[figure description] Page 238.[end figure description]

Time and the world alike move on unceasingly
and in the self-same undeviating pace, let what
will happen. The keenest misfortunes of individuals,
the death of men who have filled the
world with their glory, the change of dynasties,
and the revolutions of empires, affect not the
general course of events, or the great business
of the human bee-hive. The daily wants of
mankind, the necessity of exertion, the gratification
of the passions, one or other, or all combined,
still keep up the busy current of life,
which continues its course without ceasing, and
will only be finally arrested, when the consummation
of the great scheme of infinite wisdom
and power shall have arrived.

Three weeks had now nearly elapsed, since
the total subversion of the authority of the Heer,

[figure description] Page 239.[end figure description]

and the mysterious disappearance of the Long
Finne. The inhabitants of Elsingburgh continued
in the quiet pursuit of their daily avocations,
and scarcely ever thought of the great
revolution that had overturned, in the language
of historians, their happiness and prosperity. It
was only the Heer and his gentle daughter, on
whom this wave of ill fortune had especially expended
its violence. The former not only felt
his diminished consequence, but now actually
experienced what may be truly called one of the
greatest misfortunes incident to human nature.
Being restricted from all participation in the
new government, he knew not what to do with
himself, and was at length reduced to the necessity
of taking two naps extra, to assist him in
getting through the livelong, tedious day. The
fiend Ennui laid hold of him with leaden gripe,
and, had it not been that he at last luckily took
to the Job-like business of fishing inveterately in
the neighbouring river for amusement, it is impossible
to say what might have been the ill
consequences, to a man having nothing to do,
and at the same time being naturally inclined to
be busy. As for poor Christina, she complained
not, she wept not, except in secret; and to
those who judge of the depths of the waters by

[figure description] Page 240.[end figure description]

the noise they make, rather than by their stillness,
she seemed as if nothing was the matter
with her.

In this state were the various persons and
things appertaining to our history, when, on a
certain night, there gathered together, about the
spacious chimney of Master Oldale's castle, a
group of village blades, whose deeds of drinking
used to stand recorded in veritable chalk,
in one corner of that sanctum sanctorum, vulgarly
'yclept the bar. The company consisted of
Wolfgang Langfanger, Othman Pfegel, and
Lob Dotterel, who, being each equally deprived
of their vocation under the ancient system of
Elsingburgh, were compelled, in sheer self-defence,
to pass part of the time at the inn, to hear
the news, and kill the common enemy of all
idlers. Besides these, there was master Oldale,
who, like a trusty publican and sinner, that understood
his business, was ever accustomed to
encourage the practice of tippling, not only by
precept, but by example. The fifth personage,
who completed the group, was a singular itinerant
genius, called Lowright, a traveling pedler,
tinker, and what not, who regularly traversed
the wilderness between New-York and
the river Delaware, once a year, with his pack

[figure description] Page 241.[end figure description]

on his back, and as regularly, as is usual with
such losel wights, did incontinently cheat about
one half of the men, and all the women of Elsingburgh.
He was well known, and, to say
truth, not much respected, not only among the
Indians, but also by the inhabitants of the little
villages, that now began to peep forth in groups
of log huts, at intervals “few and far between,”
in the desert. Mankind unquestionably have a
natural aptitude to be cheated in one way or
other; sometimes by rulers, sometimes by
priests, and sometimes by pedlers. Besides,
Lowright was not only a pestilent rogue, but a
merry rogue, who sung excellent songs, told the
most bloody stories, and withal never cheated
any body but in jest. When charged with his
rogueries, he always turned them off with an
excellent joke, accompanied by an irresistible
laugh; and it is well known, that if you keep
people, and especially women, in a good humour,
you may cheat them out of any thing.
Much of the news that passed between New-York
and Elsingburgh was brought by this
strolling wight; for at that time it was a rare
thing for any one to venture on a journey
through this wild country.

