Litchfield enquirer., 1860-10-04
LEGEND OF MICAH ROOD.

LEGEND OF MICAH ROOD. A stranger. turning over the musty ar chives of one of our Connecticut towns, , few years since, found the following record
 November 16, 1760, Micah Rood died aaofully'
 Well how did he die P The record no where told.
 The question was propounded to the towr clerk, who was new comer, and not na tive resident, and who could tell nothing o circumstance which took place so long be fore his time But the strangers curiosity would not rest satisfied Died awfslly was ringing in his mind continually, until an. other question suggested itself
 Have you any very aged persons in town? was his next inquiry.
 Some, I reckon,' was the answer of the parish notary. There's Simon Backus who's an old Revolutioner-and they are getting scarce. Then there's the Widdy Molly Carver, who's amazin' old, and no body'S fool nuther. She remembers back into colony times, and tells heaps of stories to the youngsters around here. She'll talk forever without stopping. Feb Spicer says aohem she gees up, she'll 'stonish them there, and their time will be none too long for Her st0yaes.'
 Two mile, more or less, on the Proyi- dence Turnpike. Next house but one arter you've passed the gate. Low, brown house, gambrel roof.'
 Thus definitely directed, the gentleman started for the abode of Molly Carver, which he readily found introduced himself and made known his inquiry.
 Lor' sakes Hare / euer hearm tell hoaD lNike Rood died? Why, man alive l remember about it myself, as though twas yesterday, tho I warh't any bigger than this great-grandchld of mine here when it hap. pened. It had been kinder showing and raining all day, and not much of it either but plenty of howlin' wind, sich as the mouth of no month in all the year can blow like November. 'Tis the most disagreea- blest of all months to my mlnd, and always makes body think of suthin' dreadful. Father had been to town arter pipe for granny aud when he come back, says he There's the orfullest thing happened you ever did hear on, mother 7
 ''And what is it ? said she, turning
  him, all ears, you may depend.
 Mike Rood's hung himself,'> he said, on that very arly apple-tree there's been so much talk about, in his mothers orchard'
 Did he leave any confession ? asked granny.
 Not's heard tell on though the jury hadn't got back when I was down town. He must have did the work very ary in the morning, for when they found him he was cold and stiff as anything
 linen father went out and l run up close to granny, half-afcared I should see the dead man, or something else orlul for children's mighty easily scared in them days, though dear knows 'taint so now
 There aipt nothin' to be afeard on, Molly my grandmother said though I guess, if the truth was all told, there has been them that feared Mike Rood living.'
 ''What for, granny 9 I asked her.
 ''Never mind tonight, child. Some long winter evening, when there's snow on the ground, I'll tell you all Eve hearn about it.
 l didn't let her forgt her promise, I'll warrant ye; for 1 was mighty fond of the terrible stories in them days
 Anu HhdV uiu yUu Iicdl tllo eGluHScl inquired, determined to learn the whole story.
 That's what I'm going to tell you, soon as ever l git my breath little for you see can't talk right on as l could fifty years ago. It's a queerish story but eve rybody believed it in these parts. We'd jest been in the midst of the old French war, and folks had reason to be afraid of their shadows. Mike was strange chap and nobody never knew exactly what to make of him. Some folks thought he warn't very cummim' :; others said he had wit pen- ty :; and I guess they were both partly right, for he used to say great many smart things in very foolish way.
 He lived alone with his mother, who was widdcr. His father died few years afore, fghtin French and Injuns arter which all the sperit Mike had in him was turned agn the French.
 In the fall of '59, peddler came into town bringin' all sorts of forrin notions and everybody set to wonderful who he was, and where he come from.
 " kmow,' said Mike, who overheard the talk He's Frenc1mam and c Spy-that's jest what be is ]; and I dare warrant, if the truth was known, he come straight down here from Canada. But Mike went away whispering to himself the unfinished sen tence, Dead men tell no tales Likely's not mother'd like some O his toggery. Any how, I'll ask him to call.'
 'Nothin was ever seen of the forrin ped dler arter he went to the Wilder Rood's that night. Some said he'd got all the in- formation he wanted out O folks, and was gone where he come from others whispered it among themselves, Mike Rood might have used him unfair But afore winter was over every body would have done talking about it, only Mike himself could never let the subject rest. ''What makes the blows on the arly ap, ple-tree look so red this spring 7 he would ask the children, as they went oy to SCHOOL It was ore of Mikes foolish questions How should the children know Then he went away whistling laughing and looking very wise. -,r
 .Why didn't the old robin come back to her tree this year, as she always did afore ? he inquired of them, another day. 'There aiu't another sich crotch for nest in the whole orchard The children couldn't tell that nuther and when they asked their pa rents, they said Mike didn't know himself- he was half-witted. 1 When the apples was rine the flst of