byNathanielHawthorne
ONAPLEASANTAFTERNOONofJune，itwasmygoodfortunetobethe
companionoftwoyoungladiesinawalk。Thedirectionofourcourse
beinglefttome，IledthemneithertoLegge’sHill，nortothe
ColdSpring，nortotherudeshoresandoldbatteriesoftheNeck，nor
yettoParadise；thoughifthelatterplacewererightlynamed，my
fairfriendswouldhavebeenathomethere。Wereachedtheoutskirts
ofthetown，andturningasidefromastreetoftannersand
curriers，begantoascendahill，whichatadistance，byitsdark
slopeandtheevenlineofitssummit，resembledagreenrampartalong
theroad。Itwaslesssteepthanitsaspectthreatened。Theeminence
formedpartofanextensivetractofpastureland，andwastraversed
bycowpathsinvariousdirections；but，strangetotell，thoughthe
wholeslopeandsummitwereofapeculiarlydeepgreen，scarceablade
ofgrasswasvisiblefromthebaseupward。Thisdeceitfulverdure
wasoccasionedbyaplentifulcropof“woodwax。”whichwearsthe
samedarkandglossygreenthroughoutthesummer，exceptatone
shortperiod，whenitputsforthaprofusionofyellowblossoms。At
thatseason，toadistantspectator，thehillappearsabsolutely
overlaidwithgold，orcoveredwithagloryofsunshine，even
beneathacloudedsky。Butthecuriouswandereronthehillwill
perceivethatallthegrass，andeverythingthatshouldnourishmanor
beast，hasbeendestroyedbythisvileandineradicableweed：its
tuftedrootsmakethesoiltheirown，andpermitnothingelseto
vegetateamongthem；sothataphysicalcursemaybesaidtohave
blastedthespot，whereguiltandfrenzyconsummatedthemost
execrablescenethatourhistoryblushestorecord。Forthiswasthe
fieldwheresuperstitionwonherdarkesttriumph；thehighplacewhere
ourfatherssetuptheirshame，tothemournfulgazeofgenerations
farremote。Thedustofmartyrswasbeneathourfeet。Westoodon
GallowsHill。
Formyownpart，Ihaveoftencourtedthehistoricinfluenceofthe
spot。Butitissingularhowfewcomeonpilgrimagetothisfamous
hill；howmanyspendtheirlivesalmostatitsbase，andneveronce
obeythesummonsoftheshadowypast，asitbeckonsthemtothe
summit。Tillayearortwosince，thisportionofourhistoryhadbeen
veryimperfectlywritten，and，aswearenotapeopleoflegendor
tradition，itwasnoteverycitizenofourancienttownthatcould
tell，withinhalfacentury，somuchasthedateofthewitchcraft
delusion。Recently，indeed，anhistorianhastreatedthesubjectin
amannerthatwillkeephisnamealive，intheonlydesirable
connectionwiththeerrorsofourancestry，byconvertingthehill
oftheirdisgraceintoanhonorablemonumentofhisownantiquarian
lore，andofthatbetterwisdom，whichdrawsthemoralwhileit
tellsthetale。Butweareapeopleofthepresent，andhaveno
heartfeltinterestintheoldentime。EveryfifthofNovember，in
commemorationoftheyknownotwhat，orratherwithoutanidea
beyondthemomentaryblaze，theyoungmenscarethetownwithbonfires
onthishauntedheight，butneverdreamofpayingfuneralhonorsto
thosewhodiedsowrongfully，and，withoutacoffinoraprayer，
wereburiedhere。
Thoughwithfemininesusceptibility，mycompanionscaughtallthe
melancholyassociationsofthescene，yetthesecouldbut
imperfectlyovercomethegayetyofgirlishspirits。Theiremotions
cameandwentwithquickvicissitude，andsometimescombinedtoforma
peculiaranddeliciousexcitement，themirthbrighteningthegloom
intoasunnyshoweroffeeling，andarainbowinthemind。Myownmore
sombremoodwastingedbytheirs。Withnowamerrywordandnextasad
one，wetrodamongthetangledweeds，andalmosthopedthatourfeet
wouldsinkintothehollowofawitch’sgrave。Suchvestigeswereto
befoundwithinthememoryofman，buthavevanishednow，andwith
them，Ibelieve，alltracesoftheprecisespotoftheexecutions。
Onthelongandbroadridgeoftheeminence，thereisnovery
decidedelevationofanyonepoint，norotherprominentmarks，
exceptthedecayedstumpsoftwotrees，standingneareachother，
andhereandtheretherockysubstanceofthehill，peepingjustabove
thewoodwax。
Therearefewsuchprospectsoftownandvillage，woodlandand
cultivatedfield，steeplesandcountryseats，aswebeheldfromthis
unhappyspot。NoblighthadfallenonoldEssex；allwasprosperity
andriches，healthfullydistributed。Beforeuslayournativetown，
extendingfromthefootofthehilltotheharbor，levelasachess
boardembracedbytwoarmsofthesea，andfillingthewholepeninsula
withacloseassemblageofwoodenroofs，overtoppedbymanyaspire，
andintermixedwithfrequentheapsofverdure，wheretreesthrewup
