USA > Pennsylvania > Bucks County > Local sketches and legends pertaining to Bucks and Montgomery counties, Pennsylvania > Part 7
USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Local sketches and legends pertaining to Bucks and Montgomery counties, Pennsylvania > Part 7
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19
There was something in Benny that won my high- est esteem and constituted him an excellent associate. He had an unblemished character, and in his habits was quiet and unobtrusive; never did I know him to utter a falsehood or to make use of profane language. He received only an ordinary education, such as the schools of the neighborhood generally afforded. Aside from the labors of the farm he grew up an ardent lover of nature, and took every opportunity in his leisure for the cultivation of the same. For his age few persons could give me more facts derived from personal ob-
T
1
IIO
SKETCHES AND LEGENDS.
servations. In conversing with him on those topics was like reading a choice and original work on the subject. Such then was one of the favorite compan- ions of my youth.
In the spring of 1842 I came away from the vicinity, and my friend grew to manhood and became the fore- man of a neighboring farmer. Eleven years had almost passed, when in taking up a county newspaper I was surprised to find a notice of his death at the early age of twenty-nine. His disease was pulmonary consump- tion, which had previously carried off his mother and since his father and sister. Though they have long since passed away the remembrance of that happy household and the impressions derived from my inter- course still remain.
In our many adventures there was one, on account . of its singularly novel and amusing termination, I well remember. On a lovely afternoon towards the latter end of May, 1841, Benny desired me to accompany him on a fishing excursion to Pine run, about a short mile from his home, for which purpose he brought with him a small net about six feet long. In the rear of the house we came to a brook whose course we fol- lowed to its mouth, where on the way favorable op- portunities offered he would use his net, making occa- sional captures of fish, which I carried.
At length we stood on the banks of Pine run, and to a boy just let loose from the academy there was much for the time and occasion to admire. It was a beautiful sunny day, with a few white fleecy clouds
1
TII
A LEAP FOR LIFE.
scudding over the sky; above and below us lay an ex- tensive meadow, with here and there a bed of calamus or a copse of elder or spicewood, among which were several red-winged black-birds playfully chatting or plaintively calling. A heron was seen slowly direct- ing his flight towards the margin of a distant wood, the cattle in an adjoining field were lazily reclining in the shade, and the occasional tinkling of a bell told of a flock of sheep. On the hillside a man was harrow- ing corn, while two boys with hoes were following. Whichever way we looked the prospect ended in for- est, now invested with a tender but brilliant light green, from which we could now and then hear the discordant notes of the crow and the jay. The slightly wafting breeze, loaded with the delicious fragrance of the neighboring groves and orchards, how invigorat- ing it seemed! Sometimes it playfully dimpled the water, then danced with the spray to the tree tops, or gently waved the grass in the meadow.
As we proceeded slowly onward a frog now and then would make his lofty leap and sudden plunge into the depths of the stream, spreading consternation among its inhabitants. We had not thus advanced far before Benny, in the greatest amazement, directed my attention to the opposite shore, where in a small curve scooped in the bank and about four or five inches deep, lay a great pike some eighteen or twenty inches long, apparently in wait for prey or sunning himself. The stream was here about twenty feet in width, with an average depth of two feet. In the way of catching
JI2
SKETCHES AND LEGENDS.
such fish with nets a great impediment existed, owing to the splatterdocks that grew here luxuriously, and no doubt tended greatly to preserve such game.
Benny immediately entered the water very cau- tiously and, I may add, carefully, holding out with extended arms the brails of his net, which he kept close to the bottom. As he slowly advanced, avoid- ing as much as possible the docks, which chiefly grew on the side I was standing, to my great joy he had him at length fairly surrounded in the cove men- tioned, and had just time to say "I guess I have got you now!" when the pike slightly backed and then shot clear out of the water over the net and Benny's head, a distance of some twelve feet, into the stream among the docks. He now came on shore and said that after seeing such a feat as that was fishing enough in one day for him. As we wended our way home- wards the great pike and his wonderful leap engrossed nearly all our conversation. Had any one previously told us what we had actually witnessed, we would have deemed it improbable. We came to the conclusion, however, that this leap saved his life, and that thus even a pike could not be depended on till he was fairly caught.
