The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1861-05-17
MY LANDLADY'S STORY.
Tha. hour o nights black arch the key-stane.
-To,, ~ SEnnt.

ciiC vi ~ atuiC, n'tuo4Ob W
the facts, upon which the following little
story is founded; but, strange, she does not
give the details. 1t was case strikingy
in point of her. Was it too horrible to
put in her book; or was she restrained
by the same delicacy that made every
marvsl-monger speak of it in a whisper
1t was told to me in Ediuburg, by my
land lady, Mrs. -. She was from Mont
rose, and spoke in well marked G;ellci-
dom, that greatly enhanced her descrip
tive powers. 1t is a remarkable fact, that
10 language is SO we'll adapted to the
thrilling, the pathetic, and the humorous,
as the dialect Of the Scottish Highlander
sir Walter Scott owes much Of his success
to it, and the lyrics of Burns would be
con- parativey Y insipid without it. | re
member once hearing Mrs. - jest with
/ her husband about some nonsense he per
petrated in his courtship. She was so
much amused at it, that she fell back in
her chair and exclaimed, Il canna think
TO- it, but it Almost spIut me seeds lach>
ing The same expression in plain Eng-
Iish, | cannot think of it, but it almost
makes ne split my sides laughing, is
utter y tame by the side of the other. Mrs
-, moreover, had manner which made
her narration wildly impressive.
1t was in the evening twilight, and we
were watching, from the paror window,
the lnchksith light in the Firth of Forth.
throwing Quilts flashes of warnng 10 the
mariner. forgot what drew from Mrs
- the awful recital, the interest OF
nhich have teebly attempted to main
tain, by drawing upon my fancy for some
slight ampIification but she began, IN
substance as follows, occasionally tapping
me upon the shoulder, and reducing her
voice to a kissing whisper:
Il is scarce Y year ago since a young
man died in the town of Haddington. His
conduct had been SO outrsgeously dissoIute
that everybody repulsed him with abhor-
renee. Finally he sunk down in half
starved condition, at the door Of his uncle,
an old blacksmith of Haddingson, and was
kindly taken in and cared for. Everything
WAS done for him that even affection could
suggest; but he grew worse and worse,
until he went into de irium, and uttered
thing, of such frightfu import, that few
persons could remain near him TLere
were certain expressions which excited
more astonishment than others-indeed
thew drew tears from those who heard
them a. well on account of the earnestnes>
with which they were ullerel |, as the dis
'"acfe gesticulatiOns a. cOmpauying them
He seemed TO stare at some distant object
-distan: as fixed star and with his out
stretched hands thrust forward as if to re
sist the rapid approach OF something, he
shouted in a voice bubb,ing up through
his death rattle: :" Back back ava
Wye, !tis nae sac written; | am not
to be bruised No, no, no, It's written
that the seed Of the woman shall bruise
AVA wi ye- mercy oh, mercy, mercy
mercy !" The rawlings at last ended in
death.
1t is the custom in Scotland to set UP
three nights with the dead. The corpse
of Andrew Allen (for that was the young
mans name) was placed up stairs in \
back room. 1t rested upon a rude table,
consisting Of four small benches supporting
two boards It was wrapped in sheet
aud two half crown pieces were placed
upon the eyes to keep them shut. The
olacksmith's house was built upon a very
simple plan The outside door opened
into small hall down stairs, and at the
further end of the hall were two bed rooms
A staircase commenced near the door, and
led to the second story, in which there
were what might be called an anteroom
ard the large apartment where the body
of Andrew Alien lay. A door opened into
this chamber from narrow platform at
the head Of the stairs. Any one descend
ing the stairs from the ante>room, must
pass in cor tact with this door
Evening came on and the blacksmith;
two sons, cousins of the deceased, were
appointed to sit up the first night. It was
too warm for fire, so they were provided
with couple of talIow candies, Jug O
" mountain dew" and some tobacco anC
pipes. jamie was just twenty fine
| looking lad OF quiet demeanor, and indus
trious habits. Archie, however, twenty.
two years OF age was far more sprightly
He took great delight in being involved in
love scrapes. In fact, he was what they
call in the highlands, "the vera del
smang the lassies." Hour after Lour be
entertained Jamie with his conQues,s, unit
the latter began to show symptoms o
doubt.
can are ye sure Archie" he asked
"yor're ma telling me pack O ees2'
| They had not given the cousin in tb'
adjoining room = single thought. The,
could not disguise the fact (nobody could
that they were gad be was dead; smother
ing their Qualifications however, under th,
old comforting maxim, at was weel th,
I puir body WAS relieved O. his suffe:in.' -
The night dragged on Archie con ,inue,
his amatory "reminiscences to the erea
annoyance of jamie, until the town clocI
''strsck the twal.' it was midnight.
The candle required snuffiug. and Jami,
reached forward his hand for that purpose
but a noise reaching bis ears from th,
room where the corpse was-a sound lik
the moving of bench caused him in hi
tremu.ousness, to put on, the light. Th,
l~r total 4