The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-07-29
TIE GAZE or THE sPLURGLEs.

become involved in certain complications with
the undcrbrush; the second was for my left leg.
which. fortunately. had sustained no serious
damage and the third for the pitfall into which
had stumbled Tho hole WIS directly under tho
branches " a big red oak that grow on the slope
OF ahill. or ledge Of mctamorphic limestone
Juniper bushes and hramblcs almost hid the
orinoc. Pung these ns dc. | got on all fours
and pcorcd down into the black hole. for what
purpose I do not know My left LEG was no
longer there and certainly had no interest in
the inhabitants Of the burrow. whatever they
might be-undouit'dly either snakes, wood
chucks, or skunks with the weight u proba
billy in favor Of the last mentioned species
81 | did not crawl in TO explore the cavity
although by II tight squeeze | could have done
20. but pursued my way across Rodney Princes
pasture to Rodney Princes brook. and brought
homo at sundown n string which weighed SO
many pounds that out Of consideration for Rod
hoy Princes foolings. shnll say nothing about
1t. The hospitable Granger had assured mo
with friendly carnustncss the evening before
that there had never been any trout in his
brook. that the boys had long since nshod them
nll out. and that II there were any there now
they were miserable little fingcr-long spcci-
mons. unworthy Of the attention Of city man
with 0itccn-dollar rod and book full Of fics.
After supper joined rs usual the small cir
Gle OF choice spirits who gather every evening
IN the back part Of Dcacon Plympton's grocery
10 smoke their pipes and to profit by the oracu-
lar wisdom Of the proprietor OF the store. In a
humble attcmptto contribute to the convorsa-
tional interest Of the occasion. l casually re-
marked that had stepped into a deep hole that
afternoon while going a fishing. was flatter-
od to find that my Insignificant adventure was
treated with respect by the company. and that
even the taciturn Deacon. from his scat on tho
pork barrel. condesccndcd to lend an attentive
ear
shor said he. I'm Roiney's pasterf"
yes"
"Undcr red oak7"
"Ycs."
"Humph!" he gruntcd, blowing out cloud
OF smoke, "narrcr escape"
WHY" | asked. resolved to be no less la
coni,than he. skunks2"
No-Splurslcsw
And Andrew Hinrklcy. from barrel OF tho
r"acon's highest priced nour. whispered
"Splurgles.' And his brother John. from box
OF washing soap. echoed the mysterious word.
And Squire Trull on the platform scales. and
cd Orrison Ripley on n barrel Of the swecteuei
barytes which the honest Deacon sold M pow
dared sugar at a shilling the pound took up the
refrain. and solcmnly remarked in concert,
" les. the Splurgesl"
knew that 10 ask n question would be 10 put
myself at disadvantage with these worthy
citizens. so merely said "Ah. Spurglrs." and
nodded my head il to escape the spureles
were matter Of common ~ porcnce with me-
It's n providence" said Squire Trul after a
few moments silence. that they didn't pull ye
A."
Amt ben no closer shave sencc Fuller STUN
blcd in when he WAS drunk. and had the boot
Lrawcd clean Oh his tut. Has there. Dcaconf'
The Deacon, thus appealedto, descended from
the pork barrel. walked to the other end Of the
store. returned with a sulphur match in his
hand. reit his pipe and gravely shook his head
From the rambling conversation which on
sued and lasted till the O'Clock bell inspired
The Deacon to take in his dcsisnatory hams and
put W shutters. gathered the following facts
ani allegations;
FOR many years. indeed ever since the infancy
81 the venerable Orris"n Ridley. the people 81
Canaan had regarded the hole in the side Of tho
NIL under the red OAK tree with snprrstitious
awe Ihere were lew who would venture near
inc spot In broad daylight; mono after dusk
me popular opinion OF the hole seemed 10 be
well grounded. Sounds ms of demonac laugh
Ter wer" frequently heard issuing from the
cayern-ind sribable sounds. cultural and
gurgling. A. far as could learn, this crcum-
stance WAS the only explanation Of the ETY.
mology OF the name Splurglrs. applied by ira
d.tion and usage to the inhabitants of IN" ave
These supernatural beings wcro believed to be-
naievolcnt. not only from the peculiar harsh
ness Of their laughter. which had boon heard
bv many at different times during the last hall
century, but also on the testimony Of a few who
claimed 10 have seen diabolical heads protrud-
inS from the hole rs II demons had come up
from below 10 get n breath Of FIR sh air. More
over, there was the horrible fate Of jeremiah