The above was written in 1862, and now after an absence of upwards of forty years, in September, 1882, I concluded to revisit the neighborhood for another ramble though alone. I called at the old Day place, and found other buildings there. The present pro- prietor, though formerly a near neighbor, no longer
II3
A LEAP FOR LIFE.
knew me, and he too had become an aged man. The stream appeared smaller and the water much more im- pure, and tadpoles had chiefly taken the place of fishes. In whatever direction I looked I could observe the woods greatly reduced in area, and thus barely able to realize that I was once more in familiar scenes that had been favorite haunts of my youth in the long, long past; and myself had also greatly changed.
An Olden-time Corn Husking.
-
In the fall of about the year 1790, a corn husking was given on a farm in Moreland township, situated just beyond Round Meadow run, in which nearly the whole neighborhood was invited to join. The party assembled on the afternoon of one of the loveliest days in October, and consisted of the young of both sexes. In the way of refreshments before the evening's supper should be partaken, cider, cider-royal and matheglin had been abundantly provided and as freely circulated with red and yellow apples of the most lucious taste. It was a real olden-time affair, participated in by an old fashioned assembly, rather promiscuous in some respects, but order was observed while great hilarity prevailed. The golden ears flew thick and fast, and happy the swain who now and then found a red ear, for he was allowed to take for each a kiss from the maiden of his choice, whom modern manners and af- fectation had not as yet spoiled. Yes, gentle reader, it is very probable that some one of these damsels may have been to us great-great-grandmothers; certainly pretty good women were they.
Imagine such a scene on such an occasion. A haze spread over the landscape that told of glorious Indian
115
AN OLDEN-TIME CORN HUSKING.
summer, the woods in their rich and variegated foliage, Huckleberry Hill near by raising aloft its dome, with the rich blue sky beyond ; nearer was the small stream winding here and there among rich meadows and de- lightful groves, in which tinkling bells told of grazing herds and flocks. It was a charming, tranquil scene, in the midst of which was our party of joyous huskers in the heyday of youth, young, amiable and beautiful. As evening approached the golden pile had swelled higher and higher till it assumed in miniature the shape of the adjacent hill. Soon the last ear was flung on the heap, the fodder bound, when the host led the company in procession to the house where ample justice was done to the awaiting meal.
Had a stranger during the entertainment walked up and down the porch of that old fashined one-story stone mansion by way of a few moment's exercise, or mused awhile aside from the company, he could also have found interest in what was transpiring abroad. Down towards the stream, and a short distance apart, were two whip-poor-wills even at this season, alter- natively renewing their oft repeated notes; further up in the woods of the hill could be heard the sharp barking of the fox amid the plaintive quiverings of an owl, while innumerable insects from every bush and tree were adding to the chorus. In the west a crim- son tinge pointed out where the sun had gone to his rest, stars were quietly looking down, and in various directions glow worms had lit their lamps. Surely in
II6
SKETCHES AND LEGENDS.
these halcyon days, even night had its charms for the meditative.
But other sounds and other sights now arrest the attention. The repast is over, the room has beent cleared of some of its furniture, and the violin is sound- ing for a dance. While some of the party are thus enjoying themselves, there are several groups disposed in the corners. At one of these several young men are making arrangements for a coon and opossum hunt ; pheasant shooting and a fox chase also seems to engross their attention. Near by some three or four young ladies and as many young men are engag- ed in carnest chat, respecting an apple-cutting, a pros- pective spinning frolic and a quilting which likewise claim their consideration if not particular regard. In an opposite corner nine or ten of the company have entered into an animated discussion concerning the haunted ground near the intersection of the Penne- pack with the road to Newtown. While two or three dissent, the majority appear to have full faith as to its being a place of supernatural visitations. What sev- eral of these stated in corroboration shall be briefly related.
George Layton said he was satisfied on the subject, for in coming by there on a dark drizzly night he made a fortunate escape. Having got on the road as far as the middle of the woods, when he observed a flash of lightning and on looking around beheld what he im- agined to be a huge black dog with eyes of fire, drag- ging a long heavy chain whose clanking he distinctly
117
AN OLDEN-TIME CORN HUSKING.
heard. Extraordinary to say his eyes appeared to be the size of his mother's pewter plates. Starting on a full run he ascertained that at the edge of the woods the monster disappeared. Peter Pennel related hav- . ing arrived near the centre of the wood he went to get over the fence to take a nearer cut home, when what should appear before him but a man dressed in black. He asked him what he was doing there at that dread hour of the night, when he vanished with- out making any reply. John Bunn at a late hour saw some monster following him that by the sound ap- peared to be trailing some huge chain on the ground, but did not come out of the woods. Several others corroborated the story of the monster with his chain. Thus the night wore away with dancing, sporting plans, pleasure party arrangements and marvelous tales till near the midnight hour, when they separated for their homes.
