The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1864-11-25
Volume ll-No. 27.

= ready mirth, which was almost will
; lin it's excess. / have heard sine,
l then OF the Scottish belief that thos,
: doomed to some great calamity be
came tey, and are never so disposed
. for merriment aud laughter as ins
E before the blow tails. If ever morta
was fey, then, / was so on that eve
ming. Still, though strove to shake
it off, the pertinacious observation o
. Did Lady Speldhurst's eyes did make
IN impression on me OF n vaguely
, llsagreeable nature. Others, too
noticed her scrutiny of me. but set II
down as mere cccentricitv Of a per
son always reputed whimsical, to say
the least of it.
However, this disagrccahlc scnsa
tion lasted but few moments Az
| ter q short pause my aunt took hel
part in the conversation. and we
ourselves listening to q weird legend
which the old lady told exceedingly
well. One tale led to another. Ev.
cry one was called on IN turn TO con
Tribute to the public entertainment,
aud story after story, always lelating
To demonologv and witchcraCt. snc.
ceeded. 1t was Christmas, the sca.
son for such tales; and the old room,
with its dusky walls and pictures.
and vaultel roof, drinking up the
light so greedily, seemed Just fitted
to give effect TO such Legendary lore.
The huge logs craclslcd and burned
with glowing warmth; the blood red
glare OF the Yule log flashed on the
faces of the listeners and narrator, OIL
the portraits, and the holly wrcat he'd
abouL their fratu9s, and tho upright
old dame, in her antiquatcd dress and
trinkets, like one Of the originals Of
the pictures, stepped from the canvas
to join our circle. 1t threw a shin.
mering lustre Of IN ominouslv ruddy
hue upon the oal<en panels. No won
der that the ghost and goblin stories
had n new zest. No wonder that the
blood Of the more timid grew chill
and curdled, that their nesh crcpt,
and their hearts beat irregnlarlv. and
the girls peeped fearfullv over their
shoulders, and huddled close together
like frightened sheep, and half. fam
cied they beheld some impi.h and
malignant face gibbcrng at them
from the darkling corners OF the old
room. BY degrees my high spirits
died ont, and felt the childish ire.
mors, long latent, long, forgotten,
coming over me. | followed each
story with painful interest; I did not
ask myself il / believed the disnal
tales. listened, aud fear grew upon
me--the blind, irrational fear vt our
nursery days. am sure most OF the
other ladies present, young or mid.
die. aged, were affected BY the CIR.
cumstauces under which these tradi.
tions were heard, on less than by the
wild and aud fantastic character OF
them. But with them the impression
would die out next mOruiug, when
the bright sun should shine on the
frosted Doughs, and the rime on the
grass, and the scarlet berries aud
green splhelets oil the molly, and with
inG--Dut, aht what was w happen
ere anuCue. day dawA5 B4lJre We
had made an end OF this tali my
latuer and Tue other squlrcS came in,
and we ceased oar ghost stories,
- ashamed 10 speak ot such matters be
IUge these uew corners rs-narl- headed,
unlInasluatlve men, WAC had no sym.
pathy with idle legends. Iuere was
now Stlr and hustle.
Servants were handing round tea
and coffee, and other Refreshments.
IAcn there was ilLGiS .a...- au,I
singing. sang Il duet with Regl-
Lal,l, WHO hau "A tue VOICE and good
musical skill. l remember tAaI my
singing was much praised, aud indeed
vas surprised Ut the power aud
pathos OF my own voice, doubtless
due To my excited nerves and lnlud.
Then neard some one say To another
that was by lar the cleverest vi the
Squire daughters, US well rs the
pretticst. 1t did not make me vain
| had no rivalry with Lucy and Mia.
ME. But Reglnal whispered some
soft fond words in my ear, little be.
fore he mounted his horse to seL OF
homeward, which dta make me happy
aud proud Aud TO think that the
next time we met--but forglve hlm
long ago. Poor Reginald Aud now
shawls and cloaks were ia request,
aud carriages rolled up " tuc porch,
and the guests gradually departed
At last no one was left but those Wis.
itors staying in the house. Then my
father, VINO had been called out "
speak with the baIlIH OF Tue estate,
came back with u LOOK OF annoyance
on MS lace.
"a strange story l have just been
told, said he, "nere has Uecn my
bailIt 10 inform me OF the loss OF tour
OF tue choicest ewes out oil that little
flock OF Southdowns set sIca store
by aud which arrived in the North
but two months since. Ana the poor
creatures have boen destroyed in So
strange manner, ior their carcasses
are horribly mangled."
Most OF Us uttered some expression
of pity or surprise, and some suggest.
ed that vicious dog was probably
the culprit.
lit would seem 30, said my
father; lit certainly seams the work
of dog; and yet all tue men agree
I th,t no 1A.r ~ a,,,,l, knE.t,