It was now waxing late in the evening; the

[figure description] Page 242.[end figure description]

night was becoming excessively dark, and the
flashes of lightning which penetrated the crevices
of the windows, followed by the distant and
muttering thunder, gave indication of a coming
storm. The conversation turned on the late
events of the village, and especially the fate of
the goblin Cupid, and his mysterious grandmother,
whose night walkings still continued the
common theme of the village. Lob Dotterel
was called upon to verify these legends, and, after
whetting his whistle, looking cautiously
about the room, and drawing his chair a little
more within the circle, cleared his throat, and
attested to the following facts, in the midst of peels
of thunder, that now became more loud and frequent:

“You must know,” said the ci-devant high
constable, “that one night—it was the Wednesday
night following the death of Cupid and his
grandmother—I had been out late on business.”
Here master Oldale tipped the company a wink,
which conveyed to their comprehension that
Lob had been tippling at the sign of the Indian
Queen, rather more than beseemed a discreet,
sober man. “When I got home, I proceeded
to undress myself, and was just standing before
the glass, tying on my nïght-cap, when, as I am

[figure description] Page 243.[end figure description]

a christian man and a living sinner, I saw in the
glass the face of the black witch Bombie, looking
just over my shoulder, with eyes as red as
coals, and lips moving as if she was speaking,
though I could hear nothing. I looked round,
though my head moved on my shoulders like a
door on rusty hinges, but nobody was there.
I looked in the glass, and there was the ghastly
face glaring over my shoulder as before, with
red eyes, and blue lips moving with a quivering
motion, without uttering a word. Often, as I
turned my head to look behind me, I saw nothing;
but the moment I turned to the looking
glass, the face appeared, just peering over my
shoulder. Presently I felt two cold hands on
my back, and the face in the glass came so
close to mine, that I felt its breath against my
cheek.”

“I never heard of a ghost breathing before,”
said Lowright; “but maybe the spirits of ladies
of colour are different from those of white people.
Go on, master constable.”

“The weight of the hands on my shoulders
grew heavier and heavier, till at last I fell flat
on my face upon the floor, unable to support it
any longer. What time I lay there I can't tell,
but when I came to myself, and looked about,

[figure description] Page 244.[end figure description]

there was nothing in the room but old Grip, the
dog, who lay fast asleep in a corner.”

As master Dotterel concluded his story, there
came a terrible flash of lightning, followed by
an awful crash of thunder, that seemed to have
dashed the universe to atoms. The company
gradually contracted their little circle, until
their knees mixed with each other, and, late as
it was, no one seemed inclined to go to rest, amid
the uproar without and the solemnity within
doors. The crash was followed by an awful
silence, until the tinker exclaimed, “There will
be bitter weather by and by, and, for my part, I
could never sleep in a thunder storm. Come,
landlord, another tankard, and master Wolfgang
will tell us a story, to pass away the
time.”

The tankard was brought, and master Wolfgang,
at the request of the company, commenced
his story as follows:

“Many years ago, it was in my native country
of Sweden, I happened once to be benighted
at a distance of several miles from any house.
It was in the summer season, and much such a
night as this. The thunder rolled incessantly,
followed by continued flashes of lightning which
blinded both me and my horse. By the light

[figure description] Page 245.[end figure description]

of one of these, I thought I could distinguish an
old ruined building, that I took to be the remains
of a church, which I knew from report
was situated somewhere hereabouts. I heard
the roar of the tempest approaching nearer and
nearer, while the big drops of rain began to fall
thicker and faster every moment. There was
no alternative, but to weather the storm without
a shelter, or seek it in the old church, which,
though the windows were broken and the doors
decayed, was still better than nothing. I had
an invincible antipathy to churches and churchyards
at night; but then I hated a wet jacket even
more than I feared ghosts; so I e'en dismounted,
led my horse inside of the door, and groped
my way into a pew in one corner, where there
was tolerable shelter. Presently the rain came
in torrents, the thunder rolled, and burst, and
crashed, and the lightning flashed upon the
white tombstones, that peeped above the sills of
the windows. Soon I began to feel the effects
of a long day's journey, and, stretching
myself out on the seat, I gradually fell fast asleep.
After some time, I was disturbed by a strange
sound, not unlike the tremulous quaver of the
screech-owl, `hoo! hoo! hoo!' I opened my
eyes, and the first object they met was a tall,