Among those in the last mentioned group was a young man from near the Crooked Billet, aged about twenty-two years. He had received what for that time might be considered a good common school education. He was more than ordinarily active, and of shrewd, observing habits. As for ghosts he had never seen any, and had besides never even given the subject a thought before. Though he listened atten- tively, he doubted all that was said. When the com- pany broke up he accompanied one of the young ladies to her father's house, not half a mile distant. Soon after he started for home on the road named, beyond
118
SKETCHES AND LEGENDS.
the Pennepack. At this particular time the tender passion may have occupied his more serious thoughts, even to the exclusion of ghosts, spooks and hobgob- lins. He was thus proceeding onward afoot and alone. The night, as we have said, was unusually fine and starlight, and of a medium darkness. As he entered the woods, on account of the density of the foliage he soon found it exceedingly dark at this dread hour, and was advancing at his usual rate, when on a sudden, near the roadside on his right, a loud snort was heard. He looked in that direction, but did not see anything. Shortly there was a louder snort. But to think ! dis- tinctly and approaching came the loud, clear clanking of chains; and again, nearer, a still more demoniacal snort, with louder snorting, that seemed to vibrate throughout the woods.
What was now to be done? He had hardly as yet reached the middle of the forest. Here was no decep- , tion or trifling, and he was totally unprepared for an emergency of this kind. He started at full speed, and to his terror was as rapidly followed by the distinct snortings and continuous clanking, till the very ground appeared to tremble under the sound. But he kept on, passed the woods, and soon made the distance that brought him safely home. Tired and almost exhaust- ed, he went to bed terror-stricken with this his first midnight adventure on the haunted ground, and about which too he had just heard so much said. Here we will leave him to his own reflections and experiences, thankful that his life had been preserved to him.
1
AN OLDEN-TIME CORN HUSKING. 119
Early next morning a farmer was seen going over his fields, and finally disappeared in the woods, whence after a brief absence he returned homewards leading a horse, while another followed. And, I may add, in his other hand he carried a pair of hopples. Since then the place has been materially changed. The woods on the southern side of the road have nearly all been cleared away, while on the other they have been re- duced greatly in area, and several houses built there- on. The country around has also much improved in population and agriculture. True, the present gener- ation, through the common school system, has become more enlightened, but we doubt whether happier or more contented; while the memory of the haunted ground has only been preserved in a few lingering tra- ditions extant upwards of forty years ago. Certainly a strange sequel to a corn husking.
1
.
Dark Hollow ;
ITS MYSTERIES AND MARVELOUS TRADITIONS.
This romantic vale, so long regarded as an en- chanted locality, is situated in Warwick township, Bucks county, about twenty-one miles nearly north of Philadelphia. It is a deep, rugged glen, through which flows a small stream, with a public road along the lower portion of its course. At many places in this distance it has steep, rocky, precipitous sides, covered more or less with the perpetual verdure of spruce and cedar. Shellbark and other hickories, oaks of several kinds, and chestnut, also grow here, interspersed with an underbrush of dogwood, hazel, elder, and grape vines; and being without a dwelling house tends to give it an unusually gloomy appear- ance, whence its name of Dark Hollow. The only building thirty years ago was an old, dilapidated stone school-house long unused, and here and there signs of straggling worm fences in want of repair. From its deserted and neglected appearance and marvelous as- sociations, no wonder that this hollow has for upwards of a century been looked upon by the more credulous
1
12I
DARK HOLLOW.
and simple inhabitants of the neighborhood as a haunt- ed or mysterious region.
