The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1877-12-21

| 'PPS' W SHalltSlOu subject 10 his OrueI.
| Hogg was rich, his nefarious calling yield
ing him heavy profit. lie was a bachelor,
about forty years Of age, and was deform-
| ed, hldeous creature in appearance. Yet
he considered himself handsome, captiva-
| ting and irresistible. The slave merchant
had seen his tenants and at once decided
that the fair Virgie should be his, cost
what it might. With low cunning he set
| his wits to work to form plan by which
| he thought to secure his fair prize without
| trouble.
Accordingly he went to the widows and
requested confidential interview with the
lady, which was granted. The villain told
Mrs. l.. that lie was rich and could well af-
ford to let them live in his house rent free;
that he felt deeply for their past misfor-
tunes and that out ofrespect for her late hus-
band he had determined that they should
pay no rent. But" said he, "in order to
prevent scandal, this interview must be
| kept secret, and you must not tell any one
OF the bargain, and in order to carry out
the sham you must sign this lease, agreeing
to pay me ten dollars per month for the
house, which of course | shall never de-
mand."
Mrs. l.. not suspecting treachery, signed
the lease, and the cunning schemer left
Alter this things went on smoothly for
| about year. Our heroines had no rent to
pay, and their income from their school en-
abled them to live comfortably. Hogg
often visited them, and tried to make him
sell very agreeable, particularly to Miss
Virgie, but he failed, for Notwithstanding
his apparent kindness, the whole family
| could not help dcspising him. Bridget used
to call him the "divil's own hog" and said
that if she dared she "would tear his cats
eyes out"
On the Gath of December, in the year
aforesaid, Hogg determined to bring mat
tiers to crisis. He resolved that the fair
Virgie should he his before night, or that
he would make beggars of them ALL
Dressing himselfin the latest style, he paid
visit to his tenants. He had braced
himself for the occasion by getting half
drunk, and was accompanied by two of
his boon companions. When he arrived
at the house he left his drunken confreres
outside and boldly entered the house I'm.
announced. The family were at their
morning devotions, which exasperated him.
and he muttered between his clenched
teeth "at their cursed foolishness." After
the family arose from their knees, Hogg,
without preamble, told the fair Virgie that
lie had come for her and that he intended
to marry her on that day, and that she
should be the finest lady in Charleston
Said he, "Your mother and sister can live
with us, and l will make you all rich"
The young lady was astonished at the
brutal rascals audacity, but deffantly told
him to "leave her presence and never speak
to her again. She added that sooner than
wed brute like him she would beg bread
or pick rags In the street, and closed by
ordering him to leave the house. He swore
he would kiss her before he left, and adj
vancing toward her seized her by the hand.
He failed in his purpose, for he was seized,
dashed on the floor, dragged to the door
and pitched into the yard, with the simple
expletive, "Lie there, ye drunken divil.'-
1t was Bridget who did it. The artful
villain was now wild with rage, and get
ting up he swore that he would make them
all beggars before night; that he would
take their property to-day, and tomorrow
lie would make Christmas frolic in pitch
ing them out of the house. lie then left,
and going to Charleston to solicitor, pro
duced his lease and ordered warrant of
distraint against Mrs. Laurens. In the af-
ternoon the Sheriff, accompanied by Hogg,
went to Mrs. Laurens's and proceeded to
lay the distraint. The kind hearted Sheriff
shed tears when he saw the situation, and
begged Hogg to let the property remain
with the tenant until the day OF sale. But
Hogg swore the things should be removed
at once, as he had teams in the yard to
haul them away. They then removed the
articles from the house, taking away every
thing of value, leaving them only straw
pallet to sleep on and an old table on which
Hogg said they might eat their Christmas
dinner. Hogg picked up the family Bible,
but Mrs. L. begged him to leave it, as she
priced the Holy Book higher than all the
property he had taken. The hardened
villain told her that he wanted it to light
his pipe with, and took the sacred volume
with the rest The family had just receiv-
ed a barrel of flour, which he likewise took.
Then in a hooking tone he wished them a
merry Christmas and left with his booty
He took the articles to his own dwelling,
piling some Of them on his porch, and leav-
ing the balance in the yard, as it was now
night, saying that he would see to storing
them in the morning Among the articles
on the porch was the barrel of flour. 1t
was laid on the landing at the head of the
porch steps. He was soon joined in his
house by score of boon companions,
where we will leave them for the present
and look after the distressed widow and
her daughters.
After the heartless wretch had left, talk
ing all their goods with them, the family
were stupefed with grief Their
last provisions were gone, and they had no
money. An old lamp with some oil, that
had escaped the eyes of the cruel landlord,
was still left. Fortunately the weather
was warm, as is often the case at this season
in the beautiful sunny South. The mourn
ing family lit their lamp, but the Holy
Bible, their great companion, was gone.
They could hear the bells in Christ Church
ringing merry peal, but they could not 60
to the dear old church tonight. 1t was in
deed gloomy Christmas Eve for this dis.
tressed and prosecuted family. Virgie
opened her prayer book and they went
through their family worship, singing the
beautiful Christmas hymn,
"Shout the glad tidings, exultingy sing,
Jerusalem lriumphs, Messiah is King!n
After their devotions they lay down on the
hard straw pallet, and were soon asleep
They slept most sweetly, and when they
awoke in the morning it appeared that they
had been dreaming of bright angels all
night. The full moon was casting its sill
very sheen on the objects in view. The
family heard the town clock strike five,
when they proceeded to their usual morn
ing worship. When they arose from pray
or and had taken their seats on an old
bench, the door opened and a stranger en-
tered the room. His face was beautiful and
manly. A heavenly smile illumined his
countenance. He appeared young. His
long brown hair hung in curling locks over
his well formed shoulders He WAS tall