The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1886-02-26

4
try. He never had any child, and his
wife had been dead for years.
he had, when she was mere child,
adopted his niece, Betsy Vedder, as his
own, permitting her out of respect to
her dead mother, to retain the name Of
Vedder.
Betsy was also the owner in her own
right of many broad acres in the fer
tile valley, which came to her by inner
itance. The idea of securing her as
his wife seemed preposterous. Dozens
of the wealthiest and most aristOcratie
young men in the valley were constant
in their attentions, striving to capture
her heart and hand.
Surely" thought Brom, ''there can
be no chance for poor school-teacher
like me. She cares nothing for mel
True, she walks out and rides out with
me, and we sail hours together on the
beautiful Mohawk by moonlight. But
what of it. She does the same with a
dozen of other young men who are
wealthy"
Often would he walk for hours up
and down the rivers bank, brooding
over the misfortune Of being poor, and
wondering why he could not have been
born rich, or, at least, have an oppor-
tunity of becoming wealthy by honest
exertion.
One day he was walking thus along
the bank of the river, when he espied a
| light birch canoe in the middle of the
stream, and in it was an ugly looking
old woman whom he never saw before.
| Her hair was white as snow, her face
was sunken and wrinkled, and her
teeth were all gone with the exception
of one long, yellow tusk., AS she
stood up in the canoe with a long pad
die in her hands, she was certainly a
repulsive looking being.
just at the place where she was at
tempting to cross the river the current
was very strong, and the big rock visi-
BILE only at low water mark was but a
| few feet below. A mistake of the pad
| die caused the canoe to strike the sub
merged rock, when. quick as thought,
the canoe careened and fioated bottom
upward down the stream, leaving its
occupant helpless in the water.
BrOm did not like the looks of the
strange being, but looks were of no ac-
count with him when he found a hui
man life in peril. He plunged into the
stream. With a few well directed
| efforts he seized the old woman with
his left hand, and with few vigorous
strokes with the right arm regained
the bank with his burden more fright
ened than injured.
She soon regained her self-composure
and walked away talking to herself:
''Brave boy! Brave boy! Lucky boy!
The Witch Of the MobG1O5 9UiU not for
getn'
OF course this adventure was upper
most in Brom's mind for a long time.
He like all other Mohawk Dutchmen
was superstitiOus. He believed in
witches, fairies, sspooks' and COLLINS.
Brom had heard about the Witch of
| the Mohawk long before he was sent to
Albany-heard the negro servants from
various families, as they sat around
| the fireplace in the kitchen, talk about
the marvellous doings of the old witch.
| But gradually his adventure with the
witch faded from his mind.
Brom being a schOol-mastar and a
! good penman, and a great favorite
with the people, had to do tbs writing
for the whole community; consequently
| he was not surprised at being sum-
moned one evening to attend the man.
| sion of the venerable burgher, Dock
| stader, Without the least idea of the
nature of the call he at once set forth.
A brisk walk of few moments brought
him to the Dockstader mansion.
Knocking at the door he was ushered
| in by a colored servant, and imme-
| diately conducted to the bedroom of
the old burgher, whom he found
propped up in bed and very feeble.
| The old gentleman at once informed
him that he apprehended an early dis
solution, and had, therefore, sent for
him to draw his will, and attend to its
execution according to law. The negro
/ ro~Od7v0nd inl~ on6 anH
Brom commenced drawing the instru-
ment. After drawing the preliminary
and formal part OF the instrument, and
writing several requests of no great
| value, the sick man dictated and Brom
wrote as follows:
LASTLY give, will and bequeath and de-
| wise, all the rest, residue and remainder OF
my property of whatsoever manner or ma
| ture, to my beloved niece, Betsy Vedder, her
| heirs and assigns forever; provided always
| and upon this express condition, that the
| said Betsy Vidder shall accept the offer OF
marriage made by Derrick Won Corlear the
| son of my old friend, and consummate mar
| rage with him within six months after my
| decease. In case she refuses or neglects tC
| do So give, VIII, beQueath and devise the
| same unto any decent Dutchman who within
one year after my decease, with the apprOba
ton of my friend, the Rev Thomas Romeyn
shall become the lawful husband of the won
an well known as the Witch of the Mohawk
to have and to hold to himself, his heirs and
assigns, forever; and hereby make, cOnsti
Bro1n Won Warker, sole executor of this my
last will and testament"
The will being duly executed was care
fully folded and sealed with the tesla
tors private seal, and deposited with
Brom for safe keeping, who was sOoT
vending his way hOmeward with thu
document in his pocket.
What a queer old chap he is" SAID
Brom to himself, as he trudged along
''but he is a stubborn old fellow, and
really believe that he would sooner
give his property to the devil than hi
own flesh and blood, unless they al
fall down and worship him. But NJ
doubt it is all right. The old mar
knows well enough that the girl il
dead in love with young COrlear, anC
of course they will in due time marry. >
''What a beautiful evening it is,
said he; chow soft and silvery thu
bright moon looks down upon the Mo
hawk. What weird shadows the tai
pines cast upon the river! How softly
and musically the black birds twittel
in the bushes, and how distinct is tina
: splash as that poor frightened muskra
makes one grand leap for its watery
, home! Really, believe l will sit dow
here upon the bank of the beautiful
, river for a few moments, and eniO7
these delightful surroundings.
So saying he sat down beneath
monstrous old oak, and, lighting hi
, pipe, proceeded to enjoy a real old
! fashioned Dutch smoke.
How long he sat thus ne never knew
His reverie was broken by sounds o
the sweetest and most angelic musi
that ever greeted human ear, while a
the same time he beheld in astOnish
ment a beautiful little tiny canoe mad
of pearl and studded with diamonds
which glittered and sparkled in tn