Dark Hollow run, the name of the stream referred to, is upwards of a mile in length, and for over half of that distance flows in a northerly direction, and thence turns eastwardly and empties into the Neshaminy. It is very tortuous, now on one side of the road and then on the other, thus requiring six or eight small bridges in about half a mile. This winding stream has for its channel a solid bed of rock of very hard, red sand-
stone. It contains, I believe, no fish or other living objects. From the head of the glen to the mouth of the stream it is of steep but gradual descent, and this will account why the road was laid through here so as to make the crossing of the Neshaminy casier, where a bridge was first erected in 1850, and which in con- sequence is known far around as the Dark Hollow bridge, being on the road leading towards the village of Concord, in Buckingham township.
My first visit to Dark Hollow was in the beautiful month of September, 1861, on business demanding my attention near Concord. When I arrived at the head of the glen I allowed my horse to walk leisurely along, while I threw myself back at ease in the carriage, at- tentively surveying the scenery as I passed along in a half drowsy, dreamy state of mind. The old school- house, the dark, deep, solitary glen, the stream with its rocky channel, and the road with its bridges, gave me an agreeable reverie, out of which I was not fully awakened till I approached the Neshaminy and its
٠
122
SKETCHES AND LEGENDS.
bridge, when I assumed a more erect position, and the drowsy, dreamy influence left me. Late in the after- noon, on my return thither, and several hundred yards from the long covered bridge had been passed, I got out of the carriage and concluded to walk by its side up the ascent, as the day was warm, thus resting my horse somewhat as well as exercising my limbs, and having an additional opportunity to view the scenery. When I got within a few hundred yards of the school-house I approached an aged man resting himself on a log with a bundle by his side. He appeared to be about eighty years of age, of hale and vigorous appearance. I stopped my horse and entered into conversation, and was not long in ascertaining that he was communica- tive. By my inquiries he soon became aware that I was a stranger. He then informed me that both him- self and father had been born in the vicinity, and had spent most of their days not two miles from where we ' were sitting; that his grandfather had been an early settler in this section; and that he was consequently well acquainted with the history of Dark Hollow and its surroundings. I now became the more interested in my narrator, and therefore concluded to draw him out without the least indication of contradiction, ridi- cule, superior wisdom or knowledge on my part, which I had so well learned by experience were spoilers of relations bordering on the marvelous, the wonderful and mysterious.
Before I give the substance of the old man's story I will give some additional particulars concerning him.
123
DARK HOLLOW.
He still appeared to be active for his age, of good un- derstanding and possessed of an uncommonly reten- tive memory. He was clothed in clean course gar- ments, but pretty well worn. In his youth he stated that he had received but the rudiments of an educa- tion, and the only occupation he was familiar with was farm labor, which he had followed down to within two or three years, when having no near relations or friends to depend on was compelled through the in- firmities of age to make his home at the county house, as he called it. He had now been on his yearly visit in this section among some of his former acquaint- ances, and was again on his journey to his present home five miles distant. No doubt the respect I showed him with the attention and interest I paid to his remarks, encouraged him to proceed to relate the traditionary wonders of this curious region, and which I am disposed to give nearly in his own words, but con- siderably more condensed.
" I would have you know then," said the old man, " that of all localities I have ever been acquainted with, that of Dark Hollow has to me been the most wonderful. Some people do not put faith in all its traditions and stories, but I have no reason to doubt them. My father and grandfather and many of the oldest people that have lived in Warwick these one hundred and thirty years past believed in them, with- out their undoubted testimonies look around here, go the whole length of this hollow, and its appearance sufficiently indicates that this is a haunted neighbor-
.
.
1 24
SKETCHES AND LEGENDS.
hood. No fish will live in that stream. Witness the state of its improvements. No one yet has been even willing to build a house here ; the lightning nowhere flashes more brilliantly, nor does the thunder rumble louder. Nowhere are the nights darker or the owls hoot or screech more ominously, the fire-flies flash more suddenly, the tree-frog or wood-pecker cry more dolefully or the echoes repeat oftener. Jack-o'lantern, too, shows himself oftener here than anywhere else. The rising and setting of the moon nowhere looks half so dismal. Thus I might go on and swell the catalogue were I disposed to be melancholy.
