Rensselaer Union, Volume 1, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 June 1869 — A Character. [ARTICLE]

A Character.

Pah awf>y dow.n on 8t Anthony street is a row of dilapidated buildings, mossgrown and worm-eaten, where the vine excludes the light, and the shadows of noon are as fresh and cool as the air at dawn. The cential one is inhabited by a wizard, whom the people around him call a voudou: He is wrinkled and gray with age, and his long white beard reaches his waist. Stooping and palsied, his walk is slow, but his fierce, black eyes gleam with a baleful light. He was sought a few days since by one who had lost some treasure. It was supposed the old man’s supernatural power could enable him to find it. The man told his story of how a thief in the dead of night had entered his house, and carried away his property. The old man looked at him earnestly for a moment, and then inquired: “ You want me to find it?” “Yes.” “Money then?” and he extended his withered, hand for the accustomed dole, which was readily paid. “ Now listen to me,” said the wizard. “ Do you see this stick ?” holding to him an oaken staff. “ Yes.” “ Well, now you must mounj it, as when a child you rode stick horses, and go capenug up the street, shouting, lost! lost! lost!” “ Why people will laugh at me!” “No matter. Do as I bid you, and almost before you know it, a beautiful woman will appear, and lead you where the stolen treasure is conceakd.” Incredible as it may appear, the man had faith to follow bis instiuctions. Mounted on his stick horse he went capering up the street yelling lost! lost! lost! People poked their heads out of the windows to inquire the meaning of the singu lar spectacle, but the only reply to eager questio. ing was the cry of lost! lost! lost! A policeman happening along supposed the poor fellow crazy and took him to the lock up, from whence next morning he was sent to the asylum. But it being soon ascertained that he wasonly superstitious, and not mad, he was released thoroughly cured of his belief in voudou prescience. He at once instituted suit against tbe aged wizard for obtaining money under false pretences. But the old man contending tbat if his instructions had been followed he would assuredly have met the beautiful lady and recovered the treasure, the justice dismissed the case remarking simply “ that a fool and his money are soon parted.” —New Orleans Pie ty une, May 27.