University of Virginia Library

15. CHAPTER XV.
MARGARET PASSES A NIGHT AT THE STILL, AND SOLOMON SMITH
MAKES HER USEFUL.

It will be remembered that Hash, the brother of Margaret,
at the Spring training, was punished not only by imprisonment,
but also with an inconsiderable fine, for disorderly behavior on
that occasion. Not being himself possessed of the money, he
had recourse to the Smiths at No. 4, to whom he pledged his
oxen for the sum advanced. To acquit himself in that quarter,
he engaged his services as night-warden at the Still. In addition—for
this seemed to be a point especially insisted upon—
he promised that Margaret should accompany him in that
duty.

The “Still,” or Distillery, was a smutty, clouted, suspicious
looking building, on the slope of ground between the Tavern
and Mill Brook. It rose a single story on one side and two on
the other, into the former of which the barrels of cider were
rolled, and emptied into the cauldron below. The latter was
the chief scene of operation; here were the furnace; the
boiler with its cap for collecting the vapor and conveying it
into the worm-pipe or condenser; the refrigerator, an immense

cask, holding the worm, and constantly supplied with
fresh cool water, brought by a series of large troughs from
the Brook above; and the receiver, a barrel, into which the
condensed vapor of the cider, now having assumed the form
called spirits, issuing from the worm, fell drop by drop. This
was a large long room, dark from the absence of windows, and
darker still from the accretions of smoke and dust about the
walls, and filled with a strong alchoholic effluvium. There
were barrels of spirits, and piles of wood lying about, and the
bare earth served for a floor. Into this place at night-fall were
wont to assemble the people of the neighborhood, men and
boys, and sometimes girls. Here came Margaret with Hash
and Bull. A pine torch was blazing on the top of the furnace.
Two boys sat in the light of the fire on the ground playing
mumble-the-peg. Old Isaac Tapley leaned on the furnace inhaling
the fumes of the boiling cider that puffed from a leak in
the cap; little Isaiah Hatch caught with his fingers the drops
that fell from the worm, and conveyed them to his mouth;
and the men vied with one another who should render themselves
most acceptable to Solomon, helping him crowd wood
into the fire. Damaris Smith politely offered to instruct Margaret
in the game of Fox and Geese, which they played sitting
on a bench having the requisite lines branded across it. At
length the nine o'clock bell was heard from the village, a tone
mellowed by the distance and the woods, and which breaking
in upon many a scene of idleness, dissipation, domestic quiet,
or friendly visit, admonished the gay of vanity, the devout of
prayer, and all of bed-time. The people went away, and soon
after Solomon, leaving Margaret and Hash to their night's
work, that of tending the fire. It was not long before Hash,
whom Solomon had been treating with singular generosity,
exhibited signs of intoxication, and in a few minutes was extended
senseless on the ground. Then was Margaret left
alone, with a dead-drunk brother, a roaring furnace, a hot and
hissing cauldron, barrels of detestable drink, grotesque and
frightful shadows leaping on the beams; while through the
aperture above, the reflected light seemed to grin at her like a
demon of the Still. When the fire burnt low, she replenished
it with dry hemlock wood, which snapped like the report of
subterranean musketry, and the splinters of fire dashed out
spray-like into the room, and fell upon her brother's face,
which she was obliged to shield with boards. The gurgling of
the water, as it flowed in and out from the vat, would have
been music to her ears, if she were free to enjoy it; but it was
her own sweet Pond contributing to the wicked business of
rum-making;—and so too was she. Would she finish her
work, and flow away as uncontaminated! Her father had
never troubled her with ghost-stories, and she was not disposed
to conjure up alarms from that source. The night showed
dark and chilly, as she looked from the door. She could see
nothing but darkness, and hear nothing but the Brook as it
rippled through the invisible air; but the pure coolness was
refreshing after her hot and fetid furnace-work. Bull followed
her to the door-sill, and crouching at her side, looked compassionatingly
into her face. When she saw his gentle sympathizing
expression, as she had done before, she put her arms
about his neck, and wept. She did not complain, or fear, or
feel any wrong or loss, but she wept irresistibly because her
dog loved her; and then she continued to weep as it were
mechanically because there was nothing to occupy her deep
sensitive faculties, and her tears alone remained to flow out;
and so too she fell to laughing, and laughed almost wildly and
incoherently; then chills crept over her, partly from the increasing
and overpowering coldness of the air, and partly from
an irrepressible nature which must always feel cold if it be not
deeply and warmly loved.

