Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1859-02-11

| hail roaIed down the mountain side ana ra'tlea
ooainsrthe walls, shaking the witches hut, rs II
il woald have shaken it about their ears
II was a proper overture to the tale thai was
about 10 be told. Convers ,tion was Impossible
until the storm raved past and was heard dying
in deep reverberating echoes from the de rshs oil
the Devils Punch Bowl.
lit is some thirteen years ago. began tyranny
Grewell, upon Just such night OF storm as tnls,
that was mounted on my old mule Molly' wi'n
nv saddle.bags full of dried yards, and sliled
waters and SIGH, as alus carried when | was
out .tenlin' ON the sick. | was on my way a
going TO see lady as was sent for to teDd
We'll, MASTER I'm not 'shamed 10 say as
never was afraid of man, beast, nor spirit and
never stopped at going out all hours OF the
night, through the most loansomeSt ruads, IL so
be was called upon SO 10 do. Still must 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
aueerish; ease it was the dead hour 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 qullls. So, partly to keep up
my own spirits, and partly 10 courage her, says
|, Molly says |, what are We afeard on BE
Il man, molly. Dut MoHy s'NHpNu eut S"ut'ouo
and pricked up her long ears all the same.
We'll, master, it was so dark couldn't see a
yard past Molly's ears, and The path was so mar
row and the bushes so thick we could hardly get
along; but Just as we came to the little creek
as they calls the Spout, cause the water jumps
and Jets along till il emptes into the fuuch
Bowl, and Just as Molly was cautiously putting
her fore foot into the watel, out starts two men
from the bushes and seizes poor Molys br ile.'
Good heaven, exclaimed Major Warfeid
We'll, master, before could cry out, one of
them williams seized me by the scruf OF my
neck, and with the other hand on my mouth he
SAYS:
"Be silent, you old fool, or III blow your
brains out
And then master, saw for the first time that
their faces were covered over with black Grape
couldn't a-screamed if they'd let me, for my
breath was gone and my senses were going
with it from the fear that was on me.
Don't struggle, come along quietly and yon
shall not be hurt says the man as had spoke
before
Struggle, l couldn't a-struggled to a-saved
my soul. | couldn't speak. | couldn't breathe.
| liked to have dropped often Molly's back.
One on 'em says, says he
Give her some brandy . And t'other takes
ont flask and puts it to my lips and says, says
he
Here, drink this
We'll, master, as he had me still by the scrufr
o. the neck | 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, 'ef its your
money or your life you mean, | haint it about
me Deed clare to The Lord almighty haint .
- g mad nld r,ln IN boto
in the plastering in the Gimme y-corner al home,
and eff you'll spare my life, you can 90 there
and get it, says |.
You old blockhead,' says they, we want
neither one nor t'other Come along quietly
and you shall receive no harm. But at the first
cry or attempt to escape this shall stop you ,
And with thai the william held the mrZzle of q
pistol so nigh TO my nose that smell br mstone
while t'other one bound a silk handkerchief
| round my eyes, and then took poor Molly 5
bride and led her along. / couldn't see in
course, and dissint breathe for fear o. the pis-
tol. But | said my prayers to myself all the
time
Well, master they led the mule on down
the path, they turned US round and led US ba k
outen the wood, and then round md rount, and
mp and down, and cross ways and length WAYS
as eff they didn't want TO find where they
were taking me.
Well. sir, when they'd walk about in this
fused way, ieadin' of the mule about mi e.
| | knew we was in the woo's again-the very
same woods and the very same PATH knowrd
by the feel of the place and the sound of the
bushes, as we hit up against them each side
and also by the rumbIlng of the Spout a it tum-
b ed along toward the Punch Bowl We went
down and down, and lower, and lower, and low
er, until we got right down in The bottom oil
that hollow.
Then we stopped. A gate was opened.
put up my band to raise the handkerchief, and
see where was; but just at that minute, | fell
the mizzle o the psie like ring of ice ri.h
agin my right temple, and the villain growing
into my ear
I But didn't-l dropped my hand down a.
if had been shot, and afore | had seen any
thing either. So we wenr through the gate
and up gravellv walk knew it by the crack
ling of the gravel under Molly's feet-and stop
ped at horse-block, where one o them williams
lifted me off. | put mp my hand again.
"'Do if You dare, says t'other one, with tn,
mizze O. the pistol at my head.
t j dropped my hand like lead. So they leaC
me on little way, and then up some steps.
counted them to myself as | went along The,
were six. You see, master, took all thi,
| pains 10 know the house again. Then the,
opened door that opened in the middle They
then went along a passage and up more
/ stairs-there was ten, ami turn, and then ter
, more. Then along another passage, and u,
another flight of stairs, just like the first Thei
along another passage, and up a third flight 0
stairs. They was alike.
well, sir, here we was at the top O. III,
house. One O. them villains opened door OF
the left side, and t'olher said
, ''There-gu in and do your duty , an,
l pushed me through the door and shut anc
locked it on me. Good gracious, sir, how
scared was slipped off the silk handker
cher, and feared as l was, didn't forget t
} put it in my bosom.
Then | looked about me. Right afore m,
on the hearth was a lutte weny taper burning
r that showed ! was in great big garnet VIII
siopng walls. AT one end two deep dofne
: windows, and a black walnut bureau standing
: between them. At t'other end great tesie
bedstead with dark curtains. There was dark
, carpet ON the floor. And with all there wer,
: SO many drk ubjecls aud so m my shadows, ant
! the little taupr hurnel so fl,o,Iv N I oo,t,