The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-08-24
u,a a sense of mystery the .pirit daunted-
"rich said, as plain a. whisner in the oar

wh;os OF mystery the spirit daunted,
Ts SAID as plain whisper in the ear
- p'sce Is haunted"
nave you Seen the bau,tes h.,p -, .x,,;,
honss ~ hasist sist OF exploration to the haunted
49,; - oeeame the Questions Of ths d.y Eor .
;,smono,s,a "a. p polucai pes were forgotten: the
flerce, and when did he have hi ,a c ois IanA
ahu .no DeMocrs's forgot for awhile ,hair 49,
objections to the hero Lundy's Lane INA hany
nanos On me pla form that there was
naunteo mouse 10 the vicinity, and il becaros -
as heroes and coed citizens to ferret the netn
and lay their investigations before an sstnnshs
world.
Itappears that the night previous to all tb;. .x
element two Irish iaborers who ad been eppsged
job in the country, were returning rather late
and being overtaken by storm sought shelter in
deserted house, about mile from town. Here
they were finally overcome with sleep and whiskey
and were snoring at that witching hour
when graveya yawn and he'll itself
Bresthes out coutegion on tine world,
when one OF them was aroused from "great natures
second course by strange groaLings.
whist, Teddy" said he, snakiug and rousipg his
compsnion, wnat in the name OF the h0w!y mother
is that 7"
"Be aisy,' said Pat ''it's only some spalpeen wild
bad cuwld in his head" Next came a gurgling
sound as OF some one trying to breathe with his
throat cut They We're both now thoroughly
alarmed and as the horrid breathing continued they
Took TO their heels, and never looked behind them
until tn w re safe il town. The report soon
spread OF their having seen man with mis- throat
cut from ear to ear; Of their having heard the
frishtul and mysterious sounds ana warnings, with
other
"Stories, horrible and awful
That cen to name would be unlawful"
The next evening a company of youthful braves
resolved to explode the mystery perish in the
attempt Accordingly, about dozen armed them.
selves with knives and pistols, and fortified the
| inner man with "dutch courage" imbibed from
| tnnt rnnF ,ola Al
selves with candles and torches to throw light on
| the subject, and puI the matter at rest forever.
About l. Il P. NJ. they set forward, and in due
| time the shadow of the haunted house fell across
their pathway. Atttis critical juncture there was
Sener raj cry TO pass tie bottle, after which the
party divided taxing their stands at the win
COWS, some stthe dOois AID the remainder entered
the house in body, their knees knocking and teeth
chafterlpg with fear. Presently unearthly groan
sailed tn. ir ears, causing leach particular hair TO
s'7pd ON lts own hoos.' grand rush was now
| made for the door, aad the whole party broke for
town with the speed Of quarter horses on the last
stretch.
Next morning remnant of the braves returned
to the scele OF horror ana began excavating about
| The hearthstona o. the building, and 10, they tx
humed an asthmatlcal tom cat-thus the ghost story
was exploded AMI tn cat fairly let out OF the bag
Owing to the excitement of the occasion, and the
| weak state Of poor TOMS nerves he fingered bu,
| a few hours after and gradually died OFT ike az
| expiring taper. His Iemains were decently dis
| posed of by the n' shbors, and the village poe
read over his grave, with much feeling, the follow
| ing
| cAT,ALEPTIc ELEGY.
| "A fellow feline makes US wondrous kind
| 'R quies.cat il pace"
| "Poor Toms co!d,' no saving claws
| fy pur-blind leech with catapiasm
| Could keep him from deaths hungry java,
Orratlfy his ia;est spasm.
| His death resu ted from cat arrh,
| Caught when h'avy rain was falling
| Which wet MIN tn rous : h his coat of "har,'
| While to his misIr, cater wauling.
| A bunch of cat-nip marks the spot
| Where poor Tom catnaps evermore,
| And here the ''mews" sh,ll weep his lot,
| And mis- uutimey tai" deplore.
| "Drad for a du-catr' Tons ctld!'
| His form is dust, MS ghost 10 laid
| His bones moud-ring in the mould
His substance has become shade!
| This morning the haunted house ceased to be AZ
| object Of wonder: the braves had returned Il
their peaceful aSoca!ions and the political warfare
was being waged with unabated bittslnes and
vigor.