Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1859-02-12

errahd was one Of imminent urgency?"
c"Yes, something like life and death--:n,o
/ 81" Exacty-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 me2 What can
l do?" rH0 g.,l.guoIi .-ucrD IL -r
Humanity, sir, would prompt you"
"But, my dear sir, how can help her? I
am not physician to prescribe -"
-" She is far past physicians help" -
- Nor am priest to hear her confess
sion, .-,,.. e-. -...,...r. .....,,, =, 3D..
"Well, and I'm not lawyer to draw up
her will'' 81 '.. .' 49, =
"No, sir; but you are recently appointed
one of thej Justices lof the Peace for ALE
ghany." sgqjs,, rgsa,ag5.,s L...s. IN o..
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" t-"2:'lu
Excuse me for insisting, sir; but this is
an official duty" said the parson, mildly but
"Pn-pn throw up my commission to-mor-
row." growled the old man.. .>..l --.@t g.
Tomorrow you may do that, but mean
while, tonight, being still in the commission
of the peace, you are bound to get up and 60
with me to this woman's bedside"
"And what the demon is wanted with me
| there pr, .... ~. ..7.....-gt
""To receive her dying deposition"
"To receive dying deposition" Good
Heaven was she murdered, them" ex-
claimed the old man, in alarm, as he started
out of bed and began to draw on his neither
garments. ..r.~ ID. .--......: ..t. .....
"Be composed-she was not murdered"
said the pastor.
"Well, then, what is it? Dying depo
| sition! 1t must concern crime" exclaim-
ed the old man, hastily drawing on his
coat. . ..t. e. -. a..
| at does concern crime" s..
What crime, for the love of Heaven? ?" 81
~ am not at liberty to tell you. She will
do that" .s~.- y
Wool, 60 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 black draught- horses to the close car
riage, 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 always leaves the door
ajar after him." .... =. .s.....s -.
The good parson bowed gravely; and the
major completed his toilet by the time the
servant returned and reported the carriage
| ready.
= q To 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 companin,
ti"d think you had better repeat that part of
the church htany that prays to 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. -. .,.'.-.5 .,..."g,I 's.I !
"A pair of saddled mules would have been
safer conveyance, certainly" said the min:
lister. ..- ..D -... 20 i''.~....~. .sa b.
Old Hurricane knew that, but though a
great sensualist, he was a brave man, and
| So he had rather risk his life in close car.
riage than suffer cold upon a sure-footed mule
back. -ciH.' &" b" ''".-'.-i .... d. ,''.-.' 81
| 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 ragged couch,
lay gray-haired and emaciated woman, ev-
identity near unto death. On being informed
that a 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, administers
the oath, and then said:
81" Now then, my good soul begin the
truth, the whole truth, and nothing but
the TRUTH you know. But first, your
name ?" ,.,.... -,.... iE a'...'.
"Is it possible you don't know me, mas.
ter?" ..ti .a ...-.-'..... ,.... ..s cir =
mot l, in faith!" ..., "a '...,....
For the love of Heaven, look at me and
try to recollect me, sir 1t is necessary some
one in authority should be able to know me, u
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 at in.
tervals- .... -. ,',. a.. .....
lord bless my soul it is! itaint | it must
it can't be! Granny Grewell-the- the
the midwife that disappeared from here some
| twelve or thirteen years ago ?" RED.
"Yes, master, l am Nancy Grewell, the
ladies' nurse, who vanished from sight so mys-
tiously 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 moth
ing to fear in doing so, for you are past the
arm of earthly law now!" ..-
know it master"
And the best way to prepare to meet the
Divine Judge is to make all the PREPARATION that
you can by a 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!"
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 rat
tied against the walls, shaking the witch's
hut, as if it would have shaken it about their
ears. 81
1t was proper overture to the tale that
was about to be told Conversation was i'm
possible until the storm raved past and was
heard dying in deep reverberating echoes
from the depths of the Devils Punch Bowl
ut is some thirteen years ago." began
Granny Grewell 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 l allus
carried when was out tendin' on the sick.-
was on my way a-going to see lady as I
was sent for to tend"
swell, master! Pm not 'shamen to say,
as never was afraid of man, beast, nor spir-
it and never stopped at going out all hours
of the night, through the most loansomest
roads, if SO be was called upon to do so.-
Still must say that just as me and Molly,
my mule, got into the deep, thick, lonesome
| woods as stands round the old Hidden House
in the hollow, did feel queerish; case it was
the dead hour Of night, and it was said how