Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1847-08-18
The Virtue. of Ventril0quism.
OR MICK MURPHY AND THE GHos1

oiS MIN MURP HY AND THE GHOST.
An, incident occurred in the hotel of one
of the picturesque marine villages which
skirt Lake Pontchartrain, on q certain oc
casion last summer, that effectually served
to dispel the ennui too prevalent in such
cases. Among the guests there for the
time being, was one Michael Murphy, IN
eccentric, good-natured soul, from what
used to be par ercezlcnce the land of pota-
toes. but, which now may be called the po-
tatoeless land. He had been on q "big burst''
in the city, and went over the Lake to dis
pei the fumes of his debauch, and take salt
baths and soda water at the same time, fer,
"-In sooth he was a shameless wight
| Sore given to revel and ungodly glec;
Few earthly things found favor in his sight
Save concubinness and carnal companie,
And Haunting wassailers ofhigh and low degree
All this became known to n ventrioquist
who paid flying visit to the place, and
who had such command over his voice that
be could d.make i do ANYTHING, from the
| fsqueaking OF pig under the gate to the
singing Of a mocking bird. Believing that
Michael was, just about that time, in an
impressible state-in q relormatory mood
he thought he would, through the medi-
um Of his art, endeavor to effect favora-
BILE change in his morals. With this view
he booked his name for bed in the same
room with Michael, and about II O'Clock
at night-that hour to superstitious minds
so traught with terrors-he ''pitched his
voice. outside ofthe door, saying in kind
of trombone tone
"Michael Murphy! Michael Murphy!
are you asleep?'
"Who's that?' said Michael, much STAR
tied at the sepulchral tone in which the
query was put, and the time ofpuning it.
''Ask me not, but answer,' said the ven-
triloquist continuing his ghostlike accent.
'Well, what have you got to say?" said
Michael.
"Much of which | want you to take no.
tice," said the ventriloquist, OF rather, said
the ventriloquist's voice.
30 clear off," said Michael, cor else I'll
give you your tay.''
ssBetter you had continued to take tea
than to break the pledge, as you have done,
said the voice outside the door.
"What's all this noise about?" said the
ventriloquist, speaking from the bed.
''Some dirty blckguard that's outside the
door there" said Michael, ''interferin' with
what's none of his business
"Why don't you drive him from it?'' said
the ventriloquist, speaking from the bed.
81 wish he dare" said the voice of the
ventriloquist, speaking outside the door.
sBe jabbers I'll let you see dare" said
Michael, jumping up, seizing his hickory
and hurriedly opening the door, ready, on
sight, to knock down the annoyer.
"Give him H." said the ventriloquist.
from the bed.
ssBe gor, believe it's the Ould Boy,
himself, was in it," said Michael, s'for |
don't see a sowl here.'
s'It's very mysterious" said the ventrilo-
quist from the bed.
81 wondher,'' said Michael, s'if there's
any evil spirits in this country?"
Il don't KNOW" said the ventriloquist,
''but they say that the ghosts of departed
Indians haunt the place."
go, that was no Indians ghost" said
Michael, 'lor it spoke as good English as |
do meself.'
"And little better, Michael" said the
voice, as if it proceeded from one standing
by his side. !
30, the Grass O. Christ about us,' said
Michael, what are you, at all, at all?''
"No evil spirit, but your guardian gen.
ius," said the voice.
GA mortal queer genius you are,' said
Michael, that can be heard and not seem
"Get into bed, then," said the voice, 81
have something to say to you.' =
"You won't do any thing bad to me-"
said Michael.
"Nothing,' said the voice:
''Honor BRIGHT said Michael
"Honor brig ght,'' said the voice, and into
bed Michael, again went
CHOW Michael" said the voice, "you
know you have been hard liver"
ssThat's fact,' said Michael.
s'You broke the pledge,' said the voice.
"Truc as prachin," said Michael.