C0MMBI1 BEM0C1AT
9
;.. j . ... .
"I have sworn npou the Altar of God, eternal hostility to every form of Tyranny over the Blind of Man. Thomas JclTcri.en.
MINTED AND PUBLISHED BY H. WllS
Volume Off. BLOOMSBURG-, COLUMBIA COUNTY, PA. SATURDAY, MAY 18, 1839, Number 3.
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THE WIFE'S ItEVENGE.
A LECEND OV GERMANY.
A smalt, hamlet rested upon llic side of
one of the lolly mountains ot Hie Julian
Alps, which thence towering aloft, conceal
ed from view its snow-crowed peak amid
the encircling clouds of night.
Three persons still lingered around the
scanty fire in the cheerless kitchen of the
inn. though it was midnight. Silence had
fallen upon them as they gazed on the de
caying embers, which now blazed up, then
eank again, sending forth no warmth, nor
creating any sound indicative of their pres
ence, save now and then a sharp crackling
as the landlord stirred them up. J hey
smoked their pipes with that meditative
look peculiar to those who have just heard,
as ihev had, a wild and fearful narrative.
The narrator, and the most rcmarkble of
the three, was a stangcr, only just arrived
in the vicinity after some years of foreign
travel. Want and hardship iirolher lands
had rriven him life appearance of an older
man than he really was, by usurping a few
of the wrinkles of Time to trace them on
his visage. The fierce rays of the tropic
sun had bronzed his complexion, and con
etant familiarity with danger had bestowed
upon him the reckless, undaunted aur'bf a
warrior not unused to scenes of blood and
trife. Yet the soldier's manly frankness
was wanting; for, in the quicK, glancing eye
and oomnressed lips, might bo seen the
workings of a mind capable of devising any
thintr subtle or villainous, allied to llic icso
lution necessary for the execution of any of
his schemes.
'Look ye, my good friend,' pulling aside
the lamp which rested upo llic table placed
behind himself and the person he addres--d.
4 did vou deny vour belief of what I
said concerning the spirits who walk among
our hills gat night ? Do you not believe in
them ?
Certainly not,' replied he, with a sort
of forced scornful smile, as if he would
discover a mind of superior mould; yet that
wero foolish, since by the attempt at a sneer,
he did but betray the superstitious weakness
he strove to conceal.
None of ihe horrible tales of his native
land seemed capable of receiving any credit
in the slanger's mind, for in ihe quick glance
of recognition which passed unobserved
hv the"!? companion between the old host
r..l liimRolf. the cause of his conduct be
came evident, since some plot seemed hatch
ing between them which could bring no
good lo the other who was a miller as
he was the person imposed upon.
I'll tell you what, my good friend,' said
the host, interrupting their continued discus
sion, ' 'tis full time to part; so, my good
Frans, canst take a hint !'
Why, yes,' said the miller, in an uncer
tian tone, as though he doubted whether to
go or to remain; but rising, he walked to
.the window and looked out upon the sky,
then with a cold shudder he closed the case
ment and returning to the heath, sat down
in silence,
Well, miller, what's your mind 1'
I think I'll remain here to night.'
Couldn't think of it, miller.'
WM1. Hands.' said he.after a little while,
I suppose I must go, as you will not let
ihe stay, but let me tell you, I shall not
soon rorget this, anu nasuiy waning
stranger a good night's rest,' he turned his
slops homeward. , , . , .
had tho last echo of his foot
steps died awav, than the host, shaking the
stranger cordially by tho hand, exclaimed,
Right glad am I to see you again, my wor
thy Kloiner;a fine gamcyou'vejplaycd upon
nur fripnrllv' miller.'
Ay, truly, old menu; nine uoes ne uiiiik
' Ah, my pood boy, strange thinks have
happened since you left us, to seek a for
tune in foreign lands.'
What? what? my lovely Maria has '
Married the miller.'
Uy all tho spirits of the Harlz, and
fiends of hell ! I would have slain him
while he stood before me, had I but known
that he had dared lo wed my promised
bride 1'
The demon of passion, wilh magic,
land, changed the expression of his vis
ige. wnerc previously rcigneu uie cairn,
contented look of the traveller, returned to
his native land to seek his affianced wife
now predominated the thirst for vengeance.
He rushed to the door as if to pursue the
miller, but the host threw himself before
lim.