theirshadefromunseentrunks。Beyondwasthebayanditsislands，
almosttheonlyobjects，inacountryunmarkedbystrongnatural
features，onwhichtimeandhumantoilhadproducednochange。
Retainingtheseportionsofthescene，andalsothepeacefulgloryand
tendergloomofthedecliningsun，wethrew，inimagination，aveilof
deepforestovertheland，andpicturedafewscatteredvillages，
andthisoldtownitselfavillage，aswhentheprinceofhellbore
swaythere。Theideathusgainedofitsformeraspect，itsquaint
edificesstandingfarapart，withpeakedroofsandprojectingstories，
anditssinglemeeting-housepointingupatallspireinthemidst；
thevision，inshort，ofthetownin1692，servedtointroducea
wondroustaleofthoseoldtimes。
Ihadbroughtthemanuscriptinmypocket。Itwasoneofaseries
writtenyearsago，whenmypen，nowsluggishandperhapsfeeble，
becauseIhavenotmuchtohopeorfear，wasdrivenbystronger
externalmotives，andamorepassionateimpulsewithin，thanIam
fatedtofeelagain。Threeorfourofthesetaleshadappearedin
the“Token。”afteralongtimeandvariousadventures，buthad
encumberedmewithnotroublesomenotoriety，eveninmybirthplace。
Onegreatheaphadmetabrighterdestiny：theyhadfedtheflames；
thoughtsmeanttodelighttheworldandendureforageshadperished
inamoment，andstirrednotasingleheartbutmine。Thestorynowto
beintroduced，andanother，chancedtobeinkindercustodyatthe
time，andthus，bynoconspicuousmeritsoftheirown，escaped
destruction。
Theladies，inconsiderationthatIhadneverbeforeintrudedmy
performancesonthem，byanybutthelegitimatemedium，throughthe
press，consentedtohearmeread。Imadethemsitdownonamoss-grown
rock，closebythespotwherewechosetobelievethatthedeath
treehadstood。Afteralittlehesitationonmypart，causedbya
dreadofrenewingmyacquaintancewithfantasiesthathadlosttheir
charmintheceaselessfluxofmind，Ibeganthetale，whichopened
darklywiththediscoveryofamurder。
Ahundredyears，andnearlyhalfthattime，haveelapsedsince
thebodyofamurderedmanwasfound，ataboutthedistanceofthree
miles，ontheoldroadtoBoston。Helayinasolitaryspot，onthe
bankofasmalllake，whichtheseverefrostofDecemberhadcovered
withasheetofice。Beneaththis，itseemedtohavebeenthe
intentionofthemurderertoconcealhisvictiminachilland
waterygrave，theicebeingdeeplyhacked，perhapswiththeweapon
thathadslainhim，thoughitssoliditywastoostubbornforthe
patienceofamanwithblooduponhishand。Thecorpsetherefore
reclinedontheearth，butwasseparatedfromtheroadbyathick
growthofdwarfpines。Therehadbeenaslightfallofsnowduringthe
night，andasifnaturewereshockedatthedeed，andstrovetohide
itwithherfrozentears，alittledriftedheaphadpartlyburied
thebody，andlaydeepestoverthepaledeadface。Anearlytraveller，
whosedoghadledhimtothespot，venturedtouncoverthefeatures，
butwasaffrightedbytheirexpression。Alookofevilandscornful
triumphhadhardenedonthem，andmadedeathsolife-likeandso
terrible，thatthebeholderatoncetookflight，asswiftlyasif
thestiffenedcorpsewouldriseupandfollow。
Ireadon，andidentifiedthebodyasthatofayoungman，a
strangerinthecountry，butresidentduringseveralpreceding
monthsinthetownwhichlayatourfeet。Thestorydescribed，atsome
length，theexcitementcausedbythemurder，theunavailingquest
aftertheperpetrator，thefuneralceremonies，andothercommonplace
matters，inthecourseofwhich，Ibroughtforwardthepersonages
whoweretomoveamongthesucceedingevents。Theywerebutthree。A
youngmanandhissister；theformercharacterizedbyadiseased
imaginationandmorbidfeelings；thelatter，beautifulandvirtuous，
andinstillingsomethingofherownexcellenceintothewildheart
ofherbrother，butnotenoughtocurethedeeptaintofhisnature。
Thethirdpersonwasawizard；asmall，gray，witheredman，with
fiendishingenuityindevisingevil，andsuperhumanpowertoexecute
it，butsenselessasanidiotandfeeblerthanachildtoallbetter
purposes。Thecentralsceneofthestorywasaninterviewbetweenthis
wretchandLeonardDoane，inthewizard’shut，situatedbeneatha
rangeofrocksatsomedistancefromthetown。Theysatbesidea
smoulderingfire，whileatempestofwintryrainwasbeatingonthe
roof。Theyoungmanspokeoftheclosenessofthetiewhichunitedhim
andAlice，theconsecratedfervoroftheiraffectionfromchildhood
upwards，theirsenseoflonelysufficiencytoeachother，becausethey
onlyoftheirracehadescapeddeath，inanightattackbythe
