Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1852-11-06
\ Select Oale.
From Gieason's Pictorial.
THE GREEN CHAMBER /:
% R.
TIE MIDNIGHT VISITOR.
DY FRANCIS A. DURIVAGE

In my younger days, "ghost stories"
We're the most popular narratives extant,
and the lady or gentleman who could re-
cite the most thrilling adventure, involving
a genuine spiritual yisiiant, was sure to be
the lion or ioness of the evening party he
enlvened () with the dismal details. The
elder auditors never seemed particularly
horriGed or terror-Strickrn, however much
gratifed they were, but the younger mem
bers would drink in every word, "Supping
full of horrors" After listening to one of
these authentic narratives, we used to be
very reluctant to retire TO our dormltorles,
and never ventured 10 get into bed till we
had examined suspicious looking closets,
old wardro5es, and, indeed, every nook
and corner that might be supposed TO har-
Dor ghost or ghoul.
Fortunately for the rising generation,
these tales have gone out of fashion, and
though some attempts TO revive the taste
have been made-as in the 'Night Side OF
Nature" efforts have proved deplor-
able failures. The young people OF to-day
make light Of ghosts. The spectres in the
incarnation scene of "Dtr Freyschutz" are
received with roars of laughter, aud even
the statue in Don Giovanni seems ''jolly,'
notwithstanding the illusive music OF Mo-
zart. We were about 10 remark that the
age had ou,grown superstition, but we re-
membered the Rochester knockings, and
concluded to be modestly silent.
One evening, many years since, 1t was
clustering December evening, the winc
howling as it dashed the old buttonwooC
limbs in its fury, against the parlor win
dows OF the country house where few o
US were assembled TO pass The winter holi
days, We gathered before a roaring fire o
walnut and oak, which made everythin;
within doors as CHEEKY and comfortable, a
all without was deSolate and dreary. Th
+ window shutters were left unfastened, tina
the bright lamplight and ruddy freligh
might stream aiar upon the wintry waste
, and perhaps guide some benighted wayiare
TO hospitable shelter.
, We shall not attempt to describe III
5 group, as any such portrait painting woul
not be germane TO the matter more imme
diately in hand. Suffice it 10 say, that on
OF the youngsters begged Aunt DEBORAH
the nairon of the mansion, to tell us gho,
story-''a real ghost story, Aunt Deborah
: -ior in those days we were terribly airai
!, of counter!eits, and hated to hear a narr;
tive where the ghost turned out in the en-
to be no ghost after all, but a mere con
!. pound of flesh and blood like ourselves.
Aunt Deborah smiled at our earnestnes
u and tantalized our impotence by some
: those little arts, with which the practise
story-teller enhances the value and intere
= of her narrative. She tapped her silv
7. snuff.box, opened it deliberately, took
lie very delicate pinch OF the Lundy Foo
r shut the box, replaced it in her pock,
Ct folded her hands before her, looked round
minute on the expectant group and III
began.
: / shall despair of imparting to this &C
pe pen and ink record of her story the mimi
~ BILE conversational grace with which S
embellished it. 1t made an indelible i