The Hickman courier., 1872-04-20
A STRANGE. STORY.
The Hermit OF The Cun.

y correspondent Of an Alabama paper
locates the following singular story in
Western Kentucky
In the State Of Kentucky, at point
not far from where the romantic little
Tradcwater throws itself into the arms
of the Ohio, may be seen standing upon
the very verge Of lofty cliff. small
and somewhat strangely fashioned stone
hut. No person seems to know anything
about it. An old man lives there, aud
he might have lived there since the crea
ton Of the world for ought any one eau
tell to the contrary. All have seen him;
some have endeavored to get into cOnver
sation with him, but none have been able
to arrive at his history, for he is proyok
ingly uucommunicatiye.
Business took me to that region some
months ago, and while there | made il
convenient to visit the &" hut on the cliff ="
The old man, an eccentric looking char
acter, truly, received me kindvr 30.
had been forewarned g.oBds 'a.aM
showed no ot-F0a5 those -,
did not try to press an rt3re4
him, but stated that | was a sFSBeS
the place, merely rambling about, s1d
had been attracted to his locality BY the
magnificent view it afforded Of the Ohio
river
"One word brought on another until
finally we got into an easy conversation,
and it Bassnot long until | discovered a
disposition on his part to give me scrap
Of his history. l TOOK seat upon the
brink Of the cliff, aud he stationed him
self not far away, and at last, after | had
humored him il every manner possible,
to the evident securing Of his good opin
ION, lie said
' am now seventy four years old
Fifty years ago, this coming spring, ]
first saw this cliff, aud since that time
have never been three miles away
from IL.
Fifty years ago I started with my
little family wife and one child-from
Pittsburg to New Orleans 1t was be
fore the age Of steam had been inaugu-
rated SO We took passage aboard keel
boat. Right out there, (pointing with
his hand). our boat stuck fast on sand
bar, and uecessitated waiting till rise in
the river should let US of.
" 1t was a dull place at which to tarry,
and consequently life soon waved mo-
Dotonous TO the fullest extreme and,
with a view to a change, | one day took
my wife and child-the latter little girl
Of four summers-ashore 10 walk in the
woods We strolled to the top Of this
cliff, and seated ourselves upon the very
Offset which you are now occupying, to
enjoy the scene which you have just been
praising 1t was somewhat different then
from now An unbroken wilderness
reached out in every direction, as far rs
the eye could see Mar had not yet in
terfered with the primitive features oil
the forest.
After looking upon the scene in 81.
lence tor some time, my wife said
All, George, did you ever see any
thing so enchanting before -
- told her it was really sublime.
Ii almost makes me feel that | am a
bird, she continued, able to sail off these
lofty cliffs aud 20 just where l like. If
| were to become bird, George, and fly
away over yonder. out of sight, would
you wait here till l returned2
" laughed at the idea, and promised
that would wait;
Now, George, she continued, 4
might get to be bird Promise me
good that, should I take notion to fly,
you'll never leave this place till come
back to you
81 promise good, said I, laughing
again, yet feeling some astonishment at
her continuance of the subject The
words had scarcely passed my lips ere
she arose to her feet seized our child IN
her arms, and before l could move hand
or foot leaped from the cliff a rustliDg
of clothes in the air, wild scream from
the child, dull, heavy sound from far
below. and all was silent
Il made my way to the foot of the
cliff scarcely know how-but bleed
ing and almost shapeless mass was all !
found there The spirit had also flown
See that fat rock there beside my
hut; that is their tomb At my request
the boaiman bore their remains to the
top of the cliff, and there they are
buried. And they then assisted me to
erect this hut. promised her to re
main right here till she returned to me;
shall keep my promise !"