Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-05-21
THE GHOST RAISER.

My uncle Beagley, who commenced his
commercial career very early in the
present century as a hagman, ariN tell
stories. Among them, he tells his single
ghost story SO often, that l am heartily
tired of it. In sclfdefence, therefore, I
publish the tale, in order that when next
the good, kind old gentleman offers to
bore us with it, everybody may say they
know it. [ remember every word of it.
One fine autumn evening, about forty
years ago. I was travelling on horseback
from Shrewsbury to Chester | felt
tolerably tired, and was beginning to look
out for some snug way side inn where |
might pass the night, when sudden and
violent thunder storm came on. NV
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 last I
managed to pull him up Just near the
door of a neat-looking country inn.
Well" thought [, i" there was wit in
your madness, old boy, since it brought
us to this comfortable refuge" And
alighting, [ gave him in charge to stout
farmers boy who acted as ostler. The
inn-kitchen which was also the guest
room, was large, clean, neat and comfort
able, very like the pleasant hostelrv de-
scribed by Izaak Walton. There were
several travellers already in the room
probably, like myself, driven there for
shelter-and they were all warming them
selves by the blazing fire while waiting
for supper. / joined the party. Pres
entity, being summoned by the hostess,
we all sat down, twelve in number, to a
smoking repast Of bacon ard eggs, corned
beef and carrots, and stewed hare.
The conversation naturally turned on
the mishaps occasioned by the storm, of
which every one seemed to have his full
share. Onehad been thrown off his horse:
another, driving in gig, had been upset
into dyke: all had got thorough wet
ting, and agreed unanimously that it was
dreadful weather-a regular witches sab
bath
Witches and ghosts prefer for their
sabbath a fine moonlight night to such
weather as this 70
These words were uttered in a solemn
tone and with strange emphasis, by one
of the company. He wasa tall dark look
ing man, and | had set him down in my
own mind as travelling merchant or ped
lar. My next neighbor was a gay, we'll
looking, fashionably dressed young man,
who, bursting into peal of laughter, said:
&" You must know the manner and Gus
toms of ghosts very well, to be able to
tell that they dislike getting wet or mud
dy-"
The first speaker, giving him a dark,
fierce look, said g Young man, speak
not so lightly of things above your COM
prehension.
" Do yru mean to imply that there are
such things as ghosts 2"
Perhaps there are, if you had courage
to look at them"
The young man stood up, flushed with
anger. But presently resuming his seat,
he said, more calmly: " That taunt should
cost you dear, if it were not such fool
ish one"
CA foolish one !" exclaimed the mer-
chant, throwing on the table heavy
leathern purse. "There are fifty guineas
[ am content to lose them, before the
hour is ended, ifI do not succeed in show
ing you, who are so obstinately preju-
diced, the form of any one of your de-