New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-12-25
4 CHRISTMAS STORY.
BY FEW oRLEAEs LADY.

A CHRISTMAS STORY.
BYA FEW ORLEANS LADY.
in the town of Perth Amboy, which il
situated ON the Raritan river just where
that stream empties itself into Raritan bay,
stands an old stone dwelling, which for
generations has been called 1.-THE Castle. |"
ought rather to say did stand fifteen years
ego, ~ it is possible that the improvements
and innovations Of these last few years have
swept away, with others, that old LAND
mark.
It must be remembered that am writing
now of Apboy. as it was in the far past
when ghosts and COLLINS were believed In,
and the famous DR.. Dee was named with
emotions of awe and respect, at which we of
this unbelieving ago have learned to laugh.
That veraciOus parsonage, the oldest in
habitant, can not remember when "The
Castle" foundation was laid. 1t is said,
however, that it was some time before the
reign of good Queen Anne, of England,
who delighted the hearts of her loyal sub
jects in Amboy by presenting them with a
church bell. Upon it can still be traced THE
inscription:
Presented to Perth Amboy. our pride
I'D joy. ANNE, REG"
Which poetry speaks more for the Queens
lind heart than for her poctical ability.
The castle belonged to the descendants Of
NE McGregdrs. Il had been built by a
scottish chicftain Of that name, who had
been obliged to fee from Scotland for fight
ing against the reigning monarch, in favor
OF some one Of the numerous pretenders to
the throne.
It was an old-fashioned, heavy-looking
square building Of rough stone, and stood
directly on the bay, whose waters, it was said,
in old times, had washed the foundations
The lower story, or first floor, far below the
level Of the street, contained the kitchen,
laundry, ETC. The windows of the second
floor opened on to the little flower garden,
which was fenced off from the street. This
story comprised the parlors and sitting
rooms, large. cheerful. airy chambers, with
wide chimneys, and high mantel-piecee,
Their peculiar forms and odd hooks showed
the primitive times in which they had been
built. In the third story were the bed
rooms. On the dark oaken floor of one of
these apartments, called by every one "the
haunted CHAMBER" there were many suspi-
cious-looking stains, made, it was said, by
the blood Of hero of the house, spilled
there during the first American revolution.
The castle had guardian spirit, who
watched over it, and appeared to the family
20 warn them of approaching danger, or to
ield them from it. Many and various
were the stories related Of this ghost
"Aunt Oliver a. it was called. Aunt
Oliver, q virgin of some fifty winters when
che died, seemed to have had but two passions
in ife-a huge black cat, her constant COM
panion and friend, and her money bags
for the good old lady was miser. She
had boarded her treasure, and had hidden
it so securely that her descendants had
never profted by it, although each heir, on
assuming possession, had instituted strict
search through all the numerous hooks and
crannics, odd dark closets and other hiding
holes with which the old place abounded. The
chief ornament of the parlor was huge and
hideous painting of the McGregor, Aunt
divers uncle, and the founder of the Amer
lean branch Of the house. If the picture re-
sembled the original at oil. old McGregor
must have been close-fsted, hard-hearted,
hard-featured old fellow. He was rep
resented as being dressed in Highland cos
tune, and wore q tuft Of feathers in his cap.
AS if to render his face more uncanny, an
English soldier had run his bayonet through
the rcbellious old Scotchmans eye, But in
tie of its defacemcnts, this picture had
r been the pride Of the family, as they
d that it proved their descent from
bic Scottish lord.
The popular belief was, that the stout old
etchman was something Of a smuggler.
and that when he built the castle on tho
waters edge, he had also constructed under
ground passage-ways leading far back into
the country, and had been even hardy
enough to dig one Under the churchyard, up
into the family vault. Here the. noble
McGregor and his descendants. who feared
neither God nor man, stored in collins, beside
the Wondering bones of the dead, contra
band goods. 1t was q marvel the good folks
said, how the church stood steady, and Queen
Anne's gift rung out pure and clear each
Sabbath day, when such evil deeds were
doing under its shadow. However, with
these facts or fancies my story has little to
do. At the time Of the breaking out Of the
American revolution the castle was in the
possession Of o widow lady, Mrs. White
hurst. She was the last direct descendant
Of the McGregors.
Her family consisted Of herself and her
two children, son twenty-five years of age,
McGregQr Whitehurst, Familiarity called
McWhitchurst, and daughter, a handsome,
.,igh-spifited, noble-looking girl-Edith
Whitehurst.
Mrs. Wlitehurst was by no means
wealthy; her chief dependence was on her
son. The young man had been well edu-
ated in England, and, having fancy for
profession, had studied medicine. In tho
'mitive dsysI am writing Of, tho doctor
village was also an apothecary, and
npounded the medicines he prescribed,
young McWhitehurst was chemist,
ruggist and doctor. He was really .
sing man, and bsde fair to displace, in the
hearts Of the villagers, tho old Esculspius,