Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1869-03-17
SelrftrO sllisrrIIanp.
THE DEVILS BRANDY KkG.

It is a great many years ago, but have
still q most vivid recollection Of the terrible
fright that butterflies Gnost gave me. go
We were living at the period of the awful
event in very old, rambling house on
the coast of Cornwall. The place had
been so altered and added to 10y successive
tenants that it bore q curious resemblance
to one of those strange organizations of
the insect world which increased by buds
and otlshoots, have promiscuously two
heads to one stomach, or two stomachs to
to one head, and whose heads and tails are
interchangeable, and do duty" in either
capacity, Just as may he found convenient,
pleasant or profitable.
The whole building was mass Of pas
sages and rooms with little or no apparent
arangement-steps up here, steps down
there, passages leading to rooms, and pas
sages leading to nowhere in particular;
pantries and parlors, bedrooms andlarlers,
kitchens and cellars all iumbled up to-
geJher. But it was in passages cellars
an | concealments of all sorts that the
house was most remarkable. There was,
however, method in all the seeming con-
fusion, for it had been the headquarters OF
a notorious smuggler and wrecker, and was
admirably suited for the concealment of
his contraband wares, and the plunder &C
quired by wrecking, and various other not
less vilainous practices.
At that time and in that part of the coun-
try, every one had a nickname by which,
and by which only, he or she was recog-
nized. There was always some reason fol
tn sObriquet generally a ridiculous, Otter
disreputable one why, L never under
stood, but far and wide this old rascal waf
called Butterfly" or, according to the
Cornish pronunciation, "Butterfee." His
real name was Lefty, but few knew him, ,anG
no one ever spoke of him by that name II
was the universal belief that "old Butter.
fee had sold himself to the Evil One for
thousand pounds and miraculously mex
hanshble keg of brandy.
Butterhee has been dead for a score OF
two of years, and the thousand pounds anC
many more-the produce of ofsmuggling ant
plunder, had long ago been dissipated in
riot and debauchery, by this heir; but the
devils brandy keg' had never been seer
since his death, and was still concealed Sc
it was asserted, in some mysterious recess
or corner of the old house, and over which
the ghost of Bulterhee had been condemn
ed to keep watch and ward
If any one had pluck enough to face the
ghost, and luck enough to find the miracu
lous keg, he would become lawfully pos
sesled of the wonderful vessel, which
would yield to him, as it had done to But
terhee continual supply Of the stronges
and most exguisitely favored brandy.
Whatever may be the case now ut that
time teetotal doctrines were utterly un
known in "those parts, and total abstain
ers were indeed few; doubt whether
single live specimen could have been fount
in long days march. Brandy was there
fore in universal favor, and many M ad
venturous and thirsty soul had rummage(
the old house from top to bottom in searcl
Of the IN gic brandy; none had found it
but some who had fortified their courage
before proceeding ON the adventure, by
goodly supply OF spirits obtained from
more legitimate source, had much to thei
discontinue and fright, encountered tn
veriLable ghost of ButterAee himself, wrap
ped in a fiery sheet and glaring on them
not with "lacking.lustre eyes, but wit
orbs which resembled two saucers of burn
ing brandy.
To express disbelief in the ghost q
Butterilee was, in the eyes of every man
woman aud child in the village, to be wors
than heuthen.
had heard the story of Butterhee'
Ghost over and over again, and though
pretended to laugh ut what was pleased t
call the "uneducated ignorance of the rus
tic mind was in heart much more thaI
half believer.
On the eventful night of my ghostly en-
counter 1t was blowing a terrific gale; in
deed, the weather had been 30 bad that j
had kept us all indoors the whole day Te
was just over, and the family party ha
settled down to their various occupation
my father to his pipe my mother an
sister TO their sewing, and ] to my book
which was Mrs. Groves "Night-side c
Naturc'-an edifying production certainly
but just then the 'new book" The cor
versation had taken n ghOstly turn-m
father relating many stories of the super
stitions Of the neigh borhood, and other
which he had picked mp in his travels.
The Southwestern roaTed in the chimneys
and whistled through the crevices of tn
shutters shaking every window in the oil
house, and making the v cry tiles rattl
again on the lofty roof.
'By George how it blows r' said my "a
ther breaking off in the middle of his lee
ture on the supernatural. go to tn
kitchen, Jack, and tell Benjamin to talk
some Of the lads down with him to Tn
cove, and haul the boat further up tn
beach; If she remains where we left hel
she will be knocked into tootbpicks at hig
water."
1 rose from my seat to do as | was bid
den, and was taking candle from the Ia
BILE, when my father, who was about
light his pipe at il, said, 'nover mind th
candle, Jack; surely fellow who wants t
be sailor can find his way in the dark
Though much Disconnected by this remark
made no reply but put down the ligh
and was going out Of the room, when IN,
sister said, somewhat maliciously, "Tak,
care Of Butterhee's ghost Jack.
Now may as well cendidly confess tha
/ did not feel ut all comfortable. The pas
sage leading 10 the kitchen happened to b,
Butterflies favorite cruising ground. II
was long, rambling place, here bulginl
into the size of room, and there contract