She again renewed the fire, and sat down on the bench before
it, and Bull, who followed her steps silently from place to
place, watched near her, and she began to try the movements
of the fox and geese game, then she turned towards the fire,
then she looked into the dog's eyes; and as she looked his
eyes seemed to grow larger and larger, and to run together,
and to cover his face. They had a soft clear aspect like
water. Then it seemed as if what she saw became a great
sheet of water, like her Pond, and golden waves, such as the
sunsetting gives, chased one another over it, and those golden
appearances which the moonlight occasions, she saw deep in
its bosom, like strings, or eels, or fishes, frisking and playing,
elongating and breaking off, dilating and narrowing. Presently
she found herself sinking in these waters, and down, down,
down she went, till she came to an open, hollow place, into
which the light shone as from a cloud. Here she saw a bright
silver basin, or cauldron set, with a fire burning under it, and
three beautiful girls busy about it. One kept renewing the
fire with rose-bushes, bright frost-reddened autumnal leaves,
aromatic dead ferns, and white cotton grass. One threw into
the pot wild flowers, eye-brights, azaleas, blood-roots, rhodoras
and others; then she caught in her hands the snake-like

moonbeam appearances, and threw them in; then with a long
rake she gathered a quantity of sunbeams which she put in;
then turning a facet at the end of a silver pipe connecting
with the blue sky, she set that running into the pot; then she
threw in a handful of sweet-scented herbs, lavender, chamomile,
balm, marjoram; at last cutting off a slice of the rainbow,
she grated that over the whole. The third, with a long
silver rod, stirred the contents of the pot. Then each one
taking a silver ladle began to dip out the liquor and pour it in
one place on the ground. As they poured it out, it became
congealed, and the mass increasing, it assumed a human
form; which was that of a female. As they continued to
pour over it the contents of the pot, feet were formed, and
legs, and breast, and arms, and the shape of a head. One
poured on another ladle full, and beautiful eyes appeared;
another another, and a delicate lovely color came out in the
face; the third added her ladle, which covered the head and
neck with long, dark, curling hair. When the Form was complete,
they wove with their fingers out of the light, a sort of
drapery which they threw over it. Then one began to
sing, and another to play on a sort of harp; while the third
led down from the skies the brilliant Planet Venus, by a bridle
of blue taste tied about one of its rays, and as it hung floating
near the ground, she fastened it to a spear of grass to keep it
from going off. While the two first were singing and playing,
the spirit of life came into the Form, it was animated with a
soul, and stood before them a perfect human being. The
three girls seemed greatly delighted with the beautiful lady
they had created, and were even transported to such a degree
as if they would worship her. Margaret, meanwhile, was
unobserved, and without being able to have any connection
with these persons, she quietly saw all that happened. The
Beauty, for such the new-formed woman might worthily be
called, did not, however, long consent to receive the adulation
of the others, but took pains to demonstrate her equality with
them in sundry pleasing ways, and the four disported together
on the green grass; then they all went to bathe in a stream of
clear water that opened near by. After this the Beauty was
seated on the brilliant Planet Venus, which was unhitched,
and holding by the blue taste as a snaffle, she sailed slowly
away into the air, followed, and as it were guarded, by the
others who were borne up by some invisible power in their
own bodies. The growling of Bull startled Margaret, and
she found she had been dreaming, and when she was fairly
awake, she discovered Solomon Smith coming stealthily
through the door of the Still. His manner showed great uneasiness
as if he were on some dubious expedition, he thrust
his head forward, like a turkey, into every part of the building,
as if he suspected somebody was hidden there, and manifested
great joy when he found Hash was so completely
insensible. Bull drew nearer to Margaret, and Margaret
pressed closer to Bull. But Solomon told her not to be afraid,
said he would not hurt her, and seating himself on the end of
the bench, edged himself towards her. What he said to her
was that she had been a good girl in minding the fire so well,
and asked her if she wouldn't have some toddy, which she
refused.

