The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-06-21
MISCELLANEOUS.
Ronrs In Rtnsostam.
A TALE OF WRITER'S BUILDINGS.
BY H. r. ADDISON.

TALE OF WRITER'S BUILDINGS.
WE had drank deeply: Writer'S Building
re-echoed with shouts of mirth; eleven O.
clock sounded, yet not word of parting
had yet been pronounced. The loH shrol
| (clarei) was excellent; the guests amusing
unlike orgies of similar description in Eu
rope, not an argument had arisen TO dim thu
brilliant hiliarity of the evening. A feel
ing of brotherhood exists among English,
men in India, arising from the distance o.
their common home, that joins them in clio
ser ties of friendship than those we enter
into elsewhere, more particularly if you are
sin the SERVICE" In our country mar
may be in the army. navy. church, or law
and yet not feel that every one in his pro-
fesslon is consequently, his intimate friend.
In India. however, those who as said be-
fore, are sin the SERVICE" consider them.
selves as members of a fraternity which
binds them together by links of the strong
est friendship. Ii is true, the cvilion is apt
TO think himself much greater man
than the soldier; yet, as this feeling is
principally displayed by opening his house,
and entertaining his less rich fellow. labor
ers, the military man has little to grumble
at, and consequently, partakes of the sump-
tuous fare afforded him without murmur, as
| did on the evening have selected for this
sketch.
Jack Thoraton had lately arrived. He
was the SON of director, and, perhaps, as
sumed a few airs and graces in consequence,
which were willingly admitted for in Ben
gal we look upon the lords of Leadenhall
as something exceeding the Emperor Of
Russia in riches beyond Creses,and Il must
in common gratitude odd) in kindness I'M
equalled by any other rulers in the world.
To come back however TO my story.
The conversation had turned upon ghosts.
Some boldly admitted their belief in such
appearances others half-doubted; while
the third. and most numerous portion of the
company loudly ridiculed the dea as being
impossible, Offering 10 undergo all kinds of
tests in order to prove their scepticism. At
the head ofthis party was young Thorn
ton.
st is really too ridiculous TO talk of such
things in the nineteenth century," cried he.
"Ghosts, indeed should like to see one"
$50 should l." chimed in Gravestock
nothing would give me so much pleasure"
"Here's health to all ghosts and COB
Inns J" laughingly shouted Tom Baghott, a
young cavalry-officer. and the toast was
drank with great merriment.
GAS an amendment, vote that we 90
and drink it in the chuch yard, said Thorn.
ton; ''they'll hear us better there"
"Really | fear my dear sir, you ale GO
ing little too far" said Mr.. Martin, the
clergyman of st. Johns; "like yourself, |
am no believer in such appearances as you
describe but must confess that | am
wholly opposed TO such:indecorous procee-
dings as those you propose. Invocations
of the kind might, indeed. summon with
anger the dead from their graves"
"Twaddle!" interrupted Gravestock.
"Egad if they're TO be had out of their
very resting places" said Thornton, "we'll
have 'em. Here goes l' said he; and, as
suming very serious air and manner, IN
despite Of the opposition of the clergyman,
he pronounced in a solemn voice, "By all
the powers of necromancy, past, present,
and future, by every incarnation, holy and
unholy, by every adjuration, l hereby, if
such thing be possible, call upon the dead
to appear !"
Baghott, who had left the room for a sin
gle instant, hearing this pompous conjura-
lion, suddenly burst into the room with
loud "Bah!"
The effect was so sudden, so unexpected,
that Thornton uttered a loud scream,
and sprang from the chair. In an instant
the general laugh recalled him to himself,
when smarting under the quiz. which being
unanimously kept up at his expense, he
wisely refrained from re enting, he resea-
ted himself, determined however, not only
to be quits with Master Tom on future
occasion, but also to redeem his character
from the braggndocio hue which now slight.
ly tinged it. After much laughing, after
a hundred other topics had been in turn
discussed, Thornton suddenly turned round,
and abruptly adverted to the conversation,
which had already caused himself SO much
pain:
"Gentlemen, was taken by surprise just
now; / was startled, acknowledge, and
overcome by sudden fear 9; but, as you have
had your laugh at me, it is but fair, in my
turn, that l should have my revenge on some
of you. require but slight one. A thou
sand rupees will compensate for the little
affront that has been put upon me. Now,
gents, who will bet me thousand rupees
that do not 60 through any ordeal with
respect to ghosts and COLLINS that may be
assigned to me?'
81 will replied the president; for he wish
ed sincerely to make up for his apparent
rudeness in having joined the laugh at
Thornton's expense, even though he felt he
should lose his money.
"Done p
"Done %
SNOW, then, what am l to do 7"
at is nearly twelve o'clock. You shall
go to the churchyard of st. Johns, which
is close by, and pick up a skull saw there
TO day, near old Halliday's tomb, and with