Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-11-17
8 Of a daughter-who owed her fortunes,

ness of a daughter-who owed her fortunes,
such as they were, to the poor woman starry
ing and neglected in the next roOm-leavlng
parent, dying perhaps, in the care of only
a child five years old, that | mildly reflected
upon the remarks which the neighbors might
make on the occasion. l. was speedily 81
fenced by that indescribable manner which
low bred woman always can assume to those
whom she considers as interfering with her
concerns: and on her departure her husband,
his ewes still dazed and lustreless from last
nights excess, merely put his head inside OF
nv door and gave me a look; but that glance
decided me against interfering any turther.
was doomed to a cherries Christmas eve
alone in a wretched lodging, with no osher
occupants than a bed-ridden old woman and
a miserable child. l had taken a rather more
extensive dinner than usual that evening, in
honor of the day; and when l returned, find
inc nv fire rather low, I called out to the
Es6la. yoI1I6v r1y bo cEGfaSS. supposed, in her
the coal-cellar was. A shrill eyes, sir" an
swered me, and waited for my little guide.
She was long time coming; and l was get
ting wearied and cold, when heard strange
hobbling outside my door, and, to my horror
and amazement, the old mother staggered in
with a coal-scuttle in her hand, the little
child grasping her thin dress and smiling all
the while. ;
'Gracious Heavens" I gasped, chow is
this? Why are you here? Whatever in
duced you to get up to do this .? I would
have gone without a fire a hundred times
rather than you should have run this risk"
The ole woman smiled, as l seized the
coal-scuttle out of her palsied hands. dts
nothing I'd do it for you, sir-for you but
not for them-no, not for them. God bless
you, sir Goodnight and merry Christmas
to you. Come, Nancy, darling"
''For Gods sake,"I cried, ego back to
bed; you'll kill yourself in this bitter cold
Go back, beseech you" s...
'Pm going, sir" said the shivering crea-
ture, ''but are you sure you want nothing
fetched, or anything?" -...,-
Gin Heavens name, no p cried again.
''Do go back to bed-you'll kill yourself"
'No," muttered the poor old wretch, as I
watched her retreating to her don. " / shall
not have killed myself" And so murmuring
she hobbled out of sight. s. ~.
Ny terrors were increasing. | poked the
fire, but could get no addition to my spirits
by watching the friendly blaze. At last, worn
out, and al a late hour, | determined upon
going to bed, and trying to overcome the sad
forebodings which had seized upon me by
sleep. lay long time awake, but at length
l went off into a deep slumber. How long |
remained unconscious | do not know, but
troublesome dreams affected my sleep, in
creasing in horror till they eliminated in my
starting up in my bed with loud cry ringing
in my ears Believing it to be the effect Of
a disordered fancy, was preparing to sleep
again, when my blood ran Jelly through my
Sata Of +ha r.
was childs voice. Yes; and in the next
room. l listened, and heard struggling and
then the pattering Of naked feet upon the
boarding of the adjacent chamber. | was
frozen with fear. Suddenly l heard the child
cry out in a panic of fear, Granny, granny,
don't! Send it away! send it away! Go
away L don't know you; you are so ugly.
10 away !" And struggle again. This time
the child's voice was raised almost to a shrek
" Go away! go away! Who are you? Let
granny alone. Oh, mother, mother, come
back; come back to granny" And a moment
after the little naked feet went pattering
down and up the stairs while the child moan
ed piteOusly, ooh, mother, mother, come
back y Mastering my fears as well as I
could leaped out of bed, hudded on some
clothes, and cautiously opened my bedroom
door. 1t was pitch dark outside but could
hear the child, still moaning, descending the
kitchen stairs. Feeling my way to the old
woman'S room, reached the door and paused
to listen. There was silence over the house,
ave when the wailing Of the little girl could
be indistinctly heard below. Carefully push
ing the door open, l entered, and nearly
shrieked aloud at the sight which met my
eyes, Crumpled up in bed, with face and
knees together, sat the old woman. Her
eyes were widely staring, her hands grasping
the wretched quilt, her jaw dropped, her face
the color of stone, and as infexible. She
was dead
Taking a hasty inspection of the miserable
room, to insure that no one was concealed
there, and that there had been no foul play
carefully and shudderingly retired, and had
just lighted my candle in my room when
heard the child ascending the stairs again. /
called her by name, and she ran, sobbing to
me, speechess from horror. AS soon as
could obtain an answer from her asked her
what she had seen? "Was it man ?n ....
"NO, no; it wasn't man, nor woman.
She didn't know what it was, but it was so
dreadful, so ugly. Oh, poor granny"
This was all could learn from her. put
her into my bed, and leaving the candle
lighted, went out of the house and walked
about the streets till daylight The carousers
had returned, aid knew the worst then. They
were sobeled after the shock; and were civil
to me, and thanked me for the care | had
taken of the child, whom, however, they stu
diously kept away from me. The old woman
was decently buried and on Newly ears Day
| left my lodgings. | shall never forget that
night so long as live. But aghat aoaS 1t tie
child SaC? .~"