The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1861-07-31
The Blasted Tree.

al mark'd the broad and blasted eak
scorchd by the lightnings livid glare;
Hollow its stem from branch TO root,
And all its shriveled arms are bare"
1t was piercing night in mid-winter,
and along the rounded hills towards the
Clifton meadows, below Aylesbury, the
moonlight sparkled on the bright and
thickly crusted SHOWS with peculiar splen-
dor. Far off, the faint but perpetual
roar of the icy river was heard, and tie
dark forests beyond it were dimly seen in
the distance, like heavy cloud in the
western horizon. The intermediate coun-
try presented only few solitary trees,
and, save that here and there n rugged
group of overgrown shrubbery was seen
above the snow, one wide and vast uncul-
tivated waste appeared. 1t was night
in which the fancy of an honest German
could not fail to conjure up thousand
phantoms; his shrieking ghosts cried from
the crevices of every sapless tree; his
witches rode en- the pale moonlight moon
beams, in the distant and scarcely per-
ceptible mist that spread thin veil over
the beautiful stars; and the wandering
spirits of departed friends peeped like
premature resurrectionists from behind ov-
cry thicket.
The hour of eleven had dtawn nigh
and the watchful family that inhabited
the crazy cabin on the borders of this bar
rem country, had extinguished their blaz-
ing pine lights, buried up their fires, and
sprinkled over the smoking ashes the
spoonful Of salt, the magic virtues Of
which dispersed tho ghostly train, and en-
sured them peaceful rest; when two
travellers passed along the broken road
that leads from the village towards the
ford above the falls. One bore the ap-
pearance of an old man, infrm with age
his broad brimmed hat hid his face, but
some thin grey locks waved around his
shoulders, and he leaned forward on his
jaded horse like one suffering with fatigue
or decrepitude; behind him was the ap.
pendage of stranger, large, black port
manteau, which swelled with the treasure
il contained. The other was an athletic
young man, whom the good people dis.
tinguished to be hardy woodman, who
sometimes acted rs guide to travellers
and sometimes, for he had some science
run out patented lands, and was, withal
better acquainted with the country than
any man in it. IIc led tho old man:
horse sometimes, and sometimes ran be
fore to break the road.
The cottagcrs though they discovered
traits of mystery in this; and as every
thing that partook of mystery bodeC
mischief according to their conceptions
they followed the midnight travellers
across the barrens with their eyes, unit
they disappeared, and then lay severa
anxious hours dreaming of murder ant
robbery, and blood. More than once they
thought they heard the piercing cry o
despair, mingled with the roar of th,
waterfall; and more than once discover
ed symptoms in the dusky room tha
spoke of death without.
But the woodman was in the village be
fore sunrise; he reported that he had pu
the stranger safely across the ford, anC
left him to pursue his journey. Suspi
cion was hushed for the moment, for th'
character of the young man was good
the traveller was known to have possess
ed money, but he had been called dowl
the river on business Of such urgent i'm
portance, that it was necessary for hin
TO reach the lower ford that night, and b,
had with difficulty prevailed on Hurlbu
to accompany him to the western road
Who the stranger was, mono knew, anC
thus far all was fair. But he never reach
ed the ford, and and no trace was hearC
of him from that night. Suspicion wp.
once moro awakened, and Hurlbut main
tanned, when questioned on the subject, {
guarded and scornful silence. The for