The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-12-15
The Gray Mare in the Garret.

In the portal IN the ancient church at
Receiver, dedicated to the blessed Saint
Mary, hung, many centuries ago, pic
ture, the portrait of certain Dame Mary
Maycote and her two children, of whom
this singular story is related The pic
ture was covered by curtain which she
worked with her own hands.
Her husband, Sir Cavalierro Maycote,
was, in the year of 114O, a rich burgo-
master Of the fourishing city of Canter-
bury, though be resided latterly in the
fair town of Reculver, living at the sign
Of the Paroquet, in the Market Place.
During his lifetime a fearful plague
desolated the south>west quarter of Kent,
and among others he fell sick though his
wife, Mary, who also fell sick of the pest,
never recovered, but to all appearances
died
After the usual period had elapsed she
was buried in the vaults of the church at
ReculYer dedica.d to the blessed Saint
Mary She was buried, as the custom
then was, with her jewelled rings on her
fingers, and most of her rich ornaments on
Of the sexton of the church. He argued
with himself that they were of no use to
the corpse; and he determined to possess
them. Accordingly he proceeded in the
dead of night to the vault where she lay
inferred, and commenced the work of sac
rilegious spoilaiion. He first unscrewed
the coffin lIdi he then removed it alto
gether, and proceeded to tear away the
shroud which interposed between him and
his prey. But what was his horror to
perceive the corpse clasp her hands to-
gether; and, finally, to sit erect in the
coffin. lie was rooted TO the earth. The
corpse made as though it would step from
its narrow bed. He fled, shrieking, thro'
the vaults. The corpse followed, lis long
white shroud floating like meteor in the
dim light of the lamp which, in his haste,
he had forgotten. 1t was not until he
had reached his own door that he had
sufficient courage to look behind him
and then, when he perceived no trace Of
his pursuer, the excitement which had
sustained him so far subsided, and be
( sank senseless to the earth.
/ In the meanwhile, Sir Cavalierro May.
| cote, who had slept scarcely minute
since the death of his dear departed wife,
was surprised by the voice of his old man
servant, who raped loudly at his cham
/ ber door, and told him TO awake anc
come forth, for that his mistress had ris
( en- from the dead, and was then at the
/ gate of The courtyard.
''Bah - said Sir Cavalierro, pettishly
''go thy way, Jacob thou AIT mad oI
drunk or thou art surely in a dream
What thou sayest is impossible. shoulr
as soon believe my old gray mare haC
cot into the garret, as that my wife wal
at the court yard gate.'
Trot, trot, trot, suddenly resoundet
high over his head-trot, trot, tot.
What's that ?'' he asked of Jato5.
81 know not replied Jacob, fan i
be not your old gray mare in the garret
Sir Cavalierro."
They descended in haste to the court
yard, and looked up to the window o
the attic
Lc, and behold there was, indeed
the gray mare with her head poked ou
of the window, gazing down with be
great eyes on her master and his man
and seeming 10 enjoy very much her exalI
ed situation, and their surprise and con
sternation at 1t.
Knock, knock, knock, went the rappe
at the street gate.
''It is my mistress - exclaimed Jacot
at is my wife - exclaimed Cavalierrl
both in the same breath.
The door was quickly unfastened; an
there, truly, stood the mistress Of ii
mansion, enveloped in her shroud.
''Are you alive or dead p exc!aime
the astonished husband.
, "a live, my dear, but very cold, ma
mered the lady, family, her teeth chatie
ing the while, as those of one in a few
: chill ''help me to my chamber
He caught her in his arms and corere
her with kisses then he bore her to b.
chamber, and called up the whole hou
to welcome aud assist her
1 She suffered little from fatigue al
: fright but in a few days she was as WI
as could be expected under all the circuI
stances.
The thing began to be the talk OF t
u good town of RCculver; and thousan
flocked daily to see not alohe the lady til
: was rescued from the grave in SO remAT
e able manner, but also the gray ms
who strangely contrived to get into I
d garret, and SO contribute to that resct
r This excellent lady ljeed long and hs
II PLY with her husband and, at her dea
, was laid once mure in her old quiet re
le ing place.
re The gray mare, aftet remaining in
garret for three days, was got down
=, means Of ropes, pulleys, machinery, a
q inclined plane, quite safe and sound i
% interesting animal some time survived
p mistress, and grew to be general faE'
u ite with the good people of Reculver.
ST when she died Der skin was stuffed q