" The old school-house over the run among the trees there surrounded by briers and thistles, its chim- ney top nearly all fallen down, with its shutters half closed and broken panes-yes there when a mere boy I first went to school. I remember the time well, for several curious things happened to me there. Once I 'traded with another boy of about my age several ap- ples for a jewsharp, on condition that it be sound. As school was in I went out to try it, turning the paddle at the door out, but I had scarcely commenced playing when the master appeared, rod in hand, whip- ping me to my seat amid the laughter of the school who had heard the sounds I thus unfortunately made. One of my teachers here was a tall Connecticut Yankee, a perfect tyrant, who seldom spoke to his pupils ex- cept through the rod. Not a day passed but what he chastised them more or less, and thus at length be- came the terror and detestation of his flock. Once
عماله
125
DARK HOLLOW.
after using up a rod he started out during school hours to procure another, and as he said a better one. Scarce had he gone out of sight, when the scholars seized their hats, books and baskets, scampering home as fast as their legs could carry them. Several months after I was tempted to look in through a hole in the shutter, and what should I behold through the dim light but the teacher's ghost at the desk with a rod in hand, waiting for the return of his pupils. But the fact is the few pupils he had refused to come back for fear of that road. His ghost still haunts there, for what I know, and the loud screams of agony and oth- er peculiar sounds that have so long been heard there, no doubt are caused by the agency of his evil spirit. Some think that flying squirrels inhabit the garret and cornices have a hand in the business, but that may do for others to believe who are not as old as I am.
" You still observe around here and along the hol- low a number of shellbark hickory trees, but these are not near as numerous as formerly, but continue to bear an abundance of nuts. Red, gray and ground squir- rels are still found here, but in consequence of the woods being reduced, are much less than formerly. From their numbers they did much damage to the Indian corn, so much so that a bounty of three pence was offered for their heads. In 1749 the Province paid no less than $8,000 out of its treasury as pre- miums; making the enormous number of 840,000 killed in this one year, excluding the vast numbers destroyed for which no rewards were claimed. I have
.
126
SKETCHES AND LEGENDS.
it from my grandfather that the next year a number of farmers petitioned to the Assembly for the repeal of the bounty, as it tended to their injury. For the la- borers instead of helping them with their harvests, had taken up their guns and gone to shooting squirrels, as they could make more money by their scalps than by the wages at day's labor, and thus the bounty was reduced one-half. My grandfather related that at one time he proceeded up the Neshaminy on a squirrel hunt to the mouth of the run whence he turned up this hollow and shot one hundred and sixty-eight in an afternoon, the scalps of which were worth £2.2s. As night approached he sat himself on the prostrate trunk of a tree beside the stream where he partook of a lunch from his wallet. Here, either from his being tired or the mysterious influences at work, he fell into a deep sleep and did not awake till the sun was peep- ing over the hills of the Neshaminy. When he awoke and had rubbed his eyes, to his surprise his scalps were all gone; but his gun he retained because he had kept it enclosed in his arms. Thus his labors of the day were gone, hooked or spooked away by some ma- licious agent or mysterious influence.
" I, too, had once a sporting adventure here, which I have reason not soon to forget. A large gray owl, no doubt an evil genius of the place, after committing numerous depredations on my poultry, I pursued one evening in August to a clump of cedars below this in which he alighted. I up with my gun, took aim, fired, and as he dropt, ran to seize him, but unfortunately as
I27
DARK HOLLOW.
I stooped to take hold it appeared to be a hornet's nest, and before I was aware of it hundreds of those angry insects were buzzing around and stinging me. Quick as thought, I rushed into a cluster of bushes and never stopt till I got safe home, not venturing since at shooting owls or other ominous creatures in Dark Hollow. Some may say this, and some may say that, but I believe there was something mysterious about it.
"Near the close of the last century a farmer who resided beyond the head of the glen had an indentured German servant by the name of Hans living with him. He had probably been in this country a year and a half, and was sent by his employer on horseback for a grist to the mill on the opposite bank of the Ne- shaminy, and not a quarter of a mile below the mouth of this run. On his return it was after sunset and the wind blew in powerful blasts through the hollow, which took off his hat and sent it flying in the air and disappearing in the twilight, frightening the horse and making him gallop up the hill. Unfortunately at this critical juncture the string of one of the bags broke, and with every jolt or motion he would be enveloped in flour. Ilis hat gone, his hair streaming wildly in the wind, shrieking for terror and shrouded in a mantle of dusty white, the beast had become unman- ageable through fright and the wicked spirit within him, and was therefore in this plight to reach home. When he had ascended the hill about half way, oh, terror on terrors! who should he meet but three young
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.