“You are a curis creetur,” he continued, “and an't no
moon-calf nuther. You know at the trainin', guess as how, I
found you out in the rain, and took you into the Tavern, and
you might have staid there all night for all anybody else lookin'
arter you. Now you won't begrutch me a favor will you,
Peggy? Can you tell what makes the likker come out of that
are pipe?”

“No, I can't,” she replied. “I wish it didn't.”

“What makes dogs howl when you die?”

“I don't know. I think Bull would, if I should die.”

“Didn't you know you could catch a thief by putting a
rooster under a kittle? It'll crow as soon as the rascal
touches it, guess as how.”

“I didn't know that.”

“You found the water up to Mr. Palmer's, didn't you,
Peggy?” he enquired in an increasingly low and earnest
manner.

“No,” replied she. “The boys found it.”

“You carried the stick, and Nimrod said you found it, and
so did Rhody and the Widder.”

“Did they say so?”

“Wal, now I want you should tell me if you ever found a
four-leaf clover? Speak low; walls have ears.”

“Yes,” she answered, “twenty, in the Mowing.”

“Did you ever kill a cricket?”

“No, they sing so pretty, I couldn't kill one.”

“That's you. I wouldn't kill one. It's dum bad. Do you
put a Bible under your pillow when you go to bed?”

“What, such as Miss Amy told me about? She says the
Bible makes people all wicked; and Pa's Bible makes us
wicked too. I don't like Bibles.”

“Little coot! Don't you know the Bible is the best book
in the world. I always sleep with one, guess as how.—Let
me see your finger nails. Is there any black spots on them?”

“When they are dirty, and I dig roots for Obed.”

“Now keep still, Peggy, I want to tell you something. I
have had a dream.”

“I wonder if you dream too!”

“Yes, I have had a dream three nights a runnin'. I can't
tell you about it now. But look here, Peg, Hash owes us for
money, and he'll have to lose his oxen if it an't paid dum
soon. He drinks more than his work comes to, but if you
are willing to do what I want you to, I'll let him off.”

“What shall I do?” said Margaret, with some degree of
uncertainty and distress. “Keep still, Bull, there, there,
Bull; they won't hurt me, Bull.”

“I want you to go up with me to-night to the Fortune-teller's,
Joyce Dooly's.”

To this proposal, Solomon, after considerable coaxing and
threatening, succeeded in gaining Margaret's consent; promising
that he would release Hash altogether from his obligations,
if she would do as he wished.

Solomon, in a few minutes, brought a horse to the door,
and taking Margaret behind him, with the dog in company,
rode off. They crossed Mill Brook, went up a half mile or so
on the Brandon road, when they dismounted, and took a
narrow path, on foot, into the woods. It was pitch dark, and
Margaret had to hold by the skirt of Solomon's coat, while he
felt his way before. They espied at length a light, and
entered a door. In a small, low, ragged room, in what sort
of a house or place it was impossible for Margaret to
tell, she found an old woman with a dish of coals and
two tallow candles burning before her on a table, both of
which she seemed to be intently watching. She was evidently
prepared for the visit, and showed by her manner that she had
been waiting their arrival. Joyce Dooly the Fortune-teller
was old, her face was pinched and sharpened, her eye
black and piercing; she was somewhat fantastically dressed,
and began using sundry cabalistic and charmed words. Five
cats darted from chairs and the chimney side, when Bull
entered, hissing and spitting, and all raised their backs
together in one corner of the room. This movement seemed
to disturb her for a moment, but observing it more attentively
she at length became quiet, as if all was right. Her immediate
business was with Margaret, whom, after settling certain

preliminaries with the coals of fire, the candle wicks, the
cats, some cards and astrological tracts that lay on the table,
but which we need not describe, she proceeded to examine.

“In what month were you born?” asked the Fortune-teller.

“I don't know,” replied Margaret.

