The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-09-29
THE FORCE OF EDUCATION; on
THE GHOST STORY

~ vas ttH V llbik--lnt moon was
veiled in murky clouds, and no lone
star @inkled in the armament. All
nature had sunk To rest, aud was az
silent aud solemn as the sepulchrai
shades of death and /, as rode
slowly onward towards the cottage
of my father, through thick forest
of lofty oaks, had fallen into sort
sober, pleasing melancholy sudden
as thought, it occurred to me, that
but Il few hundred PAGES before me,
and directly i'll my road. am unfortn-
nate worshipprr Of Bacchus had but
recently in lit ofintoxication, been
dashed by his horse against tree
and instantly killed. My frs, sen
satiUn was one OF chilling, sudden
fear. But what should fear? |
had long before rejected and cXpun-
grd from my creed the ridiculous
ghost theories of the ignorant, as in
rational, ummanly and vulgar. Yet
in vain did protest To the stiffness
of the night, that did not believe a
syllable of all the ghost stories that
had ever been rctailcd in the circles
OF superstition and ignorance still
my fears diminished very little, or
remained in fall force, or rose still
higher. And now my philosophy
gained a temporary ascendancy, and
now my tcrrors prevailed In
childhood, | heard those foolish tales,
and in the ignorance Of childhood |
believed those ghosily and terrible
narratives, and still those impress
sions of early childhood hung around
my heart and made me wretched -
As | approached the dreaded spot,
conflict, drcadtully severe, was car
ried on between my philosophy and
my superstitious fears, but | firmly
! resolved, be The result Mat il might,
| would go on and see what might be
Scent whistled, 10 drown my
fears this would no. do, and sang
as loud as ] could but even the c.
cho OF my voice seemed alarming,
and | was again silent My under
standing stood fast To her philosophy
and declared against any fear OF any
alarming sight, but my heart cared
not for this. but palptated as freely
as if | had no understanding.
My heart declared my head a liar,
and my head declared my heart Il
fool Still, however, rode on, un-
ill the dreaded spot WAS just before
me 3! The place was Mt descent in
my way, and ! had first to ascend
the peaked hill before could APP
proach 10 see it; SO that the foot Of
the fatal tree could not be seen until
Was witlAi a few PAGES of it. At
this point. looked With eager fear
10 the spot---inyoluntarily bore up
an the rein and stopped my horse !
for, at the place where the tree stnod,
nought was to DC seen but n whitish
object of confused aud uncertain
shape! l Was ashamed TO go back,
and afraid to go forward But, f.
nally shame prevailed, and | cau-
tiously moved to the spot And now
crowned my philosophy completely
triumphant, for the dreadful object
was but the stump of the tree, which
had but lust been cut down, for the
better security OF other worthy citi-
zcns in like condition.
A cowardly general Who happens
to conquer his foe, is almost sure,
when there appears no danger, to
carry his conquest too far SO,
knew my boosted philosophy was
Virtually beaten III the contest, yet !
felt some how, Wien saw there was
10 danger, resolved IN convince my
self that this WAS not the case, and
to do this by carrying my victory
into my cneny's territory +; so down
got off my horse, and boldly seated
myself ON the stump which had 80 IL
Harmed me, and declared myselfpos-
sesscd Of no common degree of iorli-
tadc to do so. Aud longer had | ell
ioyed my proud triumph OF rca-
son, but tor a heavy tread that was
heard at the foot OF the hill, on my
lett, in the wood. crushing the dry
brush which lay on the ground, and
advanced towards the road Again
my fortitudc began To fail but un-
willing so soon 10 lose the spells Of
my rational conquest, | maintained
my position, but not without some
perturbation, and not without fixing
my eye Oh the place from which The
noise proceeded. Still the sound
approached, and still as il approach
cd the footsteps sccmp,i To strike the
earth more and pDre .lcayily, until
Il large snow White Lady that seeInpd