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Literary
November 8, 1841
New Haven Daily Herald
New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut
What is this article about?
An old man on his deathbed recalls murdering a woman long ago, hears eerie laughter in his desolate room, sees her ghostly figure outside his window, and dies as the laughter echoes.
Clipping
OCR Quality
85%
Good
Full Text
VILLAGE LEGEND.-A FRAGMENT.
The old man lay upon his death-bed.-
"They said I murdered her," muttered he, "but 'tis long, long since she first lay down in her grave. My locks were dark then; now the few scanty ones that linger on my temples, are silvered with the hoar frosts of seventy winters. She was changed when they put her in the dark grave. Her brow was furrowed with care and sorrow, and tears had almost worn away her round, red cheek."
A violent tremor crept over the old man, as he muttered on, 'O how ghastly pale she looked! I have never forgot that last despairing glance, nor the frightful red gash among her black curls!"
A low silvery laugh rung through the small desolate chamber.
"Edward," said he faintly, but the voice of the child answered not, and raising himself on his elbow, the gray-headed sinner glanced around the apartment. The flickering lamp dimly lighted the dusky corner, and gleamed upon the unoccupied stool of the child. He was alone. All was dead silence, save the ticking of the old clock, whose pointer approached closely to midnight.-
From whence came that laughter?" whispered the aged man, shuddering; 'strange tone of mirth in this drear abode.'
"The wavering light of the lamp shed a light glow, and went out in darkness; but a pale stream of moonlight entered at the small casement, and fell feebly along the broken floor. Again the strange laugh rung upon his ear, and, trembling in every limb, the half expiring wretch rose from his couch and hobbled to the window. Cold drops of perspiration bedewed the sunken cheek, and his teeth chattered, as he glanced out upon the road that passed his squalid dwelling
"Ah, 'tis she! I see her distinctly, as the light falls upon her white robes. She looks as she did in the days of her girlish beauty-all save her eyes, and they are lifted to the casement with such a look! O save me!"
Again rose a peal of laughter, as he returned to his lonely couch, with a firmer step, and again lay down; but the effort had been like a bright glow shot up from the socket of the night lamp; for while that last unearthly laughter was yet echoing on the still air-the old man died.
S. E. L.
The old man lay upon his death-bed.-
"They said I murdered her," muttered he, "but 'tis long, long since she first lay down in her grave. My locks were dark then; now the few scanty ones that linger on my temples, are silvered with the hoar frosts of seventy winters. She was changed when they put her in the dark grave. Her brow was furrowed with care and sorrow, and tears had almost worn away her round, red cheek."
A violent tremor crept over the old man, as he muttered on, 'O how ghastly pale she looked! I have never forgot that last despairing glance, nor the frightful red gash among her black curls!"
A low silvery laugh rung through the small desolate chamber.
"Edward," said he faintly, but the voice of the child answered not, and raising himself on his elbow, the gray-headed sinner glanced around the apartment. The flickering lamp dimly lighted the dusky corner, and gleamed upon the unoccupied stool of the child. He was alone. All was dead silence, save the ticking of the old clock, whose pointer approached closely to midnight.-
From whence came that laughter?" whispered the aged man, shuddering; 'strange tone of mirth in this drear abode.'
"The wavering light of the lamp shed a light glow, and went out in darkness; but a pale stream of moonlight entered at the small casement, and fell feebly along the broken floor. Again the strange laugh rung upon his ear, and, trembling in every limb, the half expiring wretch rose from his couch and hobbled to the window. Cold drops of perspiration bedewed the sunken cheek, and his teeth chattered, as he glanced out upon the road that passed his squalid dwelling
"Ah, 'tis she! I see her distinctly, as the light falls upon her white robes. She looks as she did in the days of her girlish beauty-all save her eyes, and they are lifted to the casement with such a look! O save me!"
Again rose a peal of laughter, as he returned to his lonely couch, with a firmer step, and again lay down; but the effort had been like a bright glow shot up from the socket of the night lamp; for while that last unearthly laughter was yet echoing on the still air-the old man died.
S. E. L.
What sub-type of article is it?
Prose Fiction
What themes does it cover?
Death Mortality
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Deathbed Confession
Ghostly Apparition
Murder Guilt
Supernatural Laughter
Village Legend
What entities or persons were involved?
S. E. L.
Literary Details
Title
Village Legend. A Fragment.
Author
S. E. L.
Key Lines
"They Said I Murdered Her," Muttered He, "But 'Tis Long, Long Since She First Lay Down In Her Grave."
"O How Ghastly Pale She Looked! I Have Never Forgot That Last Despairing Glance, Nor The Frightful Red Gash Among Her Black Curls!"
A Low Silvery Laugh Rung Through The Small Desolate Chamber.
"Ah, 'Tis She! I See Her Distinctly, As The Light Falls Upon Her White Robes."
For While That Last Unearthly Laughter Was Yet Echoing On The Still Air The Old Man Died.