Indians。Herelatedhisdiscoveryorsuspicionofasecretsympathy
betweenhissisterandWalterBrome，andtoldhowadistempered
jealousyhadmaddenedhim。Inthefollowingpassage，Ithrewa
glimmeringlightonthemysteryofthetale。
“Searching。”continuedLeonard，“intothebreastofWalterBrome，I
atlengthfoundacausewhyAlicemustinevitablylovehim。Forhewas
myverycounterpart！Icomparedhismindbyeachindividualportion，
andasawhole，withmine。TherewasaresemblancefromwhichIshrunk
withsickness，andloathing，andhorror，asifmyownfeatureshad
comeandstareduponmeinasolitaryplace，orhadmetmein
strugglingthroughacrowd。Nay！theverysamethoughtswouldoften
expressthemselvesinthesamewordsfromourlips，provinga
hatefulsympathyinoursecretsouls。Hiseducation，indeed，inthe
citiesoftheoldworld，andmineinthisrudewilderness，hadwrought
asuperficialdifference。Theevilofhischaracter，also，hadbeen
strengthenedandrenderedprominentbyarecklessandungovernedlife，
whileminehadbeensoftenedandpurifiedbythegentleandholy
natureofAlice。Butmysoulhadbeenconsciousofthegermofallthe
fierceanddeeppassions，andofallthemanyvarietiesofwickedness，
whichaccidenthadbroughttotheirfullmaturityinhim。NorwillI
denythat，intheaccursedone，Icouldseethewitheredblossomof
everyvirtue，which，byahappierculture，hadbeenmadetobring
forthfruitinme。Now，herewasamanwhomAlicemightlovewith
allthestrengthofsisterlyaffection，addedtothatimpurepassion
whichaloneengrossesalltheheart。Thestrangerwouldhavemorethan
thelovewhichhadbeengatheredtomefromthemanygravesofour
household-andIbedesolate！”
LeonardDoanewentontodescribetheinsanehatredthathad
kindledhisheartintoavolumeofhellishflame。Itappeared，indeed，
thathisjealousyhadgrounds，sofarasthatWalterBromehad
actuallysoughttheloveofAlice，whoalsohadbetrayedan
undefinable，butpowerfulinterestintheunknownyouth。Thelatter，
inspiteofhispassionforAlice，seemedtoreturntheloathful
antipathyofherbrother；thesimilarityoftheirdispositionsmade
themlikejointpossessorsofanindividualnature，whichcouldnot
becomewhollythepropertyofone，unlessbytheextinctionofthe
other。Atlast，withthesamedevilineachbosom，theychancedto
meet，theytwoonalonelyroad。WhileLeonardspoke，thewizardhad
satlisteningtowhathealreadyknew，yetwithtokensof
pleasurableinterest，manifestedbyflashesofexpressionacrosshis
vacantfeatures，bygrislysmilesandbyawordhereandthere，
mysteriouslyfillingupsomevoidinthenarrative。Butwhentheyoung
mantoldhowWalterBromehadtauntedhimwithindubitableproofsof
theshameofAlice，and，beforethetriumphantsneercouldvanishfrom
hisface，haddiedbyherbrother’shand，thewizardlaughedaloud。
Leonardstarted，butjustthenagustofwindcamedownthechimney，
formingitselfintoacloseresemblanceoftheslow，unvaried
laughter，bywhichhehadbeeninterrupted。“Iwasdeceived。”
thoughthe；andthuspursuedhisfearfulstory。
“Itrodouthisaccursedsoul，andknewthathewasdead；formy
spiritboundedasifachainhadfallenfromitandleftmefree。
Buttheburstofexultingcertaintysoonfled，andwassucceededby
atorporovermybrainandadimnessbeforemyeyes，withthe
sensationofonewhostrugglesthroughadream。SoIbentdownover
thebodyofWalterBrome，gazingintohisface，andstrivingtomake
mysoulgladwiththethought，thathe，inverytruth，laydeadbefore
me。IknownotwhatspaceoftimeIhadthusstood，norhowthevision
came。Butitseemedtomethattheirrevocableyearssincechildhood
hadrolledback，andascene，thathadlongbeenconfusedandbroken
inmymemory，arrayeditselfwithallitsfirstdistinctness。
MethoughtIstoodaweepinginfantbymyfather’shearth；bythe
coldandblood-stainedhearthwherehelaydead。Iheardthe
childishwailofAlice，andmyowncryarosewithhers，aswebeheld
thefeaturesofourparent，fiercewiththestrifeanddistorted
withthepain，inwhichhisspirithadpassedaway。AsIgazed，acold
windwhistledby，andwavedmyfather’shair。ImmediatelyIstood
againinthelonesome91road，nomoreasinlesschild，butamanof
blood，whosetearswerefallingfastoverthefaceofhisdead
enemy。Butthedelusionwasnotwhollygone；thatfacestillworea
likenessofmyfather；andbecausemysoulshrankfromthefixedglare
oftheeyes，Iborethebodytothelake，andwouldhaveburiedit
there。Butbeforehisicysepulchrewashewn，Iheardthevoiceoftwo
travellersandfled。”
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