Year: 1875

the freezing wind and binding snow,
but allo on account of the rocky fissures,
chasms and pits which lay in my path,
and INTO which I was constantly in dan
ger of plunging. Added to this, the
creaking limbs of trees, loaded with
snow, sometimes gave way, and came
tumbling to the earth with loud crash.
1 was frequently obliged to climb over
these fallen limbs which lay directly in
my way.


1t was about twelve o'clock that i
fancied was not the only wayfarer in
that gloomy forest. 1t seemed to me
that l could discern something white
fitting along at no great distance from
me.


Looking sharply at this object, | fan
cied after a while that could make out
woman's dress. The thought of ghosts
obtruded itself; for that any woman OF
flesh and blood should be braving that
storm, in that place, and at that time OF
night, was incredible. Besides, if a liv-
ing woman was there, struggling TO
keep pace with me, why had she not
spoken?


My curiosity was highly excited, for
had always longed to witness some su-
pernatural event, and especially to see a
ghost.


"What and who are you?" appeared
to me to be the most natural question,
under the circumstances; it was accord
ingly by the use of that phrase that /
intimated my desire to obtain knowledge
under difficulty was that of making my
self heard and understood amid such a
tempest. But that seemed immaterial,
as the answer that came back bore no
relation whatever to my question. A
shrill, cracked voice replied TO my inter
rogatory:


"Do you hear it? Did you say you
heard it?"


1t was then really q human being
moving at my side, and not very at
tractive one either, to judge by the
voice, which seemed 70 be that of some
old crone who had lost the greater part
Of her teeth.


Was one of the ancient witches restor-
ed to- life, and had come out to meet hel
fellows, Gin thunder, lightning, or in
rain?"


She drew nearer to me now that had
spoken, and she told me to listen.


"I thought heard it just them" she
said, pausing, and holding up her hand
to her ear.


"What do you mean, good woman?
hear nothing" said L..


Didn't you hear it ereak?" demand
ed She Sometimes / hear it all nigh
long, and it goes through my head jus
like knife"


L perceived it was useless to talk tC
this woman. She was evidently an in
same person, and suspected that she
had broken loose from her keepers.
therefore remained silent till, perceiv
ing that my strange companion was de
termined to do as Ruth promised to dC
by Naomi, "Wherever thou goest vii
60" and that she would probably entel
the house whittier was bound, said
"Good woman, where are you going
/ have got nearly to the end of my
journey. OF conrse you will not thinh
of going with me into the house, as
should be blamed for bringing yoU
there"


"Did brother SiIas say that?' demand
ed she, in loud, shrieking voice, as i
my remark had touched her TO tn
quick.


Now SiIas was the name of the oil,
husbandman to whose house / wa
bound. Yet there was more than on
Silas in that part of the country, an
before / could ascertain which Sila
the old crone alluded to, we were on tn
broad stone which answered for stoo
to the kitchen door.


On entering, the cheerful sight of
large wood fire in the huge freplac
drove the thought of my companion on
of my head.


Nearly all the family were up. Som
were cracking nuts and drinking cider
while the old folks were chatting togeth
er and enjoying the warmth of the burn
ing logs and bright Goals on the hearth


l was cordially welcomed, and now
perceived that my travelling companion
had seated herself composedly in on
corner, and was making herself at home
This was sufficiently explained by on
or two of the children, who said "Here'
Aunt Mitty!' from which it appears
that the name of the old lady was Sui
nit, and that the master of the hous
was really her brother.


Although had been for some tin
acquainted with the family, yet ha
not before known that they had Graz
relative. But l remembered TO hay
heard that melancholy event toe
place among them when Silas was
youth. | had heard that his olde
brother was hanged for murder, but Il
particulars l had never learned.


could not help suspecting that ii
insanity of "Aunt Nifty was in son
way associated with that dire calamit


This led me to make inquiries afte
ward, especially as perceived that Mi
ty was treated with great coldness by h
brother and his wife, and also that Il
children treated her with undisguis
contempt.


On inquiring of an old inhabitant
Gloucester, he told me that the father
Silas was one of the first settlers in th
part of Rhode Island, and that his far
was very extensive.


His eldest son, Richard, had alwa
lived at home, was faith full, hard -wor
ing gyoung man, and strictly honest. ]
was very simple in all his tastes al
habits. and therefore he was unsuspeC
ing and liable to fall victim to 4
wiles of cunning adventurers.


A crafty fellow called Ellison came
to that part of the country, and so
succeed in cheating Richard and
father out of a quantity of land.