New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-02-03

ITO the Dev:l's Punch BoEi'-Eas the order given
he Old Unrrcsne e.. ne followed the minister into ne
c,r,isge and row, cir" ne Continued, addressing
ME psnion, 81 think ycu hsi better repeat thst
part Of TIE church tsry that prsys to be delivered
from battle, murder ard sudden desth;' for if we
should BE- 90 lucky as 10 escape Black Donald ssd bis
gapg We fhan hsve &. esst 60 equ. chance of beng
upset in the dsrkress Of there dreadful mountains
"Apsir Of saddle mules would hsve bsen safe.
conveyance, certainly, said the minister.
Old Hurricane knew that, but though crest eersu-
sis,, he was brave man, snd so he had rather risk
his life in close csuisgs than suffer cold upon sure
footed mule back.
Only by previous knowledge OF the routs could any
ore have told the vay the carrisge went. Old Hurr
care ard the minister both knew that they drove,
uu berirg over the rough road leading by serpentue
winnings down that rugged fail Of ground TO the river
bank and .hst then turning TO the left By shor. bend
they passed behind that range OF horseshoe rocks
that sheltered Hurricsre Hall-thus, as 1t were,
doubling their own road Beneath ba, range OF rocks
aud between il and another range, there was a1 awful
sbyss OF chasm cleft torn ana Jagged rocks opening
as il were from the bowels Of the earo, IN the shape
OF mammoth bowl, in the bottom Of which, almost
invisible from lis great depth, see.hed ana boiled
MACS of dark water of what seemed u be lost river
q a
was called the Devils Punch Bowl.
Not far from the brink of this awful sbyss, and close
behind the horseshoe racge OF rocks stood an humble
log csbo, occupied by an old free negro, who picked
up ecaIty living by telling 3rtuDes ana showing me
name OF the Witcn's Hat-or Old Hats cabin. A
short distance from Hats cabin the rosa became i'm
passabe ard the travellers got out, and preceded by
the cOachmaD bearing the lantern struggled along on
foot through the drfted and against the buffet
iro ui-fs nd here n guided
The pastor Knocked. The door wss Immediately
opened BY negro whose eek, from the strange anon
sous costume II was difficult 10 guess The tall form
was rugged out first in long red, cloth pettcost
above which buttopeo blue cloth surtout. a
mans old black beaver hat sat upon the strange head
and completed this odd attire.
"Wel, Hat, how is your patient, inquired the pas
tor as he entered, preceding the magistrate.
lyon will see, sT," replied the OLD woman.
"The two visitors looked around the dimly.lighted,
miserable room, in one corter Of which stood low
bed upon which lay extended the form Of DID, feeble
and gre y-haired woman.
How are yo1, my poor soul, and what can ] DO for
YOU, row ! am here r. inquired Old Hurricane VINO,
In The actual presence OF sUferlng, not utterly
without pity.
(" Nou are magistrate p inquired the dying
woman.
"Yes, my poor soul.'
"And qualified to administer an oath and take your
Deposition, said the minister.
IL
law ?" asked the woman lifting her din eyes to the
Major.
Certainly, my poor soul certainly" said the la,
ter, who, by the way, would have said anything TO
soothe her.
.'Serd every one but your: ELF from the ROOM
what my good soul, send the psrson out in the
storm , That will never DO Won't ii be just as well
TO let him 60 up in the corner yonder -
"No You will repent it nness this communication
is strictly pnvste.'
But.ny good soul, if it is TO be used in court of
law p
" Tha. will be according to your own discretion !"
"My Gear parson said q d Iiurrican, going 10 tue
would you be so good as 70 retire
" There is FIRE in the woodshed, mast, SAID Hf,
leading the way.
NOW, 10y good soul, now! You want first to be
put upon your oath
The old man drew from his great coat pocket
ministnre copy of the Scriptures and with the usual
formslities administered the oath.
" Now then my good soul begin NE TRUTH the
whole truth, and nothing but the truth, you know.
But fret, your pame 2"
"Is it possible you don't know me, master ;"
" Not |, in faith
"For the love of heaven, look at me and try to
collect me, sir 1t is necessary some one authority
should be able 10 know me, said the woman, raising
her h. ggard eyes 10 the face OF her visitor.
The old man adjusted his spectacles and gave her
scrutnizipg look, excaimng at intervals
" Lord bless my soul il is il ANT II must il can't
be Granny Tevel-the-the-the-m midwife that
disappeared from here some twelve or thirteen years
agol"
"Yes, matter, l am Nancy GreweD the ladies'
nurse who vanished from sight so mysterIously some
thirteen years sgo!' replied the woman.
Heaven help orr hearts And for Whist crime
was il you ran away COme-make a clean breast of
it. woman You have nothing to fear in doing so, for
You are past the arm of earthly law now"
d" know it. master
"And the beet way to prepare 10 meet the Divine
Judge is to make all the PREPARATION that You by
full confession"
Il know it, sir-if had committed crime; but /
have committed no crime, neither did run away"
What what what What was it then Re-
member, witness you are on your oath ~
4" know that, SIR, and will tell the truth; bat il
must be- In my own way
Al this moment a violent blast Of wind and hail
rosret down the mountain side and ratified against the
walls shaking the wi.chs hut, as if it woali have
shaken II about their ears.
II was proper overture 10 the tale that was about
10 be told Conversation was impossible until the
storm raved past and heard dying in deep rever
berang echoes from the depths OF the Devils PuIch
Bowl.
IL is some thirteen years ago" began Granny
Grewel, upon just such night OF storm az this,
that was mounted my old mule Molly, with ny
saddle bags full Of dred YARDS, aud sled waters aud
sich, as allus carried when ont eDda' on the
sick. was OF my way s.gongto see lady as was
sent for 10 tend
"Wen. master I'm not 'shamei to ssy, as never
was afraid Of mau, beast nor spin, and never
stopped at going all hours Of the night through
the moot oansouest roads, if so be called upon
go 10 DO. Still must say that Jest and Molly,
my mule, go; into tue deep, thick, lonesome woods
as stands round The old Hidden House IN tue hoilo~
did feel queerisb; 'case il was the dead hour Of
night, aud II was said how strange things were seen
and hesin, yes, and done too, in tina. dark, deep,
lonesome place. | seer nov even my m1le Molly
felt queer too, BY the way she stuck up her ears,
stiff as qQils. So partly 20 keep up M oSn spirs
and partly to courage her, says |, Molly says |,
what are We afeari on BE man, Molly Bat
Molly stepped oct cautious, and pricked up her long
ears IL the same.
well master, il go dark / couldn't see a
yard past Mollys esrs. and the path was so narrow
and she bushes 40 thick We could hardly &c. s'ory.