Year: 1859

:" The ferrymaG waits"


So perfectly conscious was | of having been
really addressed, that | sat up in my bed at
once, and replied "Well, and what is that
to me 7" before the absurdity of the intimation
had time to strike me. The snow-white cur
tainS of the little bed were completely un.
drawn, So that no person could have been hid
den behind them. Although it was not broad
daylight, every object was clearly diScernable,
and through the half-opened window came the
COOL delicious summer air, with quickening
fragrance, heard the dog rattle his chain
in the yard as he came out of his kennel and
shook himself and then returned to it lazily,
as though it was not time to be up yet A
cock crew, but very unsatisfactory, leaving
off in the middle of his performance, as though
ne had been mistaken in the hour My watch,
more reliable chronicler, informed me that it
wanted quarter of four O'clock / was not
accustomed to be awakened at such a time as
that, and turned myself somewhat indignantly
on the pillow regretful that had eaten clot-
ted cream for supper the preceding evening"
l lay perfectly still, with my eyes Shut, eudea.
voring, since could not get to sleep again, to
account for the peculiar nature of my late
nightmare, as aad made up my mind to con-
sder it, until the cuckoo clock on the oaken
chair outside struck four The last note of
| the mechanical bird had scarcely died away,
when again, close to the pillow, heard utter
ed, not only with distinctness, but with most
unmiStakable earnestneSs the same piece of in-
formation which had once so startled me al
ready, " The ferryman waits"


Then got up and looked under the little
bed, and behind it, into the small cupboard
where my one change Of boots was kept, and
where there was room scarcely for ANYTHING
else. | sounded the wall nearest my beds
head, and found it solid enough it was also
an outside wall nor from any Of the more
remote ones could so distinct summons have
come Then pushed the window easement
| fully back, and thrust my head and bare neck
! into the morning air If / was still asleep. |


was determined to wake myself, aud then, if
/ should hear the mysterious voice again, was
determined to obey It, / was not alarmed,
uor even disturbed in my mind, although great
! ly interested. The circumstances of my posi-
ton precluded any supernatural terror. The
animals in the fsrmyard were lying in the
tumbled straw close by, and near enough to
be startled at a shout Of mine some pigeons
were already crciilg round the dove cot, or
passing, sentinel,like, the little platform before
their domicileS and the sound of the lasher,
| by whose circliug eddies | had so often watch


ed for trout came cheeriy and with inviting
tone across the dewy meadows. The whole
landscape seemed instinct with new born life !;
and to have thoroughly shaken of the soem-
nifty of dreary night. Its surprising beauty
and freshness so entirely took possession Of me
indeed that in its contemplation | absolutely
ligh h,A
brought me to the window was wrapped
in the eudeavor to make out whether those
tapering lines, supporting, as 1t appeared, a
mass of Southern clouds, were indeed the PIN
nacles of the cathedral when close by my ear,
close by, as though the speaker had his face
at the easement likewise the words were
third time uttered, The ferryman waits"


There was deeper seriousness in its tone
on this occasion, an appeal which seemed to
have tcuch of pethos as well as gloom but
it was the same voice, and one which shall
never forget | did not hesitate another mo-
meGt, but dressed myself as quickly as could,
aud, descending the stairs, took down the vast
oaken door-bar, and let myself out as had
been wont to do when Invent betimes fishing.
| Then strobe southwark along the footpath
leading through the fields to where the river
! ferry was, some three miles off, now doubling


now believing, that the ferryman did wait there
at such an unusual hour, and for me. | made
! such good use of my legs that it was not five
| O'Clock when | reached the last meadow that
Law between me and the stream it was
higher ground than its neghbor land, and
every sten | took | was looking eagerly to
come in sight of the ferryhouse, which was on
the opposite bank, and by no means within
hailing distance. At last | did so aud OBJ
served, to nv astonishment, that the boat was
not at its usual moOriTgS 1t must needs,
therefore, have been already brough. over up
on nv own side A few steps further brought
me into view of it, with the ferryman standing
up in the stern leaning on his punt-pole, and
looking ntently in my direction He gave
great halloo when he recognized me, and |
returned it, for we were old acquaintances.


"Well, Master Philip" cried he, as drew
near, " YOU are not here so very much hetimes,
after all have been waiting for you nigh
upon half an hour


"Waitng for me ?n echoed :" don't kuow
how that can be, since nobody knew that was
coming and. indeed didn't know it myself
till" and there / stopped myself upon the
very verge of coafeSsing myself to have been
fooled by q voice Perhaps the ferryman him.
self may be concerned in the trick, thought l,
and is now taken across out of hours


"WelI, sir returned the genius OF the river
turning his peakess cap hind before, which
was his fashion when puzzled, and certainly
much more polite one than that common to the
brethren of the land, of scratching their heads.
all can say is as was roused at half past
three or so by a friend of yours, saying as
though You would be waiting me in little on
the north bank"


What friend was that ?" inquired l.


NAY, sir, for that matter can't say, since