Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1854-06-22

''When man fall ihay love company bu!
when they rise, they love to stand alone
like yonder brick, and see others PROSTATE
and below Them"
A RACE WITH A GHOST.
A COUNTRY LEGEND.
BY H. MILNER KLApP.
| "Grim reader did you ever see ghost 20
| "No; but I've heard -
Be it known by these presents, that al
this very identical epoch at which we
flourish, the valley of Branch Creek, .ri-
bu,ary TO the Perkiomen, is actually baun-
ted by the ghos. of lighl-horseman.-
Such, at least, is the report Of Squire Leder-
ach and Doctor Helaelch,regger, who are
both willing to back their asserlions,-not
by a wager, they are much too chary Of
pence for ,hat-but by the legend which |
am about to relate. shall give it Uerbatina
word for word, without the leas, flush Of
coloring-in fact, just as they are willing
to }vouch it occurred.
The light-horseman, who is nevertheless
weighly enough to engage the serious at
,en,ion of these worthy citizens, is, it seems,
fond of goloping on a moonlight night,
from one ridge Of hills 10 the other, bu. is
most frequently met with in the middle Of
the valley, near spot where an old ruin
Gus bridge crosses the creek. The doctor
had previously encountered him more than
once on the roads, when paying late visit
10 his patient, on a calm summer night, and,
if his word is TO be taken in testim ony, had
.rolted his ancient Rosinante-which not
'slhe buried majesty of Denmark" itself
could frgh'en out of her pace-side by
side with The phanlom's nag, in quite So
ciable yet silen. way. He describes the
ghost as tall man, dressed in a troopers
uniform, rather worse for the wear, end
mounted on a very pale steed, which, pro-
badly in the flesh, had been dark, iron
gray. The Ghosts face is almost conceal
ed by his white beard and nous tache, bu
he sits his horse in true military style, and
wears long sword at his side, aud holsters
al his saddle bow. On his head is brass
mounted helmet, with white hoise-haiI
plume hanging over the left shoulder. Oh
course, he never speaks, unless spoken TO-
and then replies in gruf, hollow voice.
challenging you TO ride race with him
for quar-. of schnspps. Nobody had been
bold enough to take the goblu's challenge
heretofore, but wild Joe Deadorout had of.
ten boas,ed over his cups, that if he ever
had the fortune to hear the offer made, and
was allowed odds in the race, he would
not "back down." Those who knew Joe
bes, said he would keep his word, mas
! much as he had never been known 10 lea,
: anything but hard work, from The time he
=, was able to face the turkey-cock and turf
the flank Of the gsnder.
; However, it was just afler severe pollt
ical contest in the township Of Lower Sal
/ ford, one night, the doctor laid his head or
2 his pillow, and under feint of severe al,
tack of somn otal gia-,he meaning of which
: he was slow to render, but which he hat
!; often made use of before to ensure goot
rest, being as he honestly declared, subjec
to attacks of this mysterious disease-jns'
| repeat, as he was slipping into soun
J sleep a tremendous pounding at the door
;, and q shout like a war-whoop, caused hin
;, to leap out of bed with angry alacrl!y.
e "I,'s wild Joe, and nobody else,
thought he. "I1sng the rascal !! If ! don
0 answer him he'll storm the village, and bea
;, the door in. Hlllo ras ischt2'' he in
:; qured, raising the window.
il "ITas ischt ?'' echoed Joe, ''Yaw wei
: that's good one; der dpgfsl ischt 10 pa
r the grosdaddy is gone dodt."
e "Yaw-weIl if he is dead what do yo
e wan. with me % said The doctor with som
: wrath.
! To this challenge to metaphysical discus
y sion, wild Joe made no reply, but raIsIn
: another Indian shout pitched into the panel
r with hands and feet if resolute 10 ehec
II a breach. This crude sort oi reasoning
!! however, was very ineligible to the doc
: tor, and accordingly, 10 save bis door from
$ compound fracture which might battle
: consultation Of carpenters, and his rePuta
e ton from serious scandal, he desired Joe t.
desist, and he would dress and COM
down.
: "Be quick them answered Joe, ant
t forthwith began TO try his hand in a CO
{ que,lish way q, the posts OF the porch, part
! " to relieve his impotence, aud partly t,
give the belesguercd disciple OF Galen
$ hin, ,ha. however slow he nigh, be at labor
! or a, driving a bargain, he was strongly IL
= favor of quick work and short !ruces tha
j night.
e A, las, The door slowly opened, an
o swell. Joe,'' said the doctor, in an sPpre
hensive, inquirus sort ol way.
II "h's not well; so get your saJdle-bag
y and jump on my mare.