[figure description] Page 246.[end figure description]

ghastly female figure, leaning over me, with
her face close to mine. During my nap it had
cleared up, and the bright moonbeams, pouring
into the windows, and ruined roof and walls,
fell directly on the spectre before me. To my dying
day, I shall never forget the lank face, hollow
cheeks, and glaring eyes of the figure, as,
with raised hands, the long, skinny, and bony
fingers of which were extended over me, it repeated
the quaver, in a shrill, hollow tone, and
bent down and kissed me, with lips that seemed
covered with the damps and mildews of the sepulchre.
I shrunk, and shuddered as if death
had sealed me his own in that horrible kiss,
which was followed by the same tremulous
`hoo! hoo! hoo!' My limbs refused to obey
the impulse of my fears, and, for the life of me
I could not make a single effort to escape, but
felt as I had sometimes done in dreams, where
we struggle in vain to stir hand or foot. At
this moment the day began to dawn, and a gun
from a neighbouring fortress announced the
morning. The figure started at the explosion,
which broke on the deathlike silence, and echoed
far and wide. `Hoo! hoo! hoo!' cried the
spectre of horror, as she stooped again and gave
me one of her infernal kisses. She then moved

[figure description] Page 247.[end figure description]

slowly away, and disappeared, I could not tell
how, in the obscurity of a distant corner of the
ruined building.

“When I was assured of its being gone, I
started up, mounted my horse, and proceeded
rapidly to a village about four miles distant,
where I ordered breakfast. I had scarcely been
here half an hour when I heard the same noise
which had alarmed me so much in the church.
`What is that?' I exclaimed, as one of the attendants
came in. `Oh,' replied she, `'tis only
a poor crazy woman, that wanders about these
parts, but never hurts any body, and never says
any thing but `hoo! hoo! hoo!' `And kisses
every body?' `No—they say she only kisses
those who are going to die very soon.' I kept
the secret of her salute, although, to tell the
honest truth, gentlemen, I considered myself,
for a whole year afterwards, as little better than
a dead man. This happened more than twenty
years ago, and yet, at times, and especially in
such a night as this, the impression of my adventure
in the old ruined church is as fresh as
if it had happened yesterday. But come,
master Lowright, the night wears apace, and
there is no venturing out in the uproar and

[figure description] Page 248.[end figure description]

darkness. You must keep us company in another
tankard and another story.”

“With all my heart,” replied the jolly pedler;
“let me whet my whistle, and you shall
have a story that will astonish you all.” The
tankard passed round, and master Lowright
commenced his legend.

“You must know, gossips, that, though I
come from New-York, I don't live in the city,
but in a deep forest about four miles off on the
island, where every thing is as wild, and in as
perfect a state of nature, as it was the day of the
deluge. My house is of a single story, containing
a single room, which serves me for
parlour, kitchen, and hall. My bed is in the
attic story above, and is gained by means of a
ladder. I have no family, except a dog and a
cat, and there is not a house within sight of my
solitary abode. Why I have chosen such a situation
is an affair of my own, and I shall, therefore,
not trouble you with my reasons for preferring
this retired and lonely spot.

“One summer evening, I was sitting smoking
my pipe at the door of my castle—it was somewhere,
I think, about four years ago—when I
observed a man coming towards me, with a staff
in his hand, and dressed in the style of a

[figure description] Page 249.[end figure description]

common beggar. As he advanced up the little
path which led to my dwelling, I observed that
he was tall and straight in his person, and that
his face was remarkably handsome. Altogether,
indeed, he was the likeliest person I have seen
in a long time, except the young man called the
Long Finne, who was here last year, and
whom I saw carried to prison in New-York the
other day.” “What!” exclaimed Wolfgang
Langfanger, “is the Long Finne in NewYork?”
“Ay, that he is, to his cost, for he
is condemned to be whipt through the streets,
and afterwards sold to Barbadoes as a slave, for
having conspired, it is said, with the savages,
against the English power. But I will go on
with my story, for I see master Dotterel begins
to wax sleepy.

“As the beggar approached me, he began,
in the usual way, to beg for a lodging, as
the night was setting in dark, and the path to
the city, being through the woods, would be
difficult to find. `But I have only one bed in
my house,' replied I, `and that I generally like
to keep to myself.'

