Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-05-26
"Bv the blue imps which haunt this

'Bv the blue lmpS which haunt this
spot, I will know my fate tonight"
Nine o'clock found the party once
more upon the road. The moon was
high and quite as red, Susie affirmed,
as her Cousin Jacks hair. The soft and
balmy air was heavy with delicious odors
from field and wood. Crickets chirruped
joyously in the bushes, and the tire-fiies
flashed their tiny lanterns in the gloom
of the shadows. Here and there a stray
squirrel shot, meteor-like, up the trunk
of tree, the stri pes on his back appear
ing distinctly in the moonlight; while
ever and anon a hOarse grandfather
bullfrog would give an explosive grunt,
as though suddenly awakened from a
bad dream and turning uneasily in his
miry bed, while, above all, the joyous
bark of the dogs and the gay voices of
the travellers rang out clear and sweet.
Ten o'clock found the little band I'M
loading for the night. At last they had
reachad their destination, spot that
they had travelled twenty long miles to
! see.
This was wild and beautiful ravine,
known as "The Devils Soup-Ladle"
1t was noted for its picturesque scenery
and for its many tales of witchcraft and
hobgoblins Neither money nor per-
suation could induce the colored help
to remain on this haunted ground dur
ing the night. So after pitching the
tents, building a cheerful campfire and
carefully arranging all for the night,
they retired to a neighboring field over
looking the unholy ground and prepared
to offer prayers for the souls Of their
masters, whom it was their firm con-
viction daylight would never again be-
hold
And now the merriment began. Pat
Mccormick, q one-legged Irishman,
whose chief delight it was to discourse
sweet sounds on the fiddle, seated him
self astride a rock and struck up "The
girl left behind me" while a gay party
took their place for a dance.
Around the fire stood a group of
children, intent on watching a huge
kettle of molasses boil preparatory to a
candypull, and still another knot of
gipsieS sat upon the grass in the moon
light recounting blood curdling tales
which belonged to the haunted ravine.
1t was beautiful picture the white
tents standing in solitude on the moon
light hillside, while below appeared the
campfire and suspended kettle, the
happy children, the music, the dancing,
the loungers and stOry-tellers, the
crOuching dogs and the embarrassed
horses grazing peacefully beside their
wagons, and, below all this, the shadow
ravine or "Soup-Ladle," where foamed
| ~ nd
which was said to quench the almost
Unsuitable thirst of the Evil One during
his tempests of fury
"Tell us the legend of the Soup
Ladle " said one of the loungers, light
ing his pipe as he stretched upon the
grass.
Which legend?" asked his companion,
leaning his elbow on the turf and puff
ing graceful columns Of cigar smoke to-
ward the moon.
Are there so many?" asked Aunt
Hester looking up suddenly, while the
moonlight struck her glasses, causing
them mOmentarily to flash like calcium
lights.
eat least dozen,' replied the gen
tleman gypsy, who seemed posted in
the history Of the ''Soup-LadIe." But
the most appropriate to this occasion,
[ should think, would be the one they
call The Moon Trial."
Tell us the legend" said one and
all.
eyes, tell us the legend, whatever il
Isl" cried gay, young voice.
And Bessie, leaning on the arm oil
Gustave Melville, joined the group at
hat moment followed by amerry..party
among whom were the two unhappy
lovers.
"W-e-LI," began the story-teIler
knocking the ashes from his pipe, ri
isn't much, but it's appropriate to the
place and hour. That's why [ tell it,
Behold! the harvest-moon is at its full
and"-looking at his watch-''it is a
quarter before u. The little tale runs
thus: Any creature, youth or maiden
who goes alone, by the light OF Won
harvest-moon, at its full, while the
clock strikes y, to the stream below
for a drink of water, will meet, on the
reaching bank, the phantom of his OF
her fate, who viii present them with a
cup of water. Should the youth or the
maiden drink from the cup they thus
pledged themselves to we'd the phan-
TOMS earthly counterpart, when fate is
pleased to bring the two together"
''What rubbishw exclaimed Aunt
Hester, with her nose in the air. "What
girl ever tried it?'
"Gne unhappy maiden, so history
tells, did go to the bank" said the story
teller, solemnly, stroking his beard
and she never returned?" inquired
several, anxiously.
Not that night" replied the story
teller in a spulchral voice.
And did no one go after the silly
thing?" asked Amt Hester.
mo one knew she went" replied
the story teller. after waiting on the
bank long time, lookind for her fate
and making at least dozen mud pies
to pass the time away-this artless
country maiden afterward confessed
she fell sound asleep, until the hot sun
next morning walked and hurried hel
home to breakfast, with terrible ap-
petite from sleeping out all night"
That shows there is no virtue in the
Moon Trial p exclaimed Susie, with a
! superior air.
Not at ALL" answered the story
teller. THE Moon Trial was correct
The girl had no fate to come. She died
an old maid, years ago.
"Who will try it to-night?" asked
some one.
Nobody, if can help it." exclaim-
ed Aunt Hester, quickly, ''it is foolish
and wicked"