Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1859-02-11

up, and say how n wertha matteiNO iite and
death p
Life and death? What have to do
with life and death? / won't stir 1t the
parson wants to see me he will have to come
up here and see me in bed
Mos fetch him reverence up, sar z
"Yes, wouldn't get up and go down to
see Washington the door, you ras-
cal or I'll throw the booGack at your wood
en- head ]"
Wool obeyed with alacrity and in time to
escape the threatened missile.
After an absence of few minutes he was
heard returning, attending upon the footsteps oil
another. And the next minute he entered ush-
ering in the Rev Mr.. Goodwin, the parish MIN
ister of Bethlehem, ST. Mtry's.
allow do yuu do? How do you do? Glad
to see you, sir glad to see you, though Obliged
to receive you in bed Fact is, ! caught cold
with this severe change Of weather, and look a
warm negus and went TO bed 10 sweat it Oft /!
You'll excuse me ! Wool. draw thai easy chair
up to nv bedside for worthy Mr.. Goodwin, and
bring him glass Of warm negus. IL will do
him good after his cold ride.
Il thank you, Major War6eld | will take
the seat, but not the negus, If you please to-
night"
"Not the negus Oh, come now, you are
Joking Why, it will keep you from catching
cold, and be a most comfortable nghtcap, dis
posing you to sleep and sweat like baby Of
course you spend the night with us y
ii thank you, no! must take the road again
IN few minutes"
Take the road again tonight Why, man
alive it is midnight, and the snow driving like
all Lapland."
"Sr, am sorry to refuse your proiered hos
ptality and leave your comfortable root tonight,
and sorrier still to have 20 take you with me,"
said the pastor, gravely."
Stake ME with you No, no, my good sir !!
no, no, that is TOO good joke-ha hal"
"Sir fear that you will find it very serious
one! Your servant told you that my Grand
was one of imminent urgency?"
"Yes, something like life and death-.'
"Exactly-down in the cabin, near the Punch
Bowl, there is an old woman dying"
"There, ] knew it. | was just saying there
might be an old woman dying. But, my dear
sir, what's that 10 me? What can do p
Humanity, sir, would prompt YOU"
"But, my dear sir, how can help heri
am not a physician u prescribe-"
''She is far past physicians help."f'
'Nor am | priest to hear her conlession-."
"Her confession God has already received"
"Well, and I'm not a lawyer TO draw up her
will"
"No, sir; but you are recently appointed one
of the Justices of the Peace for Alleghany."
"Yes; well, what of that That does not
comprise the duty Of my getting up out of my
warm bed and going through snow storm to
! see an old woman expire"
Excuse me for insisting sir; but this is an
official duty, said the parson, mildly but firm
ly.
"l'll-I'll throw up my commission to-mor-
row." growled the old man.
Tomorrow you may do that, but meanwhile,
tonight, being still in the commission OF the
peace, you are bound to get up and go with me
to this woman's bedside
"And what the dem n is wanted of me there 2"
"'To receive her dying deposition
'To receive dying deposition Good Hea-
ven ! was she murdered, then 7" exclaimed the
old man, in alarm, as he started out of bed and
began to draw on his neither garments.
BE composed-she was not murdered said
the pastor.
We'll. then, what is it2 Dying deposition
1t must concern crime, exclaimed the old man,
hastily drawing on his coat
/ 1T does concern a crime
| 'What crime, for the love of heaven 2
! Il am not at liberty to tell you. She will Dc
that,
/ Wool, go down and rouse up .Iehu, and tel
him to put Parson Goodwin's mule in the stable
for the night. Aud tell him 10 put the black
draught- horses to the close carriage, and ligh
both the front lanterns-.or we shall have
dark, stormy road--Shut the door, you internal
IL beg your pardon, parson, but that villain al
ways leaves the door ajar after him.
4 The goud parSon bowed graveiy and the ma
tol ~ a.
returned and reported the carriage ready.
80 the Devils Punch Bowl'-was the orde
given by Old Hurricane as he followed the mn
lister into the carriage. and now, SIR he con
tInued, addressing his companion, Il think 70,
had better repeat that part of the church liian,
that prays to be delivered from battle, murde
and sudden death , for if we should be so luck,
as to escape Black Donald and his gang, w
shall have at least an equal chance of being IN
set in the darkness of these dreadful mountains
"A pair of saddled mules would have been
safer conveyance, certainly said the minister.
Old Hurricane knew that, but though grea
sensualist, he was brave man, and so he ha
rather risk his life in a close carriage than sui
fer cold upon sure-fooIed mules back.
, After many delays and perls, the pastor an,
Old Hurricane arrived at their destination, call
ed the Wich's Hut or Old Hats Cabin. Il
: one corner OF lne nut, on ragged couch, lay
, grhy-haired and emicialed woman, EVIDENT
near unto death. On being informed thai
magistrate had arrived, she insisted on every
body else leaving the room, as she would speal
with him alone. Her request having been com
pl ed with, Old Hurricane drew from his poke
Bible, administered The oath, and then said
t Now then, my good soul begin-'the truth
the whole truth, and nothing but the truth yo
f know But first. your name p
is it possible You don't know me, master q
MOI |, in faith 7
!, For the love of heaven, look at me and try 4
recoilect me, sir 1t is necessary some one au
!, thority should be able to know me- said the wa
: man, raising her haggard eyes TO the face Of he
7 visitor.
| The old man adjusted his spec,acles and CAV
/ her SC ulnizng look, exclaiming at intervals
Lord bless my soul! i, is il amt il must
il can't be Granny GreweIi -the-the-th
: midwife that disappeared from here. som
twelve or thirteen years ago?'
Yes, master, am Nancy Grewell, the ladie.
. nurse, who vanished from sight so mysteriousl
: some thirteen years ago!' replied the woman.
: Heaven help our hearts And for wha
+ ,rime was it you ran away? Concentrate