Daily Republican., 1886-06-04
"FIDDLER'S BRIDGE"
4 Legend Of ST. Georges Hundred.
BY RYE RossE.

About one mile south of the ancient
village OF 81. Georges, crossing what at
one time, before railroads were built.
was the main channel OF communi.
cation between the good people of the
northern and southern portions of the
little State Of Delaware-"the Kings
old highway" and ie stream
OF water, spanned by q rude wooden
bridge.
When / was a child / remember
riding over this bridge with my father,
who, as We crossed, said: my son, thia
is what is called Fiddler's Bridge"
"Fiddler's Bridge, father, and why
Fiddl er's Bridge?" / asked.
"Well." he replied, IT will tell you
the story connected with it, without,
however, vouchinR for its truth. 1t ia
said that years ago, before either you
| or L were born, there lived in this
neighborhood an old mau, celebrated
the country over, for his skill in play.
| ing the fiddle. His accom- plishm ents
In this line were held in nigh repute by
all the young folks of the neighbor
| hood, and many were the calls on the
Old man to fiddle at merry markings >
| He was said, beside his skill with
the fiddle, to be more than ordinarily
Intelligent. Another requirement of
his, not 80 popular, was his desire for,
ard ability to put 10 his old body, large
| quantities OF the then favorite beverage,
| Apple jack 1t was said the old mau
rarely lett a merry making without
himself being the merriest OF the
merry, or, in plain language, 'tipsy;
and was one OF those TO keen their
spirits up py pouring spirits down
| zone night, after playing until the
we sms hours and being well filled
with his favorite Apple jack the old
man started for his cabin The next
morning his old la. was found on the
bank OF this stream. but the owner and
his fiddle were never again seen at
| merry markings
"The most singular part OF the story
ID, that 1t became hoised over the coun-
try that if any one, on either of the
three nights preceding full moon, the
night when full. or the three night.
following, would, precisely at lid
night, drop silver coin, no matter how
small, into the stream, the old IN an
would Immediately make his appear
ance in the water and play on his old
| fiddle"
"a funny story, isn't it, my son?'
said my father, in conclusion.
The supernatural has peculiar charm,
for children, and the widest stories Of
this sort, If narrated by those whom
they consider worthy of confidence, re
oetve at once their most trustful belief
Although my father would not vouct
for the truth OF this story l, all the
same, believed it was absolutely true,
and many times In crossing tho bridge
after hearing the story, wished the time
and moon were propitious, 30 | could
drop dime in the water, feeling as
sured 1t would not be wasted, but thai
the old fiddler would come from his
watery home and one time more his old
fiddle would make lis "merrie music. >
AS the years rolled on spent much
OF my time away from home, at schoo
and elsewhere, aud memories OF the old
man and his fiddle we're nearly forgot
ten. A visit to my old friend Art
Alton, when l had grown to man.
estate, whoee fine old country home wal
located nes< this bridge, aud WHOSE
lands reached the very stream itself
recalled the matter wildly, and, q,
well, offered most favorable oppJr
tunity tor testing the truth or falsity o
the story, and without mentioning it t.
anyone determined to avail myself Of
this opportunity
Art and l had "merrie time" dur
ing my visit. We attended parties ap6
"merry markings" neary every night
and I had really enjoyed the round O.
fun and frolic. Bat one more night re-
NAMED Of my visit and had not vel
gene to the bridge, and this night The
moon WAS just full. Wehad invitation,
for party for this night, and the ques-
ton with me was, should | go to the
party, or make some excuse to Art and
go to the bridge. Parties were of fro
quent occurrence, the old fiddler could
only be utilized ON this occasion per.
haps for years. If ever. l decided iu
favor of "Fiddler's Bridge"
In the evening said to Art that pre-
ferred not to attend the party, and
begged that he would excuse me and
make my regrets to the host and hostess.
AT first he demurred, and said he would
not go without me, but later, thought
better of it, and went, leaving me tn,
only person, except servants, in th,
house. 1t was just p. NJ. when Ar
started, and | had five full hours t.
wait before the arrival of the propitioul
time for visit TO the bridge.
went into the library, sought out {
favorite volume, filled and lighted m,
|
of all easy chairs, prepared to pass tn,
hours pleasantly. l became SO absorbed
in my book as to forget my surround
ings, and thus passed the time, until
few minutes before midnight, / found
myself leaning on the wooden rail of tn.
Old Bridge, patiently awaiting the mo
meDt when the minute and hour hands
would come together on the "witchinf
hour when grave yards yawn."
Precisely at II O'Clock l dropped q
dime into the water. Hardly had 1,
disappeared when commotion wal
visible, and almost iustantaneously
there emerged from the boiling and
seething mass an old man who bore in
one hand q fiddle and in the other O
bow. He seated himself, apparently
comfortably, on the water, and at once
began TO play. AS he play ed, seem.
ingly absorbed by his own music, had
full opportunity for scrutinizinR him
closely. He was in truth the Oldest
looking mortal had ever seen. His
hair, clothing, and everything else
| about him, were matted with grasses
and other plants of aquatic gro with, and
had his legs been Joined together and
his feet made into a tail. he would have
looked for all the world like q perpoise
| that had just encountered MACS OF sea
vegetation, and mad not had time to rid
itself of IL. His eyes had the wasery
and semiidiotic stare incidental to the
optics OF fishes, and were, as was every
thing about him, dark and intensely
| green. | admit feeling of surprise at
first, on the advent OF this singular per.
son, but it soon disappeared and | was
| as cool and collected as ever in nv life