The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-02-10

cold, and be most comfortable nightcap dis
| posing you to sleep and sweat like baby! OF
| course you spend the night with us ?"
| 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"
| Sir, am sorry to refuse your profered hos
pitality and leave your comfortable roof tonight
and sorier still to have to take you with me-
said the pastor, gravely.
| Take Me with you No, no, my good sir
no, no, that is too good joke-ha ha !"
| Sir, fear that you will find it a very seri-
Gus one Your servant told you that my errand
was one of imminent urgency?"
| es, 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 do? ~
! Humanity, sir, would prompt you
But, my dear sir, how | help her? |
am not physician to prescribe -
She is far past physicians help"
Nor ana | priest to hear her comics
sion -
"Her confession God has already received"
"Well, and I'm not a lawyer to draw up her
will
No, sir; but you are recently appointed one
of the Justices Of the Peace for ALLEGHENY"
| "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 Inc for insisting, sir but this is an
official duty" said the par4an, midly, but
firmly.
"lll-rl throw up my commission to-mor-
row." growled the old man. 4.
Tomorrow you may do that but mean
while, tonight being still in the commission
of the peace, you are hound to get up aud go
with me 10 this woman's bedside"
| And what the demon is wanted of me
| there ?"
"To receive her dying deposition"
10 receive dying deposition! Good
| Heaven! was she murdered, then 2" exclaimed
| the old man, III 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"
hat crime, for the love Of Heaven?'
IL 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 black
draught horses to the close carriage, and light
both the front lanterns--for we shall have a
dark, stormy road--y-Shut the door, you infer
nal u beg your pardon, parson, but that vii
lain always leaves the door ajar after him."
The good parson bowed gravey; and the
maj completed his toilet by the time the ser
want returned and reported the carriage ready
ITO the Devils Punch Bowl was the or
der. given by Old Hurricane as he followed the
minister into the carriage. "And now, SIR
he continued, addressing his companion, II
think YOU had better repeat that part of the
church litaRy 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 males would have been
safer conveyance, certainly said the minister
Old Hurricane knew that, but though great
| sensuahst, he was brave man and so he had
rather risk his life in close carriage than suf-
fer cold upon spre-faoted mules hack,
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, Law a
grayhaired aud emaciated woman, evidently
near unto death. On being informed that a
magistrate had arrived. she insisted on every
body else leaving the room, as she would speak
with him alone. Her request having been
complied with, Old H"y..acdne drew from his
/ pocket bihle, administered the oath, and then
sand
Now, then, my good soul, begin the
truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the
truth, yop know, But 6gst your name"
IS 1t possible you don't know me, master +"
Not |, in faith |"
For the love of Heaven, look at me and try
to recollect Inc, sir 1t is necessary some one in
authority should be able to know me- said the
woman, raising her haggard eyes to the face of
her visiter.
The old man ABUSED his spectaeles and
gave heg seratinizfng look, exclaiming at in
| tervals-- n
Lord bless my soul it is ! it amt it must |!
ii can't be! Granny Grewell-the- the-the-
midwife that disappeared from here some twelve
or thirteen years ago." .
Yes, master, | NJ, Aaney Grewell, the la
diegg' nptse, who vanished from sight so mystic
riously some thirteen years ago." replied the
| woman,
Heaven help our hearts! And for what
crime was it you ran away? Comc-g,aso a
N''o' vi ~, "Oi'i"h soh nave
to.fear IN do,R. ~, tor you are past the arm Of
as,thIy law now
g know it, master
And the hesE way q prepare 10 meet your
Divine Nudge is 10 make all the PREPARATION you
can by y full eonfossion!"
:" / know it, sir-f had committed crime !:
but have committed no crime, neither did
run away"
what? what? what ?-What was it then
Remember, witness, you are On Yoqf aath /"
know thai siE and will tell the truth !;
| but 1t must be IN my own way"
AT this moment violent blast of wind and
hail roarod 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 Is me tale that was
about to he ted pp gg 81 was impossible
until the storm raved past and was hoard dying
in deep, reyerberatiAg echoes from the depths
! Of the Devils Punch Bowl.
| at is some thirteen years ago. began Gran
ny Grewell, "upon just such night of stcsn, as
this, that was mounted ON IA a.d mule Molly,
with nv ssdA,eeaes fGlf Of dried YARDS, and
, ,stliIed Waters, and SIGH as allus carried when