Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1859-02-10

then2 Remember, witness, you are OF
your oath r.
know that sir, and will tell the
truth but it must be in my own way
at this moment a violent gust Of wind
and hail roared down the mountain side
and ratified against the walls. shaking the
witches hut. as if it would have shaken
it about their ears.
/ 1t was q proper overture to the tale
that was to he told. Conversation was
Impossible until the storm raved past and
was heard dying in deep reYerberating
echoes from the depths of the Devils
Punch Bowl.
1t is some thirteen years ago" began
Granny Grcwell, upon just such night
as this. that 1 was mounted on INV old
mule Molly, with my saddle bags full Of
dried YARDS, and stiIled waters and sich,
as alters carried when was out 'tcndin'
on the sick. | was on my way agoing 10
see lady as was sent for to tend.
Well, masterl I'm not 'shamed to
say, as never was afraid of man, beast,
nor spirit and never stopped at going
out all hours of the night, through the
most loansolnest roads, if so be l was
called upon to do so. Still l mpst say
that jest 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 querish case it
was the dead hour Of the night, and it
was said how many strange things were
seen and hearn, yes, and done too in that
dark, deep, Lonesome place. I seer how
even my mule Molly felt queer too, by
the way she stuck up her ears, stiff as
quills. So, partly to keep up my own
spirits, and partly to courage her. says
Molly, says |. what are We afeared of
Be man, Mollyr But Molly stepped
out cautious, and pricked up her long
ears all the same.
W ell, MASTER itswas SO dark I could
not see yard past Molly's cars, and the
path was SO narrow aud the bushes so
thick We could hardly get along but
just as we came TO the little creek as they
call the Spout, cause the water jumps and
Jots along till it empties into the Punch
Bowl, and just as Molly was cautiously
putting her fore foot into the water, out
starts two men from the bushes and
seizes poor Molly's bride T.
Good heavenw exclaimed Major War
field.
Well, master, before l could cry out,
one Of them williams seized me by the
scruff of my neck, and with the other
hand on my mouth he says H#t
80 Be silent, you old fool, or I'll blow
your brains out!'
/" And then master, saw for the first
time that their faces were covered over
with Grape. couldn't screamed if they
had let inc, for my breath was gone, and
my senses were going along with it from
the fear that was on me.
"' Don't struggle, come along quietly,
you shall not DE hurt says the man as
he had spoke before. @
Struggled / couldn't have struggled
to have saved my soul | couldn't speak
! couldn't breathe / like to have a.drop-
ed right often MolIy's back. One on 'em
says. SAYS he
Give her some brandy I and t'other
takes out flask, and puts it to my lips
and says, says he:
- Here, drink this
{" Well, master, as he had me still by
the scruH O. the neck, l couldn't do no
other ways but open my mouth and drink
it. And as soon as took swallow my
breath come back and my speech.
And oh, gentlemen" says l, eff its
your money or your life, you mean, | haint
it about mel Deed clare to the Lord
mighty, l haint its wrapped up in an
old cotton glove in a hole in the plaster
ing in the chimney corner at home, and
ef you'll spare my life, you can go there
and get it" says /.
You old blockhead," says they, I've
want one nor t'otherl Come along qui
city and you shall receive no harm. But
at the-first cry or attempt TO escape this
shall stop you = Aud with that the will
lain held the mizzle of pistol SO nigh to
my nose that smelt birthstone, while
t'other one bound silk handkerchief
round my Dyes, and then took poor Mol
lys brid and led her along. couldn't
see in course. and -dissint breathe for
fear Of the pistol. But said my prayers
to myself all the time.
We'll master, they led the mule down
the path, until we coined to place wide
enough to turn, when they turned US
round and led us back outen the wood
and then round and round, and up and
down, and cross ways and length ways,
as Of they didn't want me to find where
they were taking me.
Well, sir, when they'd walk about in
this fused way, leadin' of the mule about
mile, knew we was 10 the woods again
The very same woods and the very same
PATH knowed by the feel Of the place
and the sound Of the bushes, as we bit up
against them each side, and also by the
rumbling Of the Spout as it tumbled along
toward the Punch Bowl We went down,
and down, and down, and lower, and
lower. aud lower, until we got right
down in the bottom Of that hollow.
Then We stopped. gate was open
ed. put up my hand to raise tho hand.
keSclief, aud see where ! vas tot, just