' Be calm, good Kleiner, I have a scheme
which shall, by one blow, destroy the mil
ler and his family. Listen do.'
Gradually, as the leu plot discovered to
the traveller a new way of revenge, his
whole appearance changed, and when the
host concluded, his external fierceness had
disappeared; but the calm that pervaded his
rountcuance showed ihe consuming fire
that glowed within. Let us leave them,
hastily preparing for the execution of their
p!ot,anil accompany the miller as he ascends
the rugged path which leads to his moun
tain home.
There are those who will utter their dis
belief of something they pretend to consid
er ridiculous, who when alone in some wild
glen, or trackless forest, will ponder on the
subject, in spite of their wish to think of
something less lcarlul, till, Irom very tear,
they own to themselves llieir belief in what
they have heard, and thus hope to exercise
the phantom which haunts their minds.
Such was the miller, and frightful were the
images which filled his imagination as he
pursued his mountain path. lie became
convinced of what he before denied, and
from every rock and hillock, from every
bush and tree, he expected some awlul snir
it to appear and overwhelm him in Ins
wrath. ft
His nature was fierce and fiery; though
in his cooler moments he had been jJjyied
cowardly, and even justly suj yot. when a-
roused by an imagined injury, lie could,
like many others in this world, perform
feats on the impulse of the moment.which,
when calm, he had not the heart even to at
tempt. He was quick and vindictive, and
it was always as convenient for him to for
sret a favour, as it was natural for him to
remember an injury. He was alive to sus
picion and jealously, and as his character
was an exception to the national one, he
was haled & despised by all save one sweet
soul, who seemed to love him most who
she saw him spurned. Who can account
for woman's love ? Who can describe that
sweet flower, growing unnoticed upon
tender stalk, blooming the" while for ihe
most worthless object upon earth a jea
luus husband, but she who owns the pas
sion ?
In her case, she loved not her husband
merely because he had once been the very
god of her afi'eclion, but because she saw
in him the scape-goat, as it were, of his
fellows, and she knew it needed all her love
to make him happy. When passion had
endowed him with more than his usual
strength and couiage, and he burst out with
threats and imprecation against some neigh
bor, she, poor, ill-used creature, would ding
to his neck, his arms, his knees, praying
hiin to bo calm, and detaining him, till rea
son had again assumed her empire. Some-
limes incensed at her inteifcrcnce, he would!
wilh brutal violence dash her from him, and
curse her for her love J Yet, though llic
violent love he always professed for her be
fore marriage, ceased with the ceremony,
alid did not even dwindle into the solid ad
miral on and esteem it often does, he watch
ed her with tho vigilance thai a bov would
a new purchased dog, to see that none
should dare bo kind to him, lest some one
should wrest his growing authority from
him.
He ncared his home; it was a truly grand
and magnificent retreat, and yet, of course
had been sought by him, merely on account
of its utility; and therefore in gazing upon
ils use gratified his desire for gain, more
than ils sublimity fired his imagination.
The scene was wild but beautiful. Some
hundred feet above where hesiood.a moun
tain torrent dashed over a precipice, and on
each side of the ravine through which it
took its course, lay two immense roclcs,
hemming in and ' protecting the pretty
stream bolow; a few stunted evergreens par
tially covered the sleep rocks, finding but
scanty room 10 taiiu root in weir cuiia.
For one moment the miller deliberated
whether ho should lake the usual yet dan
gerous footpath up tho rock, or follow the
more circuit' aus horse-road which was
much safer; he chose the latter which was
burning in his dwelling, but as he turned
his head to look in another direction, the
pulsations of his heart ceased, his hair stood
on end, for ho beheld a tall, stately figure.
who3c white dress seemed besmeared wilh
human blood; in his Tight hand he held a
scull, within which glowed a light; in his
left a massivelflcshbone.
Fear crept upon him as he gazed. A
cold, death-like chill ran through his veins,
and his shaking knees prevented his accom
plishing the purpose ot his heart. A sepulchral-toned
voice thus wilh measured ac
cents sounded in his ear :
' Stand and listen, man of clay; the fiery
pint of vengeance who rides upon the
thundercloud, and direct, the forked light
nings, bids ye listen and obey ! The rival
ye thought dead, will this night return; and
tiie wife of vour bosom will fly wilk him.'
