The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-09-28
LYNCHBURG. NBER 20, Isa'
A LYNCHBURG GHOST.

" Lets talk oflhe ghost without head,
q" That frighlenedthe BARRIERS boy quite dead
We had begun almost 10 fear that Lynsh-
burg would be entirely overlooked by
ghosts and ghosiesses, witches and WIZ
yards, brownies and fairies undines, and all
the other neshles. spirits OF air, earth and
water. Lexington could boast its invisible
stone thlowrrs; New York, its shadowy
prophets. alarming by thelr woeiui pre-
dictlons Tho no one could tell whence they
came or io what manner they were promnl-
gated all the old women and children, as
well infants as those ola larger growth,
therein resident; and, indeed, there ia
scarcely village which can point to ITS
1ar-room and blacksmlth's shop that has
not connected with il some acknowledged
tradition of the elder tune, or some more
modern record of midnight orgies, conduc
ted by agents of an unearthly character.-
All that is necessary is 10 ind house
which has long been uninhabited, moulder-
ing 10 decay, Its chItnnles prostrate with
the earth, its top unronied, its frame dlIap-
dated, with here and there broken pane
of glass to make 1t seem more bleak and
desolate or else, some noted scene OF
murder; or some crossroad where MALI
factors carcase may have been suspended;
or where the bones of some unfortunate
suicide have been buried, the rites ofsepul-
ture as decreed by Holy Mother Church"
being denied To him BY the superstltous
preludices of the ignorant blgot and furious
fanatic. In most OF these essentials TO a
ghoslly tale. Lynehburg is unfortunately
deficient. Ii has so recently become the
haunt of a busy and enterprising popnla-
ton, emerging from the solitude OF the
forest, and apparently from the bosom. of
the cloud capt mountains which surround
it, with the rapidty if not The spleudor OF
magic, that Time has not yet left the deep
impress of his touch upon our habitations,
nor enabled us 10 point TO the maleiactor's
or tho suicides grave, rendered sacred IN
our imaginations by many a nursery recoi-
lection. But, we, nevertheless, seem in a
which abound in the traditions handed
down by the ignorance of one generation
to the credulIty OF its successor. But, 10
the point. I'VE tell the tale as twas told
to u.s." and hold ourselves irresponsible for
any of the "hydrss, g0rgons or chimeras'
which the fancies of old women, whether
in petlicoats or trowsers, shall breed there
from.
For sone time past, strange noises have
been heard in partly demolished lumber
house, situated in a deep and dark ravine,
near Mill. which was half destroyed by
the recent freshet. Certes, this is a mest
admirable location, Of spectral residence,
EQUALLY as good as the trembling towers Of
Udolpho. around which Mrs. Radcliffe s
powerful imagination conhiyed to throw
such deep intensity of interest. A stream
of muddy water rolls siuggi.hIy along at
the base of the hills which environ the lum
her house. and vegetation appears to be
less fourishing in its neighborhood than
elsewhere the trees being stunted in their
growth, and the grass wearing a most sick
y hue.-'Tis said, the cattle which browse
upon its sides are instantly seized with the
murrain, and it is well known fact, which
we should fear to mention, lest our veraci-
~ might he called in qsestien, could il
not be attested by host of witnesses, that
horse, raging with madness, threw him
self headloDs down the deep declivity, and
persisted in the yawning chasm below "a
chasm, which, whose shall enter will call
to mind Dante's inscription on the gates of
Hell, for no hope of rescue or relief would
cheer his gloomy abode. do Ger
talnly possess most singular pre- judices, but
from some ofthem, may not mankind draw
useful morals )? Who has ever heard of a
ghost, when he has "burst the cearments
of his tomb" TO miEgle with the living, ia
king up his residence in lordly mansions
and magnificent palaces, unless indeed he
came armed with rescript of vengeance,
TO disclose the long concealed crime Of
some "purpled Yiliain," and TO bring him
to justice? Who ever heard of their feast.
ing on the rich delicacies of the table, slim
nlatIns thrr satlated appetites by artificial
means, and pouring, IN unmeasured quaint
ties, lihaions on the altar of the reeling
God? Who ever heard of their visiting tn.
assemblies of the gay,i "trip it on the
light fantastic toe" to the bewtchng but
fatal sounds Ofthe vol and the lutte No.
These respectable gentry are too solemn,
convinced by their knowledge of what
comes after life, to indulge inIsuch unseem-
y P'HN'ito' Vuuiu teIt us lIldI tnP
HE of an AHChoritc, water his drink, his
food the shepherds aims" is that to which
all should aspire, who aspire to be truly
srtuons; and that half demolished tene-
ment,s or" caves dug by no mortal hands"
are the most tit places Of residence, as they
humble the pride Of man, and teach him
the pershng nature Of himself, and even
of the great globe which he doth inha.
hlt.' But, be all this as it may, certain it is
that ghosts always choose for their stop-
Plug places on earth, the most uncnuth and
desolate situations imaginable, seeming to
fear 10 come in contact with any thing OF
" mortal mouid' almost Il, much as NOR
taIs do to meet with them and if, acllng
upon this principle of d cad, the Clio.
which has recently made its appearance
near Lynchbnrg, chooses to ABIDE in tue
rude and forbidding mansion we have at.
tempted to describe. we think it is not We
ny polite and genteel 70 attempt to drive
him thence bV mortal intrusinn Go - ia