Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-08

81 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" - - q
''Sir, | am sorry to refuse your proffered
hospitality and leave our humble roof to night,
and sorrier still to have to take you with me, .
said the pastor grayely.
Take ME with you'll No, no, my good sir !
no, no, that is to good joke-ha! ha p
Sir, | fear that you will find ii very Sc
rious one Your servant told you that my err
rand was one of imminent urgency 2"
Eyes, 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 to me? What can doc"
Humanity, sir, would prompt you"
"But, my dear sir, how can 1 help her?
am not physician to prescribe"
"She is far past physicians help"
'Nor am | priest to hear her confess
sion"
"Her confession God has already received .
"WelI and Pm not lawyer to draw up her
will"
mo, sir but you are recently appointed one
of the Justices of the Peace for Aleghany."
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.
"Pn-I'n throw up my commission to-mor-
row" growled the old man.
Tomorrow you may do that, meanwhile,
tonight, being still in the commission of the
NM NON Ill
me to this woman's bedside"
And what the demon is wanted of me
there ?''
"To receive her dying deposition"
"To receive dying deposition! Good
Heaven was she murdered, then 2" 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.
"Well, then, what is it 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"
II am not at liberty to tell you. She will
do that"
"Wool, go down and rouse up Jehu, and
tell him to put Parson Goodwin's mule in the
stable for the night. And tell him to put the
OAsSSAA
light both the front lanterns, for we shall have
dark, stormy road-shut the door, you infer
nall beg your pardon, parson, but that vii
lain always leaves the door ajar after him."
The good parson bowed gravely, and the
MAJOR completed his toilet by the time the SER
want returned and reported the carriage ready.
ITO the Devils Punch Bowl" was the order
given by Old Hurricane as he followed the
minister into the carriage "And now, sir"
he continued, addressing his companion, al
think you had better repeat that part of the
church litany that prays to be delivered from
battle, murder, and sudden death;' for if we
should be so lucky as to escape Black Donald
and his gang, we shall have at least an equal
chance of being upset in the darkness of these
dreadful mountains
"a pair of saddle mules would have been a
safer conveyance, certainly" said the minister.
Old hurricane knew that, but though a
great sensuahst, he was brave man, and SO
he had rather risk his life in a close carriage
than suffer cold upon a sure-footed mules
back.
After many delays and perils, the pastor and
Old hurricane arrived at their destination,
called the Witch's Hut or Old Hats Cabin
In one corner of the hut, on a ragged couch,
lay gray haired and emaciated woman, evil
IDENTIFY near unto death. On being informed
that magistrate had arrived, she insisted on
everybody else leaving the room, as she would
speak with him alone. Her request having
been complied with, Old Hurricane drew from
his pocket Bible, administered the oath, and
then said
"Now, my good soul, begin-'the truth, the !.
whole truth, and nothing but the truth, ,Yss,,
know. But first, your name 2" n -,
is 1t possible you don't know NO ,nostor ~
mot /, in faith p ---''''S-
For the love, Of Heaven. look at me and trv
W set HE, sir 1t is necessary some one
S5rity 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 scrutinizing look, exclaiming al in
tervals-
Lord bless my soul! it is! it amt! it
must it can't be Granny Grewell, the-the
-the-midwife that disappeared from here
some twelve or thirteen years ago?"
eyes, master, am Nancy Grewell, the la
dies nurse, who vanished from sight SO mys-
teriously some thirteen years ago!" replied
the woman.
Heaven help our hearts And for what
crime was it you ran away Come-make a
clean breast of it, woman You have nothing
to fear in doing SO, for you are past the arm of
earthly law now '
81 know it, master"
"And the best way to prepare to meet the
Divine Judge is to make all reparation that
you can by full confession"
81 know it, sir-if had committed crime;
but have committed no crime, neither did /
run away"
What? what? what What was it then
Remember, witness, you are on your oath p
81 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 dy-
ing in deep reverberating echoes from the
depths of the Devils Punch Bowl.
1T is some thirteen years ago" began Gran
ny Grewel, upon just such night of storm
as this, that was mounted on my old mule
Molly, with my saddle-bags full of dried YARDS,
and stilled waters and SIGH, as allus carried
when was out 'tendin on the sick. was on
my way a-going to see a lady as was sent for
to tend"
"Well, master I'm not ashamed to say, as
never was afraid of man, beast, nor spirit
and never stopped going out at all hours of the
night through the most loansomest roads, if
SO be was called upon so to do. Still must
say that just as me and Molly, my mule, got
into the deep, thick, lonesome woods as stands
round the Hidden House in the hollow, did
feel queerish case it was the dead of night,
and it was said how strange things were seen
and hearn, yes, and done too, in that dark,
deep, lonesome place. seen how even my
mule Molly felt queer too, by the way she
stuck up her ears, stiff as quilts. So, partly to
keep up my own spirits, and partly to courage
her, says /, Molly says l, what are we afeard
on BE man, Molly But Molly stepped
out cautious, and pricked up her long ears all
the same.