Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-05-04

THE BARRIERS GHOST.

it "long time ago." presuming many of our
readers never heard it, we serve it up for
their edifcation:
A gentleman travelling some years since
in the upper part of -, called at the
tavern and requested entertainment for the
night. The landlord informed him that it
was out of his power to accommodate him,
as his house was already full. He persisted
in stopping, as he as well as his horse were
almost exhausted with travelling. After So
licitation the landlord consented to his stop
ping, provided he would sleep ia certain
room that had not been occupied for long
time, in consequence of Belief that it was
haunted by the ghost Of barber, who was
reported to have been murdered in that room
some years before. every well,' says the
the man, 81 am not afraid of ghosts" At
ter having refreshed himself, he inquired of
the landlord how, and in what manner the
room in which he was to lodge, was haunt
ed. The landlord replied, that shortly after
they retired to rest, an unknown voice was
heard in trembling and protracted accent,
saying, Do you w-a-n-t to be sh-a-ved?"
" WE'LL" replied the man, GO if he comes he
may shave me-
He then requested to be shown to the
apartment; in going to which he was con-
Quoted through large room where was
seated great number of persons at gam
bling table. Feeling curiosity which
almost every one possesses after having
heard ghost stories, he carefully searched
every corner of his room but could discover
nothing but the usual furniture of the
apartment He then laid down but did not
close his Dyes to sleep Immediately, and in
a few minutes he imagined he heard a voice
saying, "Do you aOant to he sh-a- ued ," He
arose from his bed and searched every part
of the room, but could discover nothing.
He again went to bed but no sooner had
begun to sleep than the question was again
repeated. He again arose and went to the
window, the sound appearing to proceed
after 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
repeated full in his ear, which startled him
not q little. Upon a minute examination,
however he observed that the limb of
large oak tree, which stood under his win
dow, projected so near the house, that every
breath Of wind, to lowly imagination,
made noise resembling the interrogation,
"Do you want to be shaved 2"
Having satisfied himself that the ghost
was nothing more or less than the limb of a
tree coming in contact with the house, he
again went to bed and attempted to get to
sleep; but he was now interrupted by peals
of laughter and an occasional volley of
Oaths and curses from the room where the
gamblers were assembled. Thinking that
he could turn the late discovery to his own
advantage, he took sheet from the bed
and wrapped it around him, taking the
wash basin in his hand, and throwing q
towel over his arm, proceeded to the room
of the gamblers, and suddenly opening the
door, stalked in, exclaiming in tremulous
voice, "Do you want to be shaved?"
Terrified at the sudden appearance of the
ghost the gamblers were thrown into the
greatest confusion in attempting to escape
1t; some jumping through the windows,
and others tumbling heels over head down
stairs. Our ghost, taking advantage of a
clear room, deliberately swept a large
amount of money from the table into the
basin and retired unseen to his room.
The next morning he found the house in
the utmost confusion. He was Immediately
asked if he rested well, to which he replied
In the affirmative. 'Well, no wonder"
said the landlord, ''for the ghost instead of
going to his own room, made mistake and
came to ours, frightened us out of the
room, and took away every dollar of our
money" The guest without being the
least suspected, quietly ate his breakfast,
and departed, many hundred dollars richer
by the adventure.