The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1853-04-05
wi rs Gel l. A N EOUS

The BARnER's GnosT.-Thc follow.
ing story is an old, but precious good
one. We laughed heartily over it
slong, time ago." and prcsuming many
of our readers never heard it, we serve
it up for their editication.
q gentleman travelling some years
I. since in the upper part OF this State,
called at d tavern and requested ell.
tertainment for the night The land,
i.:s,ss'ser to accommodate him, rs
shisaSsouse was already full. He per,
sisted in stopping, as he rs we'll as
his horse were almost exhausted with
travelling. After much solicitation
the landlord consented to his stopping.
provided he would sleep in n certain
room that had not been occupied for
long time, in consequence of be-
lief that it was haunted by the ghost of
a barber, who was reported to have
been murdered in that room somo
years before. every WE'LL" says the
man, 81 am not afraid ofghosts.'' AZ
ter having refreshed himself, he in
quired Of the landlord how and in
what manner the room in which he
was to lodge was haunted! The land
lord replied, that shortly after they re-
tired to rest, an unknown voice was
heard in a trembling and protracted ac
cent, saying, "Do you WANT to be
sh.a.ved?' SWELL" replied the man,
''if he. comes he may shave me-"
lie then requested to be shown to
to the Gpar,ment; in going to which he
was conducted through large room
where were seated u great number Of
persons at a gambling table. Feel
ing q curiosity which almost every
cne possesses after having heard ghost
stories, he carefully searched every
corner of his room, but could dis
cover nothing but the usual furniture of
the apartment. He then laid down, but
did not close his eyes to sleep immcdi-
atoly, and in few minutes he imagn
ed he heard voice saying, ''Do you
a0.aa,t to be sA.a-v-edl" He arose from
his bed and searched every. part of the
room, bnt could discover nothing He
again went to bed, but no sooner had
he begun to compose himself to
sleep than the question was again re-
pcated. lie again arose and went to
the window, the sound appearing to
proceed from that quarter, and stood a.
while silent-attcr few moments of
anxious suspense, he again heard the
sound distinctly,and convinced that it
was from without, he opened the
window, when the question was re-
peated full in his car, which startled
him not q little. Upon minute ex-
animation, however, he observed that
the limb Of a large oak tree, which
stood under his window, projected so
near the house, that every breath of
wind, to lively imag nation, made a
noise resembling the interrogation, "Do
you want to be sha-a-vcd?"
Having satisfied himself that his
ghost was nothing more nor less than
the limb of a tree coming in contact
with the house, he again went to bed
mud attempted to get asleep; but he
was now interrupted by peals Of laugh
ter and an occasional volley of oaths
and curses from the room where tho
gamblers were assembled. Thinking
that he could turn the late discovery
to his own advantage, he took sheet
from the bed and wrapped it round
illrn, and taking the wash basin in his
hand and throwing towel over his
arm, proceeded to the room of the
gamblers, aud suddenly opening the
door, staalked in, exolaiming in tremu.