Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1832-03-15
The GHOST.

IT'S about twenty years since Abel, a short
rsuHd favored, merry old soldier Of the revo
luttOnary war was welded to a most ahomin
able shrew--the temper of Shakespeare Is
Cstharlne, could no more he compared with
hers. thau m,ne with Luciier's: her eve was
like weazei's--she mad harsh face, like a
cranberry marsh all spread with spots OF
white and red. as if sne had the measles:-
with bair Of the color OF wisp OF straw, &
a disposition like a cross cut saw The as-
rellaiion of dis lovely dame was Ann, or
Nancy--sioni forget The name
Ter hrotaof, David, was tall good look
ing cha,,. ano that was all: one ofyour great
big nothings, as we say in Rhode Island.
pickin. ~ old jokes, and cracking them on
othe. folks Well, David undertook on.
night TO play the ghost and frightes Abel,
whom he knew would be returning from n
journey through grove Of forest wood,
thaf stoud below the house some distance
half ollie or so With long taper Just
made - cover wig, nearly as large over ~
corn basket, and a sheet with both ends
made TO meet across bis breast: Uhe way in
which ghosts are always drest;) be took his
station near a huge oak tree. whence he
coGi1 overlook the road. and sac whatever
might appear,
II ndlfAfGktu, lHdt. dbOut an nONr before,
fsiend Abel had left thc table OF an inn,
where he had made a halt with his horse and
wagon, to taste a fiagon Of malt liquor, and
30 forth, which being done, he went on,
cafog 10 more for twenty ghosts, than il
they were so many posts
David was nearly tired of waiting-his
patIcnce was abatlng; at length he heard the
careless tones of his kinsmau's voice: aud
then, the noise OF the wagon wheels among
the stones.
Abel was quite elated; and was roaring
with all his might. and pouring out. in great
coniasion, scraps of old songs, made in the
revolution. His head was full of Bunker
HI'l and Trenton, ana still he went on, scar
ius the poor whip poor wills amopg the
trees. with rhymes like these:--
'See the Yankees
Leave the hill,
With ihcig huggernuts declining,
With lopp'd down hats
And rusty guns and leather aprons shining.
''See the Yankees whoa! WY. what is
tn IT." said Absl. staring like cat, as slowly
on the fearful figure strobe into the middle
the road "Aiy c0nsciencel what suit
OF clothes! some crazy fellow, suppose 49,
hallo0. friend, what's name; by the powers
Of GIN that's a strange dress TO travel in"
BE silent, Abel, ior now have come to
read your doom; then hearken. while your
fate now declare; | am a spirit" sup
pose you are: but you'll net hurt me, and
Ill ieii you why. here is fact which you
cannot deny; all spirits must either be bad or
god that's understood; aud be you good I
or evil, am sure, il good spirit | am safe, |
II evil, and dent know bnt you may be The
Dewitt that's the casa fo0fi seeOilect,
iancy, that am marriedto your sister Nan
cy"-Ch Scrap Book
The Tipsy Member A member Of Par
lamont applied 10 the post office to know
Why some OF bis franks had been charged.
The answer sas--"We supposed, Sir, they
we're not yonr writing, the hand is not the
nrie." Why not precisely the same. bul
~ truth IS, | happened to be little Gpseg
'hen wrote thru" Then. SIR, 700 Mi .
{ 50 gaod IN future to write drunk when
on make free
GRETEA GRLEN-We see, hy pleasant
''iele in the Laafi1es Colsiet, that H.,
ich Priest Of matrimonial enjoyment, who
~ Greina Green con. pieined Of decay
uade, and that be has lowered his prices
vain
M Dear.-A phrase commonly used to q
llmence matrimonial squabble. Z