The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-06-22
COMMUNICATING.
FOR THE LEDGER.
Bel AIR, June 18th, 1876:

BEL AIR, June 18th, 1853.
Mr.. Editor: Sir,-Would you believe Il
Those spirit rappers who have made so much
fuss in larger cities, have got into our little.
town of Bell Air, causing tremendous ex-.
element. Now what do you think occurred
here few evenings since! Why, sir, tho
pence and quiet Of our good citizens were
startled into amazcment and awe by the nm,
penrHncc of Balaam and his Ass. Tho spirit
OF Balaam was reused from its long rest and
forced (by the raPpcrs) into the body of ono
OF our best citizens, cansing him first, to dis.
pcrse and drive abroad his owf bouscboId.
even the woman whom he had sworn at the
Altar to love and protect. The spirits not
satisfied at this, caused our worthy citizen
"hom we will call Col Tea, to arm bimseIf
with shot gun and rally forth "likc roor.
ing lion seeking whom he might dcyour.-
Now il seemed that tho spirits who had tho
Col. in tow, intended to give him all victory
Notwithstanding the Col. showed considero.
BILE misSivings ut the thought of the gun for
when at hinsclf he is tiniid, very timid. al
most to eewardi.e, says the Col. (sbripk;no
back,( "Hfat am to do with this urly pun
pray let ME leave it." 10, no, no." saws the
spirits, "on, on, sir, the victory shall DO
yours"
"Victory, what victory! :" cried Col. Tea
with the greatest alarm. aNeyer fear. never
fear, we will provide victim. So the Col
was urged on against his will On reaching
the old fields, and locking, like Abraham Of
DID, ne saw not cram, hung By the horns
In bush,' but little mule hobblcd with n
rope and so unable to get out of the way.
The spirit of Balaam in The Col. at once saw
IN the little mule, descendant of Balaan1fs
Ass, and Immediately the spiri, Of Balaam
waxed warm rs Of old, and tho Coils gun
was directed at little mulcy.--but here the
Col. shrunk back whh abhofrcnee, but being
urged BY the spirit, hc drove The mule before
him into the big road, thence down n into
tbs edge of the village. At this point tho
spirit directed him to shoot, but the Col. like
any other good mans ii, 40, no this is out
rageous," but the spirit stared him IN the
face and with ghastly grin, uttered the sin.
Gle word, eoacdrd, In tone which. perhaps
rings in his cars yet, that word was sufficient
the mule received the contents of the gnn.,
and yet the Col. was not suffered 10 drpsrt..
but was ordered to load and shoot again, at
which the Col.again showed signs of alarm.
Now 1t was that long bony finger point
ed towards Bel ir, and hat voice said, 'CoI.
lea, do you not know that the owner of this
animal lives in yon old house, and il an in.
valid, scarce able to brush the flies ont of
his face. Were he yet man, and able To-
whip you, would not urge YOU, but know,
est thou not that women, children, and sick
very sick men are not dangerous"
Taking conra;c at this. the Col. loaded
and shot again into muley. Here IL may b,
asked why did the mule wait here SO long
My answer you will please bear in mind
he was hobbled, and could scarce travel.
secondly, he may have-we say he man
have inherited some Of the stubborness Of
his ancestors: at any rate he stt cd, and af-
ter the second fire, was driven, all bleeding,
and still hobbed, through the streets of the
city to where the owner sat at the root ofun
oak tree. The spirit called the attention Of
the owner to1fs little mule, and said Look
here, Jingle, sec what ! have done, but I am
no coward, have acted the gentleman to
tell you l shot your mule, now help your
self"
The spirit now suffered the Col. to return
home, and about the ninth hour, or midnight
Col. Tea being released, FASTENED back to
where he left his bleeding foe, and fading
him still on his feet, and precisely where 6e
left him. The Col. proceeded to examine
the wounds, wkile doing so, the same spirit
which gave utterance TO Balaam's ass ofold,
broke forth from the mouth Of muley. At,
the sound Of this voice the Col. sprang back;
and only heard the preliminary sentence
On the morning following this memorable
eyent, Col Tea WAS found ri bed, whore no
has remained up TO this time.
Yours till the next appearance of the spir-
its COON OpI.pp