American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper., 1846-01-27
From thu Centrevile Times.
SEEING A G ilO ST

FROM klE CSnHeVllG NhCS'
SEEING A G HOST.
Who among our readers, that has not, on
some cold windy, boisterOus night, drawn clo-
ser to the bright, cheerful FIRE, and as he felt
its genial warmth and heard the chilling tnmult
without, thanked God in his heat, that he had
such home, aud such comforts 10 cheer HIM?
Who among us, that on such occasions has not
occasionally suffered his mind to dwell on the
mysterious dispensalions of Providence, and
with the effect Of some nursery tale or more re-
cent occurrence fresh upon his mind, WONDER
ed, If our immortal spirits are ever permitted
to revisit the earth, for purposes dictated by a
superior and controlling wI2 We have, often;
and sometimes we have become so magma
tive, that every breath of wind, seemtd a
mourniul sigh, and every rustling OF the dra-
perry death like moan, and il we venturad a
peep over our shoulders, twas to assure our
selves that We were not in the presence of sOma
disemboded spirit of immortality. Well, twas
on pretty much such an occasion as tins; when
small party were nursing the fire, and telling
divers tales OF mos marvellous CallOre, that
one amongst them, looking wIslfnlly around
and drawing his chair within the circle as if to
be secure against the approach Of any lporna-
tural visitor, commenced as follows: IL was
dining some two months since, with friend
in one of the lower counties of this Shore, Who
was no less remarkable lor his indo Ole pei
sonal bravery, than for his kindness and hber-
atty Cot. il was Captain during tic last
war, and had distinguished himself IN numCr-
Gus general and personal contNcls-dnd IA his
neighborhood as brave as Col. il was a
saving in very general usage. On tho occasion
referred TO during temporary pause in the
conversation, the Colonel remarked, well gem
Il tg !, fra 81
.hinh must tell you little affair in which
bore Il conspicuous part, and which your as
sembagc around this dinner toEcibly reminds
me Of a few days since, our mutual friend
b you know died. You are aware also,
that he was my personal friend, and that whc-
ther on the field Of battle or IN the social circle,
we were almost inseplrablo. Poor b
, was very fJud Of hm-peoce to his noble ma
ture At his death, he being bachelor, and
having no female relations TO superintend on
the occasion, attended to the last dutics-saw
him laid out and when all was ready, saw him
finally consigned to his narrow resting place.
His death was constantly on my mind, and at
this moment his pale, haggard features are be-
fore me. The evening alter his burial, having
been detained late in the town of c., which
is near the banks Of the river W, | was
returning home by the cross road leading by
the gate of the c. grave yard, when vio-
len. start of my horse nearly threw me to the
ground. gave him the spur, but to no pur-
pose-he snorted, reared and finally backed to
some distance from the gate which was of open
iron work. After several unsuccessful attempts
to get him past that spot, and seeing nothing
myself | dismounted and approached the gate.
BIS grave was Immediately in front, and
some ten or fifteen yards from it-and as | un-
bolted the gate and entered this dismal abode
of the dead, you cannot imagine my feelings
on seeing an object in white apparently sitting
on the newly raised grave! was for mo-
ment unnamed, but Summoned resolution,
approached, cautiously, and nerVously you
may be sure-as did so, the object rose slow
ly and presented the figure of my friend, with
outstretched arms which he slowly folded across
his breast! For some moments could neither
speak or move-a thousand ideas rushed thro.
nv mind and eventually drew back to con-
slider in what way should act. AS | did so,
the figure resumed its former position. rea-
soned with myself, that | had never in ured
him, and that perhaps he might have some.
thing to communicate with regard to his tenn
poral atfairs-for although was rather incre-
dulous about such appearances, was then in
frame of mind 10 think it might be So
Eventually, ] summoning courage, and ap-
preached a second time--the figure as before
rising with outstretched arms, and slowly fold.
ing them across his breast. Ia the name o
God exclaimed what is the mltter--why
do YOU thus return to Earth No answer camc
and appToached nearer; the igure meanwhile
slowly recedng. In the name of God, what
is the matreT / rePeatcd, aud determining
to fathom the mystery, rushed forward anc
and clasped the object IN my arms which, in.
stead of the spiritual part OF my poor friend
B-turned out to be a splendid SWAN,
which my disturbed fancy had moulded lntc
the form and features Of my friend, and which
had lighted thus near the river wearicd witt
its Highland now gentlemen, said Col. II =
who shall | help to wing or leg OF the
ghost, for you see it beloreyoui'
We all breathcd more freely, and instead o
seeing raw heads and bloody bones in GU
dreams, were gently ridden by the night mare
for estimating too highly tho qualities of the
GHOST.
LEMoNApE PARTIES The Boston ladies' are
holding lemonade parties A large punch bow