Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-07-20
The PedaleR's stoRy.

I DO not think I am naturally su,
.perstitious; but I have all my life
been troubled with kind of superau-
ricular sense. By this l wish to con-
vey the idea that I hear things over
and above the natural sense Of hear
ing. The sound, as Of a human
voice, comes to me and syllables,
words of meaning, when I know that
no human being is near, and that the
whole must be some kind Of mental
deception. Sometimes these words are
of common import, and sometimes of
deep significance. Well do I remem-
her that once, when quite lad, liv-
ing at home with my parents in Paris,
I heard the words, spoken in my very
earas it were:
Pierre Boisaat, prepare for sor-
row y
was alone in my fathers library
at the time, engaged in solving a
difficult problem, and, therefore, in no
condition for this to be the effect Of
an excited fancy or imagination.
What followed? My father at that
time was accounted rich merchant.
Three weeks after he was a bankrupt.
If I had been the most imaginative
person in the world could not have
presaged this.
Three yei.rs later the same words
were repeated. l was then alone, on
the road to Troyes. engaged in the
humble calling of reddler, to which
my flther's misfortunes had reduced
me. l felt that something serious
was about to happen, and I took the
first conveyance back TO Paris. |
hastened to my fathers then humble
lodgings, and found him lying, and
my poor mother almost distracted
with grief. She was surprised to see
me; but when l told her what brought
me home, she said. it. must be the
voice of the Lord. I did not agree
with her in that respect, because |
often heard that same voice saying
triAing things.
Well, my father died, and my
mother did not long survive him, and
then 1 was alone in the world. See
ing nothing better before meat
least nothing that better suited my
disposition for a constant change Of
scene-I resumed the humble busi-
ness of peddler, and after two or
three weeks spent in France, went to
Sardinia and established O route for
myself among the retired villages Of
the mountains, where at least was
looked upon as i'll no wise inferior to
the farmers, artisans and peasants
with whom I dealt.
Il was now in region wild enough
to suit my romantic turn Of mind,
and perilous enough to keep me in a
state of almost constant excitement,
which was as much source of pleas
ure to me then as peaceful serenity
is at the present time. Some of the
routes between one habitation and
another were SO long that one days
Journey would not take me through,
and then I would be obliged to find
my lodging among the caves, rocks,
or trees, as best l could. Some Of
the mountain-passes we're very dan
gerons, and a single slip o: mis-ster
might send one headlong down ahun-
| dred or a thousand feet. Then there
were dangers from storms and kurri-
canes, some Of which were terrible.
and not least Of all was the danger
from robbers, who might be metwhert
least expected. :.
For six years | carried on my ped
ding traffic in that wild region, with
out any other misfortune than some
serious flights and hair breadth es
capes. By that time I felt that, fol
a young man, I was pretty we'll oft
and thought would return to Paris
and set up shop-keeping; and al
event, or perhaps l should rather say
tragedy, that happened about tha
time, fixed my resolution and hasten
ed my departure.
As I was going over a very wil'
and lonely pass Of the mountains
the sun being nearly set and | a
least seven miles from the, neares
habitation, my familiar voice, whicl
had never iett me, said distinctly:
"Pierrp Boisant, beware J.
I was alarmed at this warning, be
cause l had never recived.a warnin
of the kind in vain. looked up tn
rugged, frowning rocksabove me, an
down into the awful gulf below, ant
then before ard behind atthe narrow
zigzag path was pursuing, but say
no living thing, except a large, blac
bird, OF the vulture species, that wa
slowly wlnglng MS way across 10
wild scene, as if from one mountain
peak to another l knew the voic
was not human, and I felt there we
some impending danger, but what
was, or where or when to. look for j
| could not tell. It was not possibl
for me to remain where was, and
go back might be as dangerous as
) 90 forward, and SO | continued to &C
Vance, looking carefully to ever
step, and glancing keenly and ne
: vously at all the surroundings.
At length I reached a III wide
and gloomier place, whsce it ws
usual for me, when on this route,
: turn off down into the dark vale.
, to pass the night in a little cav
which 1 had accidentally discovere
about hundred and fifty yards frol
the path, and which was so seelude
and concealed by q clump Of bush'
5 in front of it, that / believed it WI
known to noone eXceptmyseii. Abol