An unbroken pause ensued; at last, the
miller raising hi3 head, glanced al the spot
where he had seen the misty spirit; it had
anished. 1-or one moment he did not seem
to lealizc what he had seen and heard; the
ncxl, as the assertion of his wiTo's infideli
ty occurred lo him, lie rushed toward the
house; the door yielded to his might, but no
wife greeted him; he sealed himself, ihe
sense of fear left him, but the determination
of revenge had taken possession of his
mind, for jealously had stung hiin deeply;
Behold, woman,' exclaimed the former.
I am he, who in the guise of the spirit of
of Vengeance, fed thy husband's ear with
stones of Ihy infidelity I, once hi3 rival,
now the enemy of thee, base woman 1'
lie had approached so near to her as he
spoke, that she leant her head as if to whis
per to him; he bent low; wilh one bound
she placed him between herself and ihe fa
tal brink, and, quick as lightning, pushed
him toward it with all her force for in one
moment, although the morning had found
her a raving maniac, she saw tho cause of
her husband's conduct. In vain he en
deavored to regain his balance. lie slip
ped : and then rolled over into the yawning
chasm, to meet in death the victims of his
wrath.
The country-people still point out the fa
tal spot to the traveller, and strange tales
are told of a woman's spirit that still flies
about the Miller's Clifi and even now,
though fifty years have passed since the oc
currence ol the events mentioned in this
narrative, none dare venture near the rock
of the Wife's revenge !
.i... . l.n. .r.nt llin wlinln ri'eninrr listen
uidtuio " i" , . . ..,,, , it. .n,, , i,l1 ,t,
ifM'du ni a rival, r&iunicu iu i iiuv iiiuwit uoww. Mv -.. .
r - I . . . .., ,.,-t.i.
rocky summit, ana piainiy saw me jigni
inir In Ilia
claim t,he bride he strove so long to win.'
he believed his wife guilty, and then a
thought struck him; wilh the fury of a man
iac he Knocked at his bed room door until
l flew off the hinges. She was not there!
His worst suspicions seemed confirmed,
and in his bosom reined that species of
prenzy, the person affected with which, oi
ten says and does things of which he is un
conuious. I he noise he had made awoke
his little babe, whose wail now met his ear
Ha ! ha ! ha !' he shrieked, child of ;
guilty mother.' He snatched the infant
from ils pillow, and for a moment gazed
tixedly upon it; but not one spark ol pater
nai londness was in that gaze, tor H any-
had ever existed, his passion smothered its
influence. Unmindful of his screams, he
hook the boy as hccxclaimed, ' Death
were belter for thee, boy, than life, embit
tercd by the knowledge of a mother??
Piimer niaury ne new ironr tnc nouae; a
little beyond the threshold ho beheld his
wife approaching him.
iVh, husband,' said she, sweetly, ' I have
waited very, very long for you, beneath the
rocks.
Woman, it is false ! You have been to
see your paramour. Away !
She saw her child, who cried as he heard
nis moiner s voice, and discovering upon
her husband's countenance, as she ap
proached him, ihe fiendish remarks of rage
she attempted to snatch her child, fearing
lor ils salcly. He pushed her from him.
' Husband Frans, what would you do ?
Give me my child.' But with one arm ho
held aloft his weeping boy, and wilh the
other, clasped his wife.
' Oorae on on with me, base woman !
Upon yonder precipice's edge, you shall
gaze upon his destruction 1 It will be so
sweet lo see thy sorrow !'
' My child! my child! Give me my child!
Oh, Frans ! by all you hold sacred, I pray
you give me hack my boy !'
She prayed, she screamed, she clung to
his knees to deter him from his evident in
tention. In vain ! Who, with one spark
of humanity glowing in his frame, or who,
with even the outward attributes of man,
could have resisted that fair being's prayers
for the safety of her child ? Who could
have disbelieved her protestations of inno
cence ?
He gained the precipice's slippery edge,
dragmg after him his shrieking wife, who
clung to him with more than woman's
strength, striving to detain him.
'Spare him, I-rans! spare our sweet
child !'
But, unmoved as the firm rock he stood
upon, he threw his left hand upon her shoul
der and pressed her to the ground.