“`Beggars must not be choosers,' replied he;
`I can sleep on the hearth by the fire. I have
made harder lodging than that in my time, and

[figure description] Page 250.[end figure description]

so I have wherewithal over my head, I care little
what is under it, provided it is not harder
than a stone.'

“`But,' replied I, `I know you not; I live
alone here in the woods, and it is not usual to
take people in our houses, without knowing
something of them.'

“`What!' quoth the beggar, looking round
on my poor household with a dry, sarcastic air,
`you are afraid I shall rob you? Only to think
of the difference between us! I am equally a
stranger to you, and yet, you see, I am not
afraid to sleep in your house. But the beggar
sings before the robber.'

“The humour of the rogue pleased me; I
at length consented that he should stay the
night, and make his pillow on the hearth stone.
We sat up till almost midnight, chatting over
our adventures, and then went to bed. But
some how or other, I couldn't sleep; or, if I did
fall asleep for a moment, it was only to be awakened
with frightful dreams. On one of these
occasions, I thought I heard a stir in the room
below, and, cautiously creeping to the opening,
saw a sight that froze every drop of my blood
into an icicle.”

“What was it?” exclaimed Lob Dotterel,

[figure description] Page 251.[end figure description]

opening one eye, and drawing his chair closer
into the corner.

“It was the beggar, busily employed in
whetting the point of a knife, that appeared to
me at least a yard long. Ever and anon he
would feel the point, shake his head, as much
as to say, `it won't do yet,' and then set to
work sharpening it again. I had not the least
doubt that he intended to murder me, under an
impression that I had hoarded up money in my
business. I therefore prepared myself for defending
my life as well as I could. I had a
pistol, but, unluckily, it wanted a lock, and an
old rusty sword, without edge or point.”
“Ay,” quoth master constable, “like one of
your excellent razors.” “Or rather, like your
excellent wit,” replied the pedler, and incontinently
got the laugh on his side.

“What was to be done? I began to distil into
a jelly, and felt both courage and strength
fast fleeting away, as too often happens in these
hours of sore extremity. Desperation at last
supplied the place of valour and discretion, and
I determined, instead of waiting till the wretch
had sharpened his knife, so as to stick me
through and through in the twinkling of an eye,
to come upon him by surprise, and carry the

[figure description] Page 252.[end figure description]

war into his own camp. I therefore suddenly
plumped down upon him, with my trusty
blade in hand—and what d'ye think, gentlemen,
was the consequence?”

“Why, you killed him,” said the whole company
with one voice.

“No! he killed me!”

Here the whole company started up, as if by
one impulse, and stared in silent horror at master
Lowright, marvelling whether it was really
himself sitting among then, or only the ghost
of himself.

At the moment of this ecstatic climax of wonder
and dismay, there was a loud crash of
thunder, succeeded by a tremendous bouncing,
thumping, howling, and shrieking, in the garret
above, that appalled the stoutest hearts of the
whole company, and caused each man to press
close to his neighbour in trembling agitation.
Presently something was heard to fall, with a
weight that shook the floor, through the opening
which led by a ladder into the attic story;
the lamp, that stood nearly under it, was suddenly
extinguished, and there was a hissing,
and spitting, and howling, in the darkness, as if
the fiends had suddenly decamped from their
ordinary abodes, to take lodgings at master

[figure description] Page 253.[end figure description]

Oldale's castle. All was horror, dismay, and
confusion; not a soul dared stir from the spot
where he was planted, and not a soul uttered a
word, save the ci-devant high constable, who,
on this occasion, disgraced his valorous exploits
among the Indians, by roaring lustily for
help, being fast held by the leg, by Othman Pfegel,
who had tumbled flat on the floor. The
cry brought mistress Oldale, with a candle,
which at once disclosed the cause of all this uproar,
in the persons of two cats, who had,
agreeably to the custom of these amiable animals,
been making “cruel love,” after the manner
of certain affectionate couples, who act upon
the old saying, that the falling out of lovers is
the renewal of love. The discovery forthwith
put an end to the merry making. Each man
felt an internal consciousness of having been
frightened at nothing, and sneaked away to
bed, without the ceremony of bidding good
night.

Previous section

Next section