Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1889-06-04
NEW SERIES, VOL. XIV, NO. 23.

The Squire that day the cup had placed.
That spot to Seth. from boyhood known,
1 He found at last, and raised the stone
A light most strange beiiesth it shoue.
And by its pale and itful play,
! Quivering like the Boreal ray.
Seth snatched in haste the gilded Quaigh.
Scarce had he touched its polished wood.
When looking up-by st. Michaels rood
A female form before him stood.
With figure tall as midnight black.
When clouds sweep DER pale Cynthia's track
Aud vapors dark the hills attack.
Seth stood trausGxed-his lips apart,
And eyes that from their sockets start
| With fear. that chilled his very heart
| He tIied to move-alas he found
| His feet seemed rooted to the ground
Or fast by hellish fetters bound
! Even the NYind-in mockery through
! The easements. loud and louder blew
| As on the blast the storm king flew.
| A deatening peal the old bell sounded
! The spell it broke-like panther bounded
/ Seth through the church that wild resoundsd
Each bird of evil omen woke
! Voices that neer the silence broke
| Save to curse, in moclIcry spoke.
Ono hurried look. like frightened hind,
| He backward cast-alas TO find
The goblin followed close behind
The awful sight new yigor brings
| His failing strength; and panic filings
Into each leg electric springs.
How Seth gained his restive steed
| He ne'er could tell. But in good need
! That night was all her boasted speed
/ Scarcely had he touched her back
When fence. aud rails. and fastenings crack,
And away she broke DER bush and 6rack
Her steel-bound hoofs the limestone cleft
And train OF sparks behind them left,
That from the night the darkness reft
As love pursues when hopes inspire,
Or hate on foe to wreak its ire
| The goblin rode the train of fire.
| Oh Seth oh Seth try now thy steed-
For ne'er before was in such need
| Good bottom and tNvO-fOrtv a1npad
Nell clear'd her distance with good will
and thundered down the rocky hill
But at the base stopped sudden. still.
With Seth. it nigh had been n wreck
For high and dry the sudden cheek
Had pitched him forward on her neck.
He look d TO see What stopped her flight
Ye Gods! he saw an nnco sight
For such as he. poor sinful wight!
Goblins lank With jaws decayed,
AND demons black in crime arraycd.
with Sibcs and jeers before him played
How it was. Seth ne'er decided.
But Ger this horde in black presided.
Inc seli-same form, their orgies guided.
He tried with all his might and main
To leave the spot-but twas ia vain
Nell neither minded spur nor rein
Until at length her fear complete
Aud feeling Seth his blows repeat
She cleared at once fun thirty feet
But right before. he found too late.
lClear IT. he must or meet the strait
The old stone bridge and siS-bard gate.
On either side stood figure queer,
With burning eyes they seemed to stare
As If for him they waited there
rUr- sen -unu,tr,rlIser now U, -sntuI---
The gantlet 'gainst the host TO run.
Then DER the gate he boldly sped
But just in time to save his head
From the swoop of the demon dread.
Tue demon grab'd-like wiley rat
Before the spring of watchful cat.
Seth dod;Sd, but left behind his hnt
And as he crossed the bridges swell
So loud his shout. wild his yell,
Twas heard for miles, far up the dell.
Fen Nell behind cast hurried look
Then high her tail in triumph shook.
For dell iend dared cross the brook. CD
One moment more Seth reached the Hall
But never stopping once to call
Burst in upon his comrades all.
Who taken midst their reYel rout,
Stood list'ning-e'n with wine poured out,
To noise strauge-'twas Seth's wild shout,
SO sudden had it flied the ear
So wild and loud. and yet so near
Each one had started up in fear.
And thus they stood-their laughter hushed,
When in their midst Swan wildly rushed
With visage pale and spirits crushed.
Full soon his presence broke the pause,
| His haggard look. the.query draws
Whence that shout, and what the cause2"
Seth turned away as If to shun
| The theme. and said TO Squire John
| Here's the cup, the bet i've won.
The Squire then with all the rest,
! Fifty other questions pressed,
| But against them all did Seth protest,
And said ''he'd not his venture tell
In the ruin, or in the dell
| Or what to him that night befell."
/ But this he'd say-''If e'er inclined
/ When deeds of daring fill your mind,
Never drink before the danger find
! For l tell you boys it VIII misguide,
\ As me tonight It did decide
Against the dell himself TO side.
NoTEs.-a. lauds-midnight service in the
Catholic church.
b. Quaigh-a cup composed of staves hooped
! together.
d, Friar Rush-Jacl,-olautern, SIilton's clown
says:
"she was pincied and pulled she said,
! And by the Friars lantern led"
| g. Hallow-eye-is said to be the night when
witches. ghosts, devils and other mischief
making beings =. abroad in"
! i. Wizards witch Wizard Clip, is u small
town in Jefferson county, w. Va, near the
! scene of this story. Tradition says the witches
were so troublesome. at one time. in 20 Clip,
| that no stranger could venture within the pre-
cincts without getting their clothes clipped To
pieces. The witch or witches were FINALLY
/ lair through the instrnmentaiity of Catholic
| priest Chronicles If Virginia.
! 9, 'Tis an old Scotch superstition that
| witches nor any other evil spirit can follow Q
person any farther than the middle of the
| first flowing stream.
h. Norborne church is n fine old ruin. situn
ted two miles west of CbarlestoWn, Jefferson
county. w. Va. 1t was built during colonial
days. and shortly after :. Norborns'' Parish
was established by the church Of England.