' Now, base adultrcss, behold the death
of your babe,' he said, and at arm's
length held aloft the unconscious boy. It
was where the cataract dashed down into
the foaming abyss, he cast his only child !
A wild laugh burst from his lips. His re
venge was complete !
Then, for the first time, reason threw one
bright gleam to illume his tumultuous bo
som. He gazed upon the fair being who
lay insensible at his feet yet no pity evin
ced itself for her; ho seemed indeed con
scious of his ant, for seeing her revive a lit
tle he exclaimed, ' Go now and seek your
paramour; your husband follows his child !
then giving one high leap into the air, fell
deep into the wild, watery cataract.
Poor ill-used wife ! innocent, yet believ
ed guilty, what was then your state ?
Morning dawned and beheld the widowed
wife, the childless mother, gazing vacantly
into the grave ot 'ter Husband and son.
But two others, the former rival of the mil
Ier, and tho villainous host, wero there
From tho U. S. Magazine mid Democratic Jicvicw,
OLD IRONSIDES ON A LEE SHORE.
TA' AN EYE WITNESS.
It was al the close ol a stormy day in
the year 1833, when the gallant frigate
Constitution, under the command of Cap-
lain Elliot having on board the late Ed
ward Livingston, late Minister at the Court
of France, and his family, and manned by
nearly five hundred souls diewncarto the
chops ol the English Channel. Tor
four days she had been beating down from
Plymouth, and on the iilth, at evening,
she made her last tack for the French
coast.
The watch was set at eight P. M. the
captain came on deck soon after,- and haV'
ing ascertained the bearing of Scilly, gave
orders to keep the ship "full and bye," re
marking al the same time lo the olhcer ol
the deck, that he might make the light on
the lee beam, but he stated, he thought it
more than probable that he would pass it
without seeing it. He then " turned in
as did most of the idlers and the starboard
l,nu.ir. "
At a quarter past nine, P. M., the ship
headed west bv compass, when the call
"Light 0 1" was heard from the foretopsail
vard
"Where away?" asked the officer of the
. "Three points on the lee bow," replied
the look-out man, which the unprofessional
ri-nder will readilv understand lo mean
vptv ripnrlv straight ahead. At this mo
mpiit. thn'nantain anneared and took, the
' j A A
trumpet.
"Call all hands," was his immediate o
dcr.
All linnds." whistled the boatswain
wilh the long shrill snmmons familiar to Ih
cars of all who have ever been on board
man-of-war.
"All hnnds. "screamed the boatswain'
all
be
Sir
dc
mates, and ere the last echo died away,
but the sick were upon deck.
The ship was staggering through a heavy
swell rrom the Hay ot Uiscay, uie gaic
liml ipen lilowintr several days, had
inr-rnnefid lo a severity thai was not lo
made light of. The breakers, where
Cloudesley Shovel and his fleet were
strnvtfd. in the davs of Queen Anne, san
their somrs of dea'lh before, and the Dead
Alan's Ledsre replied in hoarser notes be
hind us. To go ahead seemed lo bo death
and to attempt to go about was sure destruc
Hon.
The first thing that caught the eye of ihe
captain was the furled mainsail, which he
had ordered lo be carried throughout the
evening Ihe hauling up of which.conlrary
(o the order that he had given on leaving
the deck, had caused tho ship lo fall off to
lewaid two points, and had thus led her in
to a position on a "lee shore" upon which
a strong gale was blowing her, in which
tho chance of safety appeared to the stout
est nerves almost hopeless. That sole
chance consisted in standing on, to carry
us through the breakers of Scilly or by a
close graze along their outer ledge. Was
this destined lo be the end of the gallant
old ship, consecrated by so many a prayer
and blessing from the heart of a nation?
"Why is ihe mainsail up, when I oider
cd it sell" cried the captain in a tremendous
voice.
"Finding that she pitched her bows un
der, I took it in under your general order
sir that tho officer of the deck should carry
sail according to his discretion," replied
the Lieutenant in command.
"Heave the log,"was the prompt com
mand, to the master's mate. The log was
thrown.
"How fast does she go ?"
"Five knots and a half, sir"
"Board the main tack, sir."
"She will not bear it," said tho officer of
the deck,
"Board the main tack," thundered tho
Captain. "Keep her full and bye, Quar
termaster." "Aye! aye, sir!" The tack was boarded.
