Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-02-08

1t was a proper overture to the tale that
was about to he told. Conversation was I'M
possible until the storm ravcd past and was
heard dying in deep rcvcrberatinS echoes
from the depths of the Devils Punch Bowl.
1T is some thirteen years ago began
Granny Grcwcll. 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 stillcd waters and sch. as
allus carried when | was out 'tcndin' on
the sick. was on my way a-going to see Il
lady as was sent for to tend"
well, master. I'm not 'shamcd 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 lone
soonest roads, if so be was called upon so
to 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
sqeeerish: case it was the dead hour of night,
and it was said how strange things were
seen and hcarn, YES. and done, too, i'll that
dark. deep. lonesome place. seen how even
my mule Molly felt queer too. by the way,
she stuck up her ears stiff as quilts. So,
partly to keep up my own spirits, and partly
to courageher, saysl, Molly, says |, whatare
you afeared on? Be man, Molly But
Molly stepped out cautious, and pricked up
her long ears all the same.
We'll. master, it was so dark | could mt
see IA yard past Molly's ears, and the path
was so narrow 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 it
empties into the Punch Bowl, and Just us
Molly was cautiously putting her fore foot
into the water. out starts two men from the
bushes and seizes poor Mol!y's bridle"'
Good heaven exclaimed Major War
field
well, master, before could cry out, one
of them villains seized me by the scruff Of
the neck, and with the other hand on my
mouth, says:
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
black Grape. couldn't a-screamed if they'd
let Inc, for my breath was gone, and my
senses were going along with it from the
fear that was on ne.
Don't struggle, come along quietly, and
YOU shall not be hurt, says the man Us had
spoke before.
Struggle, l couldn't a-struggled to a.
saved my SOUL Ieouldn'tspeak. couldn't
breathe! | liked to have a-dropped right
often Molly's back: One on 'em says, says
he:
Give her some brandy" And tother
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
scruff of the neck | couldn't do no other
ways but open my mouth and drinkit And
as soon as took swallow my breath come
back and my speech.
'And oh, gentlemen" says |. ''efit's your
money or your life you mean, haint it about
me. Deed clare to the Lord-a-mighty l
haint! it's raped up in an old cotton glove in
a hole in the plastering in the chimney-corner
at home, and efyoull 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 mt the
first cry or attempt to escape this shall stop
you.' And with that the villain held the
muzzle of pistol 80 nigh to my hose that |
smclt birthstone while t'other one bound II
silk handkerchief round my eyes. and then
I took poor Molly's bride and led her along.
/ cuudn't see in course. and dsSint breathe
| for fear q the pistol But said my prayers
/ to myself all the time.
well, master they led the mule on 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 if they
didn't want me to find where they were TAX
ing me.
well, sir, when they'd walk about in
this fused way. lcadin' Of the mule about Il
mile, knew we was in the woods agin-thc
very same woods and the very same PATH
knowcd by the feel OF the place and thcsound
! of the bushes rs we hit up against them
each side, and also by the rumbling of the
! Spout a. it tumbled along toward the Punch
Bowl. We went down and down, and down,
and lower and lower, and lower, until we
got right down in the bottom of that hollow.
Then we stopped. A gate was opened.
put up my hand to raise the handkerchief,
and see where was: but, Just at that min
ute, felt the mizzle o the ristlc. like n ring
of ice right agin my right temple, and the
! villain growing intomy ear:
IF YOU do
But didn't dropped my hand down
rs if had been shot. and ai'orc had seen
: anything either. So we went through the
gate, and up gravclly walk knew it by
the cracking of the gravel under Mollys
| feet-and stopped alta horsc-block, where one
o the villains lifted me IF, | put up my
hand again.
"Do, ifyou dnrc," says tother one, with
the mizzlc o the pistle at my head.
II dropped my hand like lead. So they
lead me on II little way, and then up some
steps. counted them to myself as | Went
along. They were six. You See master, |
took all this pains to know the house again.
Then they opened door that opened in the
middle. They went alonga passage and up
more stairs-ihcrc was ten and turn, and
then ten more. Then along another passage,
and up ur,ther flight of stairs, Just like the
first. Then along another passage, and up
third flight Of stairs. They was alike.
well sir, here We was ut the top o the
house One o them williams opened q door
on the left side, and t'othcr said
"Thcre-go in and do your duty and
1 Il L. Il