The weekly Butte record., 1861-06-22
M a d ge Howlet:
OR,
THE CROAEING FIE.ND OF MIG vOTJ4I
A TALE OF RAVAGE AND WOE,
IN SEVERAL PoRTIoNs-BY LUDWIG Gt-NrEE.
FIRST PORTION.


IN SEVERAL PoRTIoNs-BY LUDWIG GUNrER.
FIRST PORTION.
Night had drawn her sable curtains around
Magnolia, the paiatial residence of the naughty
aristocrat, j. Davis. The wind soughed desc
lately through the lofty magnolias and palmet-
tos which environed it and bore hollow gasping
croak to the ears of the proud Southron as he
lay restlessly upon his couch and battled desp-
arately with mosquetoes and other insects
"Ha what is that sound )" observed the
stern warrior to Mrs d.
Il know not, dear Jef," replied that esti.
mable woman in a voice Of tender concern
which slightly varied to an accent of reproach,
as she said, "turn over, Muggins, and 60 to
sleep!"
The magnate sighed audibly and judisiously
endeavored to follow the hint thrown ont by
his fair spouse
In vain? Again through the open window
came that ghastly croak, carrying confusion
and dsmay to his fearless soul.
Lady Davis heard it also, for she covered
beneath the tow-linen sheets and shivered in
an ungovernable paroxysm of lofty chivalric
fear
As his terror gradually died away the COM
mander-in-chief of the Southern army summon.
ed his body guard in the ancient and respectable
words, " Oh Dan-yel Oh Dan-yel !"
A venerable Ethiopian servitor appeared
dressed in the livery of the Davises,-a pair of
home-spun breeches and one suspender,- bear
ing in his hand magnificent pine,k knot fam
beau.
'Is you call me, Massa Jeff?" asked the
menial.
AT that moment the madge-howlet perched
upon magnolia limb, near the window, again
gave vent to his romantic feelings in another
dismal croak.
"The myrmidons of Old Abe are upon u.s.
gasped the impetuous hot blooded Southeron,
as with lofty and honorable motives he fell
back upon his couch
Dan-yel dost hear. Is it not the warcry
Of the Yankee invaders ?"
"'Fore de Lord, Mass jeff" replied that
ancient piece of ebony, "dats nothing but de
ole hoot-ow well ~
Art sure, Dan yel ?"
Y as, Mass JEFF, Is tolerable sartain dats
de owwell, kasc Aunt Dine said she heered it
and knowed wes gwine to hab bad luck"
"Begone sable prognosticator of evil"
roared the valiant chieftain-in those thunder
Zones he was wont to use when leading on
regiment of Georgia crackers" against the
starved mercenares ofthe North h." "Begone
But stay" he added, in milder accents, "pre-
pare me Immediately my favorite restorative.
Make me mintjulep, for the night is hot and
languish.' And the noble Southeron smack
ed his lips with unaffected delight and true
Southern ardor.
But just then, the fendish Madge-howet
croaked forth again his derisive Madison upon
the House of Davis.
{" Fore de Lord, Mass JEFF, dat's quite i'm
possible! Dey's no ice to be had for lub nor
money sence dey's put der barge on de shipsn
True, true" mournfully exclaimed the fiery
epitome of Southern Chvary, and added
dsconsolably, "you kin go. Dan-yel shut the
do"
As he withdrew the Madge-howlet croaked
triumphantly.
As the last shuddering vibration of that
ghastly sound died away upon the midnight
air, Lady Davis spoke: Jeff, l fear that it is
even as the aged crone Dinah has prophesied,
and that dismal outcry Of the foul nightbird
bodies US evil ~
The single expressive but rather contempt
uous monosyllabe Fudge" fell from the
lips of the dauntless and highly blooded arts-
tocrat and he dropped into an unquiet mosque
to-haunted slumber.
And ever through the night from time to
time the creaking Fiend of Magnolia renewed
his solemn and mysterious warnings
The House Of Davis was doomed Golden
Era.