"Haul aft the main sheet," shouted the
captain, and aft it went like tho spreading
of a sea bird's wing, giving tho huge sail
to the gale.
"Uive her tho lee helm when sne goes
into the sea," cried the Captain.
"Aye ! aye ! sir ! she has it," growled
out the old sea-dog at the binnacle.
"Right vour helm ; keep her full and
bye."
"Ayo ! aye ! sir 1 full and bye 6he is,"
was the prompt answer from the helm.
"How last docs she go r
"Eight knot and a half, sir."
"How bears the light?"
"Nearly a beam sir."
"ICcep'her away half a point.
"How fast docs she go ?"
"Nine knots sir."
"Steady so !" returned tho Captain.
"Steady answered the helmsman, and all
was tho silence of the gravo upon that
crowded deck except the howling of tho
slorm for a space of lime that seemed to
my imagination almost an age.
It was a trying hour with us unless wo
could earn' sail to as to go at the rate of
nine knots an hour, we must of necessity
dash upon Scilly, and who ever touched
those rocks and lived during a storm! Tho
sea ran very high, the rain fell in sheets,
the sky was one black curtain illumined on
ly by the faint light which was to mark
our deliverance, or stand a monument of
our destruction. The wind had got abovo
whistling, it came in puffs that flattened
the waves, and made our old frigate settle
to her bearings, while every thing on board
seemed cracking into pieces. At this mo
ment the carpenter reported at the lett oon
of the weather fore-shroud had drawn.
'Get on the luffs, and set them on all
the weather shrouds. Keep her at small
helm, quarter master, and ease her in tho
sea," were the orders of the Captain.
I he luffs were soon put upon tho weath
er shrouds, which of course relieved the
for upon them depended the masts, and up
on the masts depended the safety of the
ship for wilh one foot of canvass less she
could not live fifteen minutes.
Onward plunged the overladcned frigate,
and at every surge she seemed bent upon
making the deep the sailor s crave, ana ner
live oak sides, his coffin of glory. She
had been fitted out at Boston when the
thermometer was below zero. Her shroud
of course therefore slackened at every
strain, and her unwieldy masts (for she had
those designed for the frigate Cumberland,
a much larger ship,) seemed ready to
jump out of her. And now, while all
was apprehension, another bolt drew !
and then another ! until at last, our whole
stay was placed upon a single bolt less than
a man's wrist in circumence. Still the good
iron clung to jhe solid wood, and bore us
alongside the breakers, though in a most
feaiful proximity to them. This thrilling
incident has never, I believo, been noticed
in public, but it is the literal fact which I
make not the slightest attempt lo embellish.
As we galloped on ror I can comparo
r vessel's leaping; to nothing else the
out-
rocks seemed very near us 1 Dark as W!
the night, the while foam scowled around
their black heads, while the spray fell over
us, and the thunder of the dashing surge
sounded like the awful knell that the ocean
was singing for the victims it was eager to
cngulph.
At length the light bore upon our quarter,
and the broad Atlantic rolled ils white caps
before us. During this lime all were silent,
each officer and man was at his post, and
lite bearing and countenance of the captain
seemed to give encouragement to every
person on board. With but a bare possi
bility of saving the ship and those on board
he placed his reliance upon his nautical
skill androurage, and by carrying the
mainsail when in any other situation it
would have been considered a suicidal act,
he weathered the lee shore, $ saved the
Constitution,
The mainsail was now hauled up, by
light hearts and strong hands, the jib and
snanker taken in, and from the light of
."sr.iiiv .Til. cr:ni:ifiL tpv . liiiii.'Tr r uan lrciuii
trmeml nnil mmn Irvcrjlls. Inflk her off '
parlure and danced merrily over me aeep
towards the United States.
"Pipe down," said the captain to the first
lieutenant, "and splice the main brace."
1 IPO UOWn, tCHUCU lllli (JliUll'Utv.imm n n;
the boatswain, "ripe uown, wmaucu
the boatswain to the crew, and "pipe down"
it was.
Soon the "Jack of the Dust" held his
1 - 1 1 . ,a!h frui.i1i.Alr Qrwl ttlA WMnlTi-
1GTCC UIl U1U lliaili JuiriiLvni cmu ...w bum- f
er-beaten tars, as they gathered about tha
grog tub, and luxuriated upon a lull allow