The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-02-26

Not the negus! Oh, come now, you ar
joking Why, it will keep you from catch
ing cold, and be most comfortable night
cap, disposing you to sleep and sweat like
baby! Of course you spend the night will
us?'
& thank you, no! l must take the roa,
again in few minutes.'
'Take the road again tonight! Why
man alive! it is midnight, and the snov
driving like all Lapland.'
'sir, l am sorry to refuse your profFere'
hospitality and leave your comfortable roo
tonight, and sorrier still to have to tax
you with me- said the pastor, gravely.'
'Take ME with you! No, no, my goo,
sir no, no, that is too good a joke-ha
hap
'sir, fear that you will find it yer,
serious one! Your servant told you tha
my errand was one of eminent urgency?'
'Yes, something like life and death.
'Exactly-down in the cabin, near th
Punch Bowl, there is an old woman dyin,
-
'There, knew it. was Just sayin!
| there might be an old woman dying. But
my dear sir, what's that to me? What cal
| do?'
Humanity, sir, would prompt you.'
'But, my dear sir, how can help her?
am not physician to prescribe-.'
'She is far past physicians help
Nor am a priest to hear her confession.
'Her confession God has already received.
well, and Pm not a lawyer to draw W
her will.
'No, sir; but you are recently appointed
If ho Inv Of ha
ghany.'
yes; well what of that. That does no
comprise the duty of my getting up out O.
my warm bed and going through snow
storm to see an old woman expire.'
Excuse me for insisting, Sir; but this i.
an official duty said the parson, mildly bu
firmly.
'Fll-lll throw up my commission to
morrow growled the old man.
'To- morrow you may do that, bnt mean
while, tonight, being still in commission Of
the peace, you are bound to get up and &C
with me to this womnn's bcdsde.'
'And what the demon is wanted of mt
there?'
ITO receive her dying dcposition.'
'To receive Il dying deposition Coco
Heaven was she murdered, then?' e1claim-
ed the old man, in alarm as he started ou,
of bed and began to draw on bis neither
garments.
'Be composed-she was not murdered,
said the pastor.
swell, then, what's it? Dying deposition
1t must concern crime exclaimed the ole
man, hastily drawing on his coat.
1T does concern crime
'What crime, for the love of hcaven?'
81 am not at liberty to tell you. She vii
do that
wool, 60 down and rouse up Jehu, ant
! tell him to put Parson Goodwin's mule il
the stable for the nj ght. And tell him to
put the black draught- horses to the close
carriage, and light both the front lanterns
for we shall have dark. stormy road
Shut the door, You Internal II beg your
pardon, parson, but that villain alway:
leaves the door Il jar after him.
Tie good parson bowed gravely; and the
mnor completed his toilet by the time the
servant returned and reported the carrage
ready
TO the Devils Punch Bowl'-was thu
order given by Old hurricane as he followed
the minister into the carriage. 'AnG now,
SIR he continued, addressing his companion
Il think YOU had better repeat that part OF
the church Iitnny that prays to b" delivered
from battle. murder and sudden dcath:' 70,
if we should be so lucky as to escape BlacS
Donald and his gang, We shall have at least
an equal chance of being upset in the dark.
ness Of these dreadful mountains.'
a pair of saddle mules would have beer
a safer conveyance, certainly said the min
lister.
Old Hurricane knew that, but though q
great scnsualist, h" was a brave man, anc
so he had rather risk his life in close cur.
riasc than suffer cold upon q sure-footeC
mules back.
After many delays and perils, the pastor
and Old Hurricane arrived at their destIna'
ton. called the Witch's Hut or Old Hat:
Cabin. In one corner of the hut, on q
ragged couch, lay grny-haired and ema-
ciated woman, evidently near unto death
On being Informed that a magistrate had
arrived, she insisted on everybody else leav.
! ing the room, as she would speak with him
alone. Her request having been complied
with, Old Hurricane drew from his pocket
a Bible, administered the oath, and then
said ::
truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the
TRUTH you know. But your first nume?'
SIS it possible you don't know me, mas
ter:'
'Not I, in faith p
'For the love of heaven, look at me- and
try to reco.lect me, sir! 1t is necessary
some onei authority should be able to know
me- said the woman raising her haggard
eyes to the face of her visitor.
The old man adjusted his spectacles and
gave her Il scrutinzing look, exclaiming al
intervals
Lord bless my soul it is it aint i,
must it can't be Granny Grewel!-t the
hc-the-midwife that disappeared from
here some twelve or thirteen years ago.
'Yes, master, am Nancy Grewell, the
ladies' nurse, who vanished from sight so
mvsteriously some thirteen years ago. re-
piled the woman.
Heaven help our hcartsl And for what
crime was it you ran away? Come make
n clean breast of it, woman! You have
nothing to fear in doing so. for you are past
the arm of earthly law now'
Il know it, MASTER
sAnd the best way to prepare to meet the
Divine Judge is to make all the preparation
that you can by full confession!'
81 know 1t, sir-if | had committed q
crime; but have committed no crime,
neither did run away
'What? what2 what ?--What was il
then? Remember, witness, you are on your
oath
q know that, sir, and will tell the truth;
but it must be in my own way
At this moment violent blast of wind
and hail roared down the mountain side and
ratified against the walls, shaking the witch's
hut, as if it would have shaken it about
their ears.
1t was proper overture to the tale that
was about to be told. Conversation was
impossible until the storm raved past and
was heard dying in deep reverborating
echoes from the depths of the DEVILS Punch
Bowl.
st is some thirteen wears ago. brgnn
Granny GreweIl, 'upon just such night OF
storm as this. that was mounted on my
old mule Molly. with my saddlc-bags full OF
dried YARDS. and stilled waters and sich, as
alIus carried when l was out 'tcndin' or
the sick. was on my way a-going to see