The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-02-05
TWO CENTS

T" thank you, Major warfeld / win take the scat,
but not the negus, If you please, to-night5
. Not the negus Oh, come now, you are joking
Why It will keep you from catching cold, and be a
most comfortable nightcap dsposing you to sleep and
sweat like baby ofeourse you spend the night with
usP .r...
'.I thank you, no must take the road again in a
few minutes . " #..
" Take the road again to night Why, man alive
IL midnight and the driving like all Lapland
'S Sir am sorry to refuse your preferred hospitality
and leave your comfortable roof tonight, and sorrsr
gravely.
Take ME with you No, no my good sir no, no,
that Is too good jole-ha ha IL
Sir fear that you will find II very serious one !!
Your servant told you that my errand of mmi
nent 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 to
mef What can dor
Humanity, sir would prompt you"
But my dear SIR, how can help herr am not a
physicia 10 prescrhe-."
She is far past physicians help
Nor am i priest to hear her conlession---."
Her confession God has already received"
"Well, and I'm not lawyer to draw up her win.
No, sir; but you recently appointed Of the
Justices Of the Peace for Allegheny tEg
" 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 sec an old woman ex
pire." .....
Excuse for insisting, sir but this is an official
duty, said the parson, mildly, but firmly.
"IH-Ill throw up my commission tomorrow, -
growled the old man. a.. #H
Tomorrow you may do that but meanwhile to-
night being still in the commission of the peace you
are bound TO get up and go with to this womans bed
side" r8 ea.Es asr.t..sT a... g.. a .rIasa
And what the demon is wanted of me there p
ITO receive her dying deposition"
q" To receive dying deposition Good Heaven was
IN thenY' he oil ma in AZ
he started out Of bed and began to draw his neither
garments.
e BE composed--she was not murdered" said the
pastor @as Ea.aar.
Well, then, what is it Dying deposition 1t must
concern crime, exclaimed the Old man, hastily draw
ing on his coat. auHnH .. a.a. ....... ....
''It does concern crime" -s ........ ...a.
"What crime, for the love of heaven p
- am not at liberty to tell you. She will do that"
b Wool go down aud rouse up Jchu, and tell him to
put Parson Goodwins mule in the stable for the night
And tell him TO put the black draught horses to the
close carriage, and light both the front lantensfor
shall have dark, stormy road--Shut the door, you
ntcrnall beg your pardon, parson, but that villain
always leaves the door ajar after him.
The good parson bowed gravely I; and the major
plced his toilet by the time the servant returned and
ported the carriage ready ' ..
l 'stTo the Devils Punch Bowl was the order given
by Old Hurricane he followed the minister into the
carriage. 'And now sir, he continued, addressing his
companion I think you had better repeat that part of
the church ltany that prays to be delivered from battle
murder and sudden death for if we should be lucky
to escape Black Donald and his gang shall have
least equal chance of being upset in the darkness of
these dreadful mountains
ga pair of saddle mules would have been safer
yeyancc, certainly said the minister.
Old Hurricane knew that but though great sensualist,
he brave man, and he had rather risk his life in
close carriage than suffer cold upon surcfootcd mules
back
After many delays and pers the pastor and Old Hur-
rcapc arrived at their destination called the Witchs Hut
IA m pf fbe hut on IA
ragged couch; lay gray haired and emaciated wo-
man, evidently near unto death. On being informed
that magistrate had arrived, she insisted everybody
else leaving the room as she would speak with him
alone Her request having been complied with Old Hur
ricane drew from his pocket Bble administered the
oath, and then said
"Now then, my good soul bogin-'the truth, the
whole truth, and nothing but the TRUTH you know
But first, your name r. II.
sis itpossible you don't know me- master p
'Not l, in faith !" .t. ~
For the love Of heaven look at and Try to recol-
lcct me- sir 1t Is necessary some one authority should
be able to know me- said the woman raising her bag
gard eyes to the face of her visitor. ns .an
The old man adjusted his spectacles aud gave her
scrutinizing look exclaming at intervals
{" Lord bless my soul it is it aint It must it
can't he Granny Grewell--the--th the the--rnidwife
that disappeared from here twelve thirteen years
ago." " .f
''Yes, master, am Nancy Grewell the ladies' nurse
who vanished from sight mysterously some thirteen
years ago !" replied the woman.
|" Heaven help our hearts And for what crime was
it you ran awayY Come make CLEAN breast of it
woman You have nothing u fear in doing so for YOU
are past the arm ofearthiy law now y
j know ", Anastcr."
'And the best way to prepare meet the Divine Judge
to make all the repaation that you by full con.
fession T.
g Iknow IT, sirif had committed crime but |
have. committed no crime, neither did | run away
tWhatY what 7 what what was il then Remen,.
Der, Witness you your oath -
know that sir, and will tell tho truth but it
must be in my way
AT this moment violent blast OF wind and hail roared
down the mountAA side aud ratified against the walls
shaking the wiIcs hut if it would have shaken 1t
about their ears
IL was proper overture to the tale that was sbut to
be told Conversation impossible unsl the storm
raved past and heard dying N deep reyerberatnq
echoes from the depths Of the Devils Punch Bowl.
" 1t Is some thirteen years ago. began Granny Grew
ell Npoa Just such night of storm as this that was
mounted ON my old mule Molly with my saddle bags full
OF dried YARDS, and stied waters aud seh alIs car
red when was out tepdin on the sick. was on my
way argong TO see laSsy as was sent for TO tend
Welt Master m not shamed 10 say as never
vas alrad Of man, beast, spirit aud never stopped
az going out all hours of the night, through the most
loansonest roads If be was called upon SO to do
Still must say that Jest and Molly my mule got
into the deep thick lonesome woods as stands round the
old Hidden House in the hollow did feel oueerish
case it was the dead hopg oi night and IL said how
strange things weIa and hearn, yes and done too
in thai dark, deep lonesome place how even nv
mule Molly felt queer too, by the way she stuck up her
ears, sf as quills SO, partly to keep up my own spirits
and partly to courage her says i, Molly, gays T. what
are yc aeard on Be man. Molly 4 But Molly step |
ped out cautious aud prekcd up her long ears all the