“What, how!” exclaimed the old woman, in a tone of
mingled surprise and rebuke. “Why have you brought the
gal here? Nativity is the most important. In what house,
Aquarius, Cancer, or Mercury,—we know nothing about it.
Was Jupiter in the ascendant? The Moon in aspect to
what? How can we tell?”

“I don't care for your riggledorums,” retorted Solomon,
with suppressed impatience. “Will she answer my purpose?
You have got your money to find out that, and that is all I
want to know.”

“Hold, Solomon!” she said, with an overawing sternness.
“The cats are against you. Keep still. Here, child, let me
look at you. Curled hair,” so she went on, “denoteth heat
and drought; brown, fairness, justice, freedom and liberality.
Your signs are contradictory, child. Venus must have been
in square signs when you were born. Do you never have any
trouble?”

“Sometimes,” she replied, “when Deacon Penrose and
Mr. Smith sell rum to Pa and Hash.”

“Take note, Solomon,” continued the woman, “she refers
her troubles to you. She prognosticates disaster, sorrow and
death. You had better let her alone.”

Solomon became inwardly greatly excited, but he strove to
control himself, and whispered something in the ears of the
woman, who pursued her inspection of the child.

“Lips,” said she, “fairly set and well colored, argue
fidelity, and a person given to all virtue; brow high and
smooth, signifieth a sincere friend and liberal benefactress;
small ears, a good understanding; neck comely and smooth,
a good genius; brown eyes, clear and shining, ingenuity,
nobility and probity. Let me see you laugh. Teeth white
and even, argue sweetness and reverence; dimples, persuasion
and command; hand, soft and clear, hath discretion, service,
delight in learning, peace-loving; palm D in mount of the
Moon,—ha! ha! do you want to know, child! many and
dutiful and fair children,—would you like to have children?”

“Yes, Ma'am,” replied Margaret.

The Fortune-teller seemed to be wandering from her proper

point, and becoming quite absorbed in the characteristics and
tokens of the child gave renewed uneasiness to Solomon, who
expressed his feelings in a loud and somewhat menacing tone.

“Rest you, young man!” she replied, “your fortune is
wrapt in that of the child. The hour cometh. Your significator
must apply to a sextile of Mercury and Venus. I
see a coffin in the wick of this candle. Scare the cats, let
me see them jump once more. Now is your moment, depart.”

Whatever might be the meaning of this visit and this
singular mummery to Margaret, Solomon, it appeared, had
now accomplished his object, and was ready to leave. They
plunged from the light again into the darkness, and retracing
their steps through the woods, returned to the Still. Margaret
would have gone in to her brother, but Solomon declared he
had something more for her to do, and insisted that she should
ride a little farther with him. They went up the road leading
to the Pond, and arriving at a growth of trees known as the
Pines, lying on the west side of the way, Solomon hitched
his horse, and led Margaret once more into the woods.
Reaching a spot which he seemed previously to have in his
mind, he put a hazle-twig into the child's hand, and bade her
go about among the trees in the same manner as she did at
Mr. Palmer's at the Ledge. She was not long in announcing
the movement of the twig, and the young man secured himself
of the place as well as he could in the darkness, by piling a
heap of stones over it. She asked him what it was for, but
he declined telling; and what he would not do, we must,
since, in the sequel, the whole affair came out. This young
Smith had a dream, three nights successively, of gold hid in
the Pines. He could not identify the precise locality, and
sundry private canvassings of the earth with a spade had
hitherto been fruitless. Hence his anxiety to secure the services
of Margaret, whose success on a former occasion with
the divining rod he had been apprized of; hence also his visit
to Joyce Dooly the Fortune-teller, for the purpose of fortifying
himself more completely in his undertaking. Once more in
this night of wanderings and mystery was Margaret conducted
to the Still. Morning had scarcely begun to dawn,
and Solomon had time to dispose of his horse in the stable,
and himself in bed, before the family were up. Margaret
found Hash yet in his sleep, the fire decayed, and the Still
dark, cold and dismal as the morning after a debauch. She
rekindled the fire, sufficiently at least for her own comfort,
and lying down before it, with her head upon the breast of
Bull, fell fast asleep.