple's fears, and swore their eyes had de-
ceived them. He offered to 90 out with
them and see the fend. Some of those
who hac only turned back upon the as
sertion of others resolved to accompany
him; so when the fat host was mounted
be found six men on bis back. OFF they
started, and when they had entered the
wood several of them began to think of
The place was SO dark that
the road could with difficulty be seen; the
was damp and ungrateful; the
moaning of the wind through the great
trees was mournful; and then the dull
of the frogs, and the hootings
Of owls made up the sum of surrounding
horrors. Yet the laughing jests of the
Jolly host gave them new courage and
hey kept on.
But not far-no, not far. Suddenly,
as they turned point where the road
oent into deep morass, the gigantic form
,f the iend loomed up before them. 1t
seemed at least as large as a house, and
he roar which came forth from its fiery
mouth was like clap of thunder in pow.
,r. With continuation of yells which
we're fairly deafening the huge monster
swung his massive body forward and
,aught the poor host in his arms. The
wretch howled in fear and agony. bat his
dared not help him. They
urned their horses heads ard galloped
pack like lightning.
1t was ten o'clock when the six men
cached the Hound and Stag, and when
hey told their story the people " ere fill
ID with horror. The hosts wife rushed
'ut of the house, and before any one could
top her she was gone. Some of the more
'entursome ones proposed that they should
III 90 in party and zee what had be.
ome of the poor publioani Jet none star
ed.
At just midnight Mark Hattom enter
ID the bar room, where most of the male
,uests were seated some of them keep
Dg watch, and others nodding under the
influence of great doses of punch taken to
,eep their spirits up. This sudden ap-
'earanoe of the host seemed to operate
or the moment iesrfully upon the guests,
or they regarded him almost in she light
# ghost He was pale and wan; his
garments torn to tatters, aud bis face and
II 4