Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-02-12

that night. Just as he had come to. this
emphatic determination, he was startled by
a violent ringing Of the door bell. Order
ling Wool to go and see what was the mat
ter, he hastily arrayed himself in his sleep
ing habiliments, and jumped into bed,
determined not to be intruded upon. or to
be called out of his room on any account
whatever
| At this moment Wool re-appeared.
''Shut the door, you villain! Do you
intend to stand there holding itopen on me
all night!' vociferated the old man.
| Wool hastily closed the offending portals,
and hurried to his masters side.
''Well sir, who was it rung the bell y
"Sar, de Reverend Mr.. Parson Good
win, and he say how he must see you your
self, personally and alone!'
"See me, you villain Didn't you tell
him that I had retiredw
eyes, -massa, tell him how you were
gone to bed and asleep more n an hour ago,
and he ordered me to come wake you up,
and say how it were matter O life and
deathw
"Life and death! What have I to do
with life and death ? I won't stir! If the
parson wants to see me he will have to come
up here and see me in bed" f
''Mus' fetch him reverence up SIR"
eyes, I wouldn't get up and 60 down to
see Washing ton Shut the door, you ras-
cal, or I'll throw the boot-jack at your
wooden head p .+t,f.
Wool obeyed with alacrity and in time
] 70 ~
After an absence Of few minutes he
was heard returning, attending upon the
footsteps Of another. And the next min
ute he entered. ushering in the Rev. Mr..
Goodwin, the parish minister Of Bethlehem,
St. Mary's.
How do you do? How do you do p
Glad to see you, sir, glad to see you, tho
obliged to receive you in bed. Fact is, |
caught cold with this severe change in
the weather, and took warm negus and
went to bed to sweat it off. You'll excuse
me- Wool, draw that easy chair up to my
bedside for the worthy MIR. Goodwin, and
bring him glass Of warm negus. It will
do him good after his cold ride"
II thank you, Major Warfeld. I will
take the seat, but not the negus, if you
please, tonight
''Not the negus. Oh, come now, you
are joking! Why, it will keep you from
catching cold, and be most comfortable
night-cap, disposing you to sleep and sweat
like baby. OF course, you spend the
night with US ?"
| Il thank you, no. I 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."
'Slr, | am sorry to refuse your profered
hospitality and leave your comfortable roof
tonight, and sorrier 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 I!
''Sir, ! fear that you will find it very
serious one! Your servant told you til at
my errand was one of imminent urgen-
cy?
eyes something like life and death
Exactly wn in the cabin pear the
Punch Bowl, there is an old woman dy-
ing
''There, knew it. Twas just saying
there might be an old woman dying But
my dear sir, what's that to me? What can
I do p
Humanity, sir, would prompt you"
''But, my dear sir, how | can help her :?
I am not phi ysician to prescribe--."
"ohe is far past physicians help"
"Nor am priest to hear her confess
sion"
''Her confession God has already receiv-
|ed."
"Well, I am not lawyer to draw up her
will"
No, sir; but, you are recently Apo int
ed one Of the Justices of the Peace for Ale
ghany."
eyes; we'll, what Of that. That does
not compromise the duty Of my getting up
out Of my warm bed and going through
snow storm to see an cid woman expire
"Excuse me for insisting, sir; but this
is an official duty" said the parson, mildly
but firmly.
"Pll-Pll throw up my commission to-
morrow growled the old man.
Tomorrow you may do that, butmean-
while, tonight, being still in the commits
sion Of peace, you are bound to get up and
90 with me to this woman's bedside"
'sAnd what the demon is wanted Of me
there ?"
''To receive her dying deposition"
'To receive her dying deposition /! Good
Heaven, was she murdered, then 2" exclaim-
ed the old man, in 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 deposi-
ton. It must concern crime exclaimed
the old man, hastily drawing on his coat.
cit does concern crime"
"What crime, for the love Of heaven?
Il am not at the 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 10
put the black draugh horses to the close car
riage, and light both the front lanterns
we shall have dark, stormy road-shut
the door, you Internal Il beg your pardon,
parson, but that villain always leaves the
door ajar after him"
The good parson bowed gravely; and
the major completed his toilet by the time
the servant returned and reported tho car