Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1852-09-02
Tile GhaSt-Raiser,

forty years ago, / was travelling on
horseback from Shrewsbury to Ches-
ter. I felt tolerabIy tired, and was
beginning to look out for some snug
4Eaysidc inn, where I might pass the
night, when a sudden al I'D violent
thunder storm came on. My horse,
terrified by the lightning, fairly took
the bride between his teeth, and
started off with me at full gallop
through lanes and cross roads, until
at length l managed to pull him up
lust. near the door of neat looking
country inn.
| 'Fell, thought !, there was wit in
your madness, old boy, since it
brought us to this comfortable re-
fuge.' And alighting, l gave him
in charge to the farmers boy who
acted as hostler. The inn-kitchen,
which was large, clean, neat, and
comfortable, was very like hepleasant
hostlery described by Izaak Walton
There were several travellers already
in the room probably, like myself,
driven there for shelter land they
were all warming themselves byI the
blazing fire while awaiting for supper
l joined the party. Presently, be-
ing summoned by the hostess, we
all sat down, twelve in number, to a
smoking repast Of bacon and eggs,
eorncl beef and carrots, and steWed
hare.
The cony ersation naturally turned
on the mishaps occasionqd by the
storm, of which every one seemed to
have had his full share. One had
been thrown off his horse; and an
Fother, driving in a gig, had been qp-
set into 4 muddy dyke; all had sgt a
thorough wetting, and agreed unani
mousIy that it wasa a dreadful winter
IA regularlwitches' sabbath!
WITCHES ana ghosts prefer Tor
their sabbath a fine moonlight night
to such weather as this.
These words were uttered in a sol
Iemn tone, and with strange empha-
sis, by o4e Of the company. He
was tall, dark looking m hn, and |
had set him down in my own mind
as travd ling merchant or pedlar.
My neXt neighbor was gay, well
looking, fhshionably dressed young
man, who, bursting into peal Of
/ Ekughter, said;
sYou m hst know the manners and
customs Of ghosts very we'll, to be
able to tell that they dislike getting
wet or md dddy.'
The first speaker giving him a
dark fierd e look, shid;
/ Young man, speak not 50 lightly
of things above your compTe ehenSion.'
DO yodmean to imply that there
are such things as ghosts?'
Perhaps there are, if you had
courage to look at them.'
The young man stood up, flushed
with anger. Bdtpreseritly resumihg
-his seat, he said, calmly;
That taunt should cost you dear,
if It we're not such a foolish one
"a foolish ohe!' exclaimed the
merchant, throwing on the table a
heavy purse. There are fifty guln-
cas-. | am content to lose them, if,
before The hour is ended, | do not
succeed IN showing you, DO are 50
obstinatfly prejudicea, the form Of
any one of your deceased q friends;
and if, after You have recognized him,
you ALLOW him to kis your lips
We all looked at each other, but
l.my young neIghbor, still in the same
mocking manner, replied:
YOU will do that, will y6u?'
| Yes, said the 9th er-'I will stake
these fifty guineas, on condition that
you will pay a similar sum, If you
lose
/ After a short silence, the young
man said, gaily:
| FIFTY gaineasI my worthy soreerer,
are more than poor college student
ever possessed; but here are five,
which, if you are satisfied, | Shall be
most willing to va ger
/ The 9th er ;o9k uP his purs Sc, say
ing, lin contemptuops tone:
! ~ Young gentleman, do y pu wish to
| draw back?'
d draw backl' exf flaimea q 4 he stu
dent. 'Welll if / had the gumeas,
you should see whether ! wish to
:. draw back!
Here, said i, 'ar fouf gdineas,
which | will stake on your wager.