Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1852-09-22

One cold December night patty Of Jolly
suns' had congregated AZ grocery not thou
sand miles distant, when among other things
the probabilities and possibilities Of spcerits
perambulating this lower mundane sphere,
was topic of conversation, and the pros aud
con s freely and fairly discussed
WELL said Bill smacks. Il don't know
whether there is anything like speerits or not.
but I'll be continentallY darned If didn't
see sumthin 'tother night what made my hair
riz. and wasn't skeerea nuther,--
Just as Bill finished this preliminary pint
vas called for by one Of the party, and which
being duly discussed. affording an oecular
demonstration at least that If spirits wasn't
mist they we're liquifed. The company
gathered round Bill aud requested bin to
proceed.
'Well,' SAID Bill. and his eyes run of wa
ter at the thoughts Of having seen an inhab-
liant Of the invisible world, you reccllect
what thunderin DARK night il war last Sat-
urday night well you see had been down
TO Russels at work purity late, aud tho't
bein as next day was Sunday. would cum
home past Jim Tomrkns still house and get
my flask filed and this you know led me
right past tho old burrying ground, we'll |
felt agwine along sumtbin full about the in
ards, as thought Of havin TO pass through
that but you know It war ofthc greatest con-
sequence to proceed. for couldn't do with
out horn no how. as was cogitatin this. |
cum smack up to the yard fore | thought,
and | tell you, felt sort O. sick, riz my
arms howsnmever and took hold Of the fence
and then took subway Of the whole con-
earn. but didn't see uothin. so l put one
foot on the rails and then tux another look,
well didn't see notbin still and then BY
golly ] tho't | would 60 il clean, so | raised
tother leg and war about THROWN over. when
al at once | hearu sumthin snort, jist under
nee. TUX a look down sort'er, aud seen
sumthin width" here Bill took out his hand
kerchief and wiped Of the nersplration, and
then drawing in long breath. continued
1T looked like couldn't 'zacly tell what. for
jist then it give another snort a and my
hat fell an-and so d di-did |. right sprawl
in, and yc see the iarnal thing at this gin an
other snort. and then grabbed hold on sum
thin, and BY jupiter it sort'er ris--yes it ris
and away it went thunderin down through
the field Exc creased lightuin and me on to it
and | tell you ! though. war goin to
Judgement without tie preparation.
"Why didn't you let go" said one Of the
crowd. who had evidently sucked it all in.
Let CO. said Bill, as for tie tSentieth
time be wiped away the sweat that was oozing
out at every pore, "dou yo think am dar-
ned fool like Yourself, + couldn't let go it
were the death grip. my fingers were sot, and
you know Teller always dies in the extrimi-
ties fust. But Just as tho't of kingdom
cum and reconciliation TO things in ginesal.
the cussed thing gIn another snort aud then
it sort stopt aud tux shake. jce. ininny
thought it war shuiflin OH my mortal kile,
and fell' then Bill drew another long breath
and proceeded "The Lord knows what it
war, didn't rekiver till about an hour after
sun-up the next morning and on comiu' to
my recollection found it had rid me leetle
over miles" "And have you never found
out what it was" enquired one of Bills audi.
tors, No. said Bill, Il didn't like to say much
about It 'cept to Jim Tompkius and he said
it war nothin' but a steer he had 10 the yard
cropping the grass. but know it warn't NTH
in ofthe COW kind. it war sam.iain that didn't
belong to any thing airthly, well it war"