Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1863-10-23
Il NIGHT OF HORROR.
BY EMERSON BENNETT.

BY EMERSON BENNETT.
Some twenty or thirty years ago, befor
railroads had come into vogue, and tn
iron horses, with their long train of freigh
and passengers, were dashing across th
| country in all directions, bringing cities II
villages and villages to cities. New Eng
land was traversed by pedlers, who reach
ed every nook and corner, and drove
aourishing trade among all classes. Th,
pedler is still no rGrGities in the Easter
States, but the changes of time have seu
ously interfered with the business, of ent
class, whose coming we in bOyhood, usel
hail with such eager delight, in the fonC
to hope that some carefully preserved cen
might be exchanged for jewsharp, OF
which we were wont to play, to the sat
isfaetion of ourselves and the annoyance
of everybody elses till the over-strained
tongue gave out and brought our-high
spirits to grief. I'D =
The tIunk-pedler, as he was called, was
a man who always travelled on foot, gen
orally with two tin trunks, supported.
one on each side of him by broad strap
passing over his shoulders, and kept from
his limbs by stick running across in
front of him from handle to handle. In
these he sometimes carried valuable
stock of goods, of great variety, from pins
and needles up to costly silks and laces,
and from penny rings to fine gold watches.
With something to suit every taste
which, from the fact that he lived cheap
ly, paid no rent or license. he could sup
ply at less price than the regular town
dealer or merchant-he was generally a
favorite with the fair sex wherever he
went, and his arrival at the farm house
was often regarded by the rustic family
as happy event. bus zaxlEg4. 2
These pedlers, too, from the very ma
ture oftheir occupation, were generally a
shrewd, intelligent class of men, quick
witted, fluent and entertaining, with
whom, when their business for the day
was over, and they made one of the fami-
ly circle for the night, it was always pro-
ftable to pass an hour or two in conver-
sation. They were seldom lacking in
stores of both the humorous and thrilling
kind; and occasionally, when they had
travelled much and far, they had adven-
lures Of their own to relate that were
worthy of being preserved. To one Of
this class we are indebted for the strange
and thrilling narration which follows: o..
ain all my travels, over thousands of
miles of country" he said,' - was never
really terrified but once, and then con-
feSs had fright which did notrecov-
er from for weeks, and still never recall
without a secret shudder. My life might
be said to have hung on bare thread,
and nothing but Gods kind providence
interposed in most miraculous manner,
saved me from an awful doom"5E ltsGl
.'In the regular pursuit of my voca-
tion, / was travelling through the State
of New York when, toward evening of
one hot, sultry, summer day, found my
self passing through long stretch of
swampy woodland, along what might
better have been denominated horse-i
path than road. / had taken rather
obscure by-way, in the hopes, if I found
few customers, to find those who would
pay well; but / had made serious mis-
take, in that [ had discovered none at all.
In walk of eight tedious miles, had
seen only three dwellings,, and these mis-
erable shanties, one of which was unoc-
cupied, and the other two with ragged
families who had no moneyIfor trade. At
the last house l inquired the distance to
the next, and was informed that four
miles further on would come to main
road, where there was an inn for travellers;
and towards this I was now making my
way, with the intention of putting up
there for the night"
''I came in sight of the road and the
inn Just as the sun was setting behind
1r1e oF ola do 1oE 81, hnE
the gathering of a storm Tired and
hungry as l was, with the night setting
in upon me in such lonely country, I
was very glad to come in sight of place
of rest, and went forward in Comparatively
good spirits.
''The inn was brown stone building,
two stories in height, and quite respecta-
bic looking for that region of country
AS l came up to it, however, fancied it |
had certain air of gloom, which had |
rather depressing effect on my spirits;
but then this, 1 thought, might be caused |
by the absence of sparkling lights and |
hustle and seeing it at the hour of twi-
light. No one met me at the door, nor did |
[ preceive a human being in or about it
till had entered the unlighted bar-room,
when a man, who sitting back in one
corner, arose and came forward with |
silent nod of salutation.
care yon the landlord?'' 1 inquired.
''I am," was his answer.
81 suppose I can put up with you for
the night?'' I said.
Certainly" he answered, glancing at
my trunks. Shall take care of them for
you?'
81 will merely set them behind your
bar till 1 retire for the night, and then l
will take them to my room. l suppose
you can give me single apartment to
nyself?'
"Oh, yes, easy enough-my house is
arge and will not be crowded tonight" :"
"Have you any other guests?' | in
luired, feeling, from some cause for
which l could not account, strangely i'll
It ease.
''There is no one here yet" he replied,
'and it is getting rather late for the dro-
yers, who often stop with me-
at was relief to think that drovers
we're in the habit of putting up at the
house, for that implied a certain degree
Of honesty in the landlord, and conse
suent security for lonely travellers; and !