Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1859-02-17
lister of Bethlehem, St. Mary's.

| said the pastor, gravely.
Take ME with you No, no, my good sir
no, no, that is too good jokc-ha! hap
''Sir, fear that you will fad it a very seriou
one Your servant told you that my erran
was one of imminent urgency 2"
Yes, something like life and death"
"Exactly-aown in the cabin, near the Panel
Bowl, there is an old woman dying"
There, knew it. / was just saying there
might be an old woman dying. But, my dea
sir, what's that to me = What can dol''
humanity, sir, would prompt you.'
But, my dear sir, how can help herl an
not physician to prescribe-"
she is far past physicians help"
''Nor am l a priest to hear her Confession
"Her confession God has already received.
will"
mo, sir; but you are recently appointed one
of the Justices Of the Peace for Allegheny"
eyes; well, what of that That does no
comprise the duty Of my getting up out of my
warm bed and going through a snow storm tc
| see an old woman expire"
| Excuse me for insisting sir; but this is an of
fetal duty" said the parson, mildly but firmly
It'll throw up my commission to-mor
row." growled the old man.
Tomorrow you may do that, but meanwhile
tonight, being still in the commission of tn,
peace you are bound to get up and go with m,
to this woman's bedside. ~
| And what the demon is wanted of me therei'
'Io receive her dying deposition
TO receive dying deposition Good Heav
en- was she murdered then 2" exclaimed the
old man, in alarm, as he started out of bee
and began to draw on his neither garments
| 'Be composed-she was not murdered" said
the pastor.
"Wsll, then, what is it Dying deposition
1t must concern crime" exclaimed the ole
man, hastily drawing on his coat.
1T does concern crime"
What crime, for the love of heaven ~
II am not at liberty to tell YOU She will Dc
that.
wool, go down and rouse up Jehu, and tell
him to put Parson Goodwin's mule in the stable
for the night. Ahd tell him to put the black
draught-horsSs to the close carriage, and light
both the front lanterns-for we shall have
DARK stormy road-Shut the door, you infer
nal II beg your pardon, parson, but that vii.
lanl always leaves the door ajar after him.
The good parson bowed gravely; and the ma
Jor completed his toilet by the time the servant
returned and reported the carriage ready.
ITO the Devils Punch wl.''-was the order
given by Old Hurricane as he followed the min
lster into the carriage. 'And now ,sir, )" he con-
tinued, addressing his companion, IL think you
had better repeat that part of the church itany
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 equal chance of being up
set IN the darkness of these dreadful mount
aims"
"a pair of saddle mules would have been a
safer conveyance, certainly" said the minister.
Old Hurricane know that, but though great
sensuaist, he was brave man, and so he had
rather risk his life in close carriage than suf-
fer upon a sure-fosted mules back.
Il ,
Old hurricane arrived at their destination call
ed the Witch's Hut or Old Hats Cabin In
one corner OF the hut, on ragged couch, lay a
grey-hRlred and emancipated woman, evidently
near unto death. On being informed that q
magistrate had arrived, she insisted on every
body else leaving the room, as she would speak
with him alone. Her request having been com
Piled with, Old Hurricane drew from his pocket
Bible, administered the OATH and then said
"Now them my good SOUL begin-'the truth,
the whole truth and nothing but the truth you
know. But first your name 2"
lis 1t possible you don't know me, masterI"
"Not l, in faith ~
'For the love of Heaven, look at me and try
to recoIIsct me, sir 1t is necessary some one
authority should be able to know me raid the
woman, raising her haggard eyes to the face of
her visitor
This old man adjusted his spectaclss and gave
her scrutinizing look, cxclaimng at inter-
walls
lord bless by soul it is! it amt! it must! it
can't be! Granny Grswell-the-th mid
wife that disappeared from here some twelve or
thirteen years ago2"
Yes, master, l am Nancy Grewell, the ladies'
nurse, who vanished from sight so mysterieusly
some thirteen years ago!' replied the woman
Heaven help our hearts! And for what crime
was II 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
I know it, MASTER
And the best way to prepare to meet the Di-
vine Judge is to make all the reparation that
you can by full confesson.
Il know it, sr--if had committed a crime :
but have committed no crime, neither did 1
run away
What what what What was it then? Re-
member, witness, you are on your oath
L know that sir, and L will tell the truth; but
1t must be in my own way
At this moment violent blast of wind and
hail roared down the mountain side and ratified
against the walls shaking the witch's hut as if
1t would have shaken it about their ears
1t was proper overture to the tale that was
about to be told Conversation was impossible
until the storm raved past and was heard dying
in deep reverberating echoes from the depths Of
the DiviPs Punch Bowl.
1T is some thirteen years ago. began Granny
Grewell, upon just such a night of storm as
this, that was mounted on my old mule Molly,
with my saddle-bags full of dried wards, and
stiled waters and SIGH as allus carried when l
was out tendin' on the sick. / was on my way
a-going to sec a lady as | was sent for to tend
We'll, maSter I'm not 'shamed to say, as
never was afraid of man, beast, nor spirit and
never stopped at goin' out all hours of the night,
through the most loansome roade, 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 queer
ism cause 1t was the dead hour of night, and it
was sad how. strange things were seen and
hearn' yes, and done too, in that dark, deep,
lonesome place. l seen how even nv mule
Molly felt queer too, by the way she stuck up
her ears, stiff as quilts. So, partly to keen up
my own spirits, and partly to courage her, saws
L. molly, says l, what are ye afeard on I Be
man, Molly" But Molly stepped out cautious.
and pricked up her long ears all the same,
Well master, 1t 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 ame to the little
creek as they calls the Spout, cause the water
Jumps up and jets along till it empties into the
Punch Bowl, and just as Molly was cautiously
putting her fore foot into the water, out starts
TIVE men from the bushes and seeses poor Mol.
ly's brids
Good Heavenn exclaimed Major Warfisld.
We'll, master, before / could cry out, one OF
them williams seized me by the scruff of nv neck
and with the other hand on my mouth he saws
''Be silent, you old fool, or I'll blow your
brains ont !
And then master, saw for the first time tina,
their faces were covered over with black Grape.