Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-08-21
EVENING. STAR.
UNCLE BENJAMIN,s GHOST

=
In mixed company the conversation
chanced to turn upon ghosts. Most, o
the company stoutly disbelieved II
their existence altogether. There was
however, one grave looking stranger
dressed in funeral black, who, though h,
acknowledged he had never encountered 4
ghost, had implicit faith in their exist
ence. ''..-- -. -aF b2-s,.t-3 4 :
The dispute waxing warm, it was de
cided to collect the opinions Of all pres
ent. At length it came to Uncle Benja
mln'S turn. -tH7sG' - H'.inS ;:re.rL -
sDo you believe in ghosts, Uncle Ben.
jamin2 2'' !. - -.
do," said he, "and for the best O
all reasons, because have seen one." o..
g Indeed" said the funeral stranger
pricklng up his ears, "would you be KIND
enough to favor us with an account o.
the circumstances 2" l-F -.5...s i.g
''O, do tell, Uncle Benjamin." was
echoed on all sides. ~ ,r
Thus adjured, he settled himself into
an attitude, and commenced. ID
q 1t was perhaps thirty years ago when
business called me to a town some TWEEN.
ty miles distant from my own. There
were no cars in those days, and | was
obliged to hire horse and chaise belong
Ing. to neighbor. .-.--. ...-.....
'sBeing detained to later hour than
| anticipated, it was past twelve o'clock
when | got back with the horse and chaise
to the house Of the neighbor of whom
had borrowed it. Having left it, | pro-
ceeded on foot towards my own house,
which was perhaps mile further on.
Beng, as you may readily suppose,
very much fatigued, l considered " neither
lit would not be possible to shorten my
walk. There was a solitary path across
the fields which would diminish the dis.
tance fully one half. There was one oh.
lection to it, however. 1t led through a
graveyard.
,.sThis thought, however did not for a
moment deter me. was not shpersti-
'tiolls. l had always laughed at the idea
of ghosts, and considered them mere fig
