Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-06-02
THE STORY TELLER
RS GHOST;
{" Murder will Out"

place called Penrith, distant from Sydney about
thirty-Seven miles, lived farmer named Fish
er. He had been, originally, transported, but
become free by servitude. Unceasing toll,
and great steadiness of character had acquired
for him considerable property, for person in
his station of life. His lands and stock were
not worth less than four thousand pounds. He
was unmarried, and was about As years old.
Suddenly Fisher disappeared; and one of his
neighbors-a man named Smith-gave out
that he had gone to England, but would return
in two or three years. Smith produced doc
ument, purporting to be executed by Fisher to
act as his agent during his absence. Fisher
was a man of very singular habits and eccen-
trio character, and his silence about his de-
parture, instead of creating surprise, was de-
clared TO be exactly like him.
About six months after Fishers disappear
ance, an old man named Ben Weir, who had
small farm near Penrith, and who always
drove his own cart TO market, was returning
from Sydney one night, when he beheld, seat
ed on rail which bounded the road-Flsher.
The night was very dark, and the distance of
the fence from the middle of the road, was, at
least twelve yards. Weir, nevertheless, saw
Fishers figure seated on rail- He pulled
his old mare up, and called out, Fisher, is
that you!' No answer was returned but
there, still on the rail, sat the form of the man
with whom he had been on the most inti-
WoIr ho
though he had taken several glasses of strong
liquor on the road-jumped off his cart, and
approached the rail. To his surprise, the
form vanished.
Well, exclaimed old Weir, this is very
curious, any how and breaking several
branches Of sapling SO as to mark the exact
spot, he remounted his cart, put the old mare
in jog-trot, and soon reached his home.
Ben was not likely TO keep this vision a Sc
cret from his old woman. All that he had
seen he faithfully related to her.
Hold your nonsense, Ben = was old Bet
tvs reply. you know you have been drink
ing and disturbing of your imagination. Amt
Fisher a gone to England! And if he had a
come back, do you think we shouldn't heard
ohtr
'Ay, Betty said old Ben, but he'd cruel
cash in his forehead, and the blood was all
fresh like Faith, it makes me shudder TO
think ont 1t were his ghost
How can you be so foolish, Benz said the
old woman. You must be drunk, surely, TO
get on about ghostesses.'
Il tell you l am not drunk rejoined old
Ben, angrily. There's been foul play, Betty
I'm sure ont There sat Fisher on the rail-
not more than two miles from this. Egad, it
was on his own fence that he sat. There he
was, in his shirt sleeves, with his arms folded,
Just as he used to set when he was waiting for
anybody coming up the road. Bless you,
Betty, seed i'm till was as close as am TO
thee; when all of sudden, he vanished like
smoke.
Nonsense, Ben, don't talk of it before to-
morrow morning
Old Ben went to bed, but he did not next
morning forget all he had seen on the previous
night; on the contrary, he was more positive
than before However, at the earnest and oft
repeated request of the old woman, he prom
ised not to mention having seen Fishers ghost,
for fear that it might expose him to ridicule.
On the following Thursday night, when old
Ben was returning home from market-again
in his cart-he saw seated upon the same rail,
the identical apparition. He had purposely
II 4rip fhaf do nd in
the full possession of all his senses. On this
occasion, old Ben was too much alarmed TO
stop. He urged the old mare on, and got
home as speedily as possible. As soon as he
had embarrassed and fed the mare, and taken
his purchases out Of the cart, he entered his
cottage, lighted his pipe, sat over the fire with
his better half, and gave her an account of how
he had disposed of his produce, and what he
had brought back from Sydney in return. AT
ter this, he said TO her, well, Betty, I'm not
drunk tonight, anyhow, am IL
No. said Betty, you're quite sober like,
tonight, Ben; and therefore you have come
home without any ghost in your head
Ghosts! Don't believe there is such things
well. are you satisfied am not drunk, but
perfectly sober!' said the old man.
Yes, Ben,' said Betty.
Well, then,' said Ben, 4 tell thee what,
Betty, 4 saw Fisher tonight again!'
Stuff! cried old Betty.
You may say stuff said the old farmer,
'but tell you what saw him as plainly as
did last Thursday night Smith is bad
'un Do you think Fisher would ever have
left this country without bidding you and me
good byer
ITS all fancy said old Betty. Now,
drink your grog, and smoke your pipe, and
think no more about the ghost won't hear
a word ont
I'm as fond of my grog and my pipe as
most men, said old Ben, 'but I'm not going to
drink anything tonight. It may be all fancy'
as YOU call it, but am now going to tell Mr..
Grafton all | saw, and what | think and with
these words he got up and left the house.
Mr.. Grafton was a gentleman who lived
about mile from old Weir's farm. He had
been formerly Lieutenant in the Navy, but
was now on half-pay, and was settler In the
new colony he was moreover, in the com
mission of the peace.
"a lNPoff hi e