Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-11-24
PREMONITION.
From the Home Journal.


Alabama was comparative wilderness, gem
tenan by the name of Saunders came from
a neighboring State into one OF its eastern
counties in quest of place of settlement
lie was well-drosscd and we'll mounted, and
travelled alone.
At the close of a fatiguing days ride, he
stopped at n house OF entertainment which
was the nucleus or central point of a strug-
Cling, backwood's village, containing some
fifteen or twenty inhabitants. The host was
u grim, sour-ysaged man, with small, sins-
for-looking eyes, which twinkled like burning
points beneath the heavy fringe of the prom
Inent eyebrows. The tavern buildings SEEM
cd 10 have been left in an unfinished condition
by the workmen, and looked ruinous and old,
for want of paint and repairs.
Or entering the bar-roOm, which was din
gT, halflighted apartment, Mr.. Saunders
found few men, very ordinary in both dress
and appearance, engaged in retailing to each
other the gossip and news of the neighbor-
hood. He seated himself in their midst. and
awaited in silence the announcement of sup
per.
After eating a hearty meal, feeling both
fatigued and drowsy, he requested to be con-
Quoted to his room. The landlord, taking a
lsmp IN one hand and the saddle bags of the
traveller in the other, went ont of the bar
room into the yard, requesting Mr.. Saunders
20 follow him.
At the extreme end of the tavern buildings,
they ascendcd flight of rude steps to ali up
per story. Entering narrow dark passage, Mr..
Saunders was shown into a small, uncomior
table room. furnished with bed, one chair
and small table. The landlord placed the
Lamp the table, badc his guest good-nig gilt,
and retired.
AS the door OF the room was without lock
or fastening of any sort, Mr.. Saunders placed
the table and chair against it, blew ont the
light, and lay down. Overcome with fatigue
and drowsiness he soon fell asleep, but almost
Immediately awoke, quiveriDg in every limb,
and in state of extreme mental perturbation.
lie had dreamed vivid and most frightful
dream.
In his vision, he saw man, grim and dark,
ascending the outer steps TO the passage which
led to his room. He bore long, glitteTing
knife in his hand, and came mp the steps with
slow and silent tread. At sight of him
feeling of apprehension-a presentiment that
danger was nigh-camc over the dreamer.
lie sprang out of bed, opened his door, and
stepped out into the passage. Opposite to
his room he saw another door, through which
he felt impcled to seek an escape. Opening
1t, he saw q hole in the middle of the floor,
over which the timbels of bedstead were
extended, the cord hanging down to the floor
beneath AS he was in the act of seizing this
TO let himself down, he awoke and found that
1t was all dream. He was still in bed, and
fhe chair and table remained in the position
he bad placed them against the door.
After revolving the dream in his mind for
few moments, his nerves became quiet, and
he again fell to sleep, dreamed the identical
dream over, and awoke, as before, trembling
and affrghted.
He got out of bed, removed the chair and
table from his door, and opening 1t, saw, what
ne had failed TO observe before, that there
was another door, close shut, opposite to his
room. The full moon had risen, and lit up
eSzff xrhi hinl,
were without shutters, with the radiance al
most of day. Curiosity and the excitement
of his dream prompting. he stepped across the
passage and gave the opposite door gentle
push with his hand. 1t flew wide open, and
displayed TO the eyes of the now startled trav-
eller the very objects and arrangement he had
seen in his dream. In the middle OF the
room there was large hole, made by the re-
moval of short pieces of plank; across it lay
the uncorded timbers of bedstead, from
which depended stout rope, that reached al
most to the floor OF the room below.
Thoroughly alarmed by this literal and ut
ferly unexplainable verification of his dream,
Mr.. Saunders returned to his own room dress
ed himself ia great haste, and, with his sad
die bags thrown over his arm, stepped out
upon the platform at the head of the stair
steps. His intention was to leave the tavern,
and, if possible, get lodgings for the night, at
respectable looking house he had passed on
the outskirts of the village. The next morn
ing he could send for his horse and pay his
bill by messenger, and thus avoid explana-
.tions which might prove unpleasant both to
the landlord and himself.
The shadow of large tree, which stood
few yards distant from the end of the bniid-
ing, fell upon the platform, and nearly half of
the stair steps. A brilliant moonlight rested
on the yard and all other objects on that side
of the tavern.
Just as Mr.. Sanders stepped out on the plat
form, he saw man come round the corner of
the house, and walk in the direction of the
steps. He held large butchers knife in his
right hand, and looked wistfully around him
as he advanced. AS soon as he came to the
eottem step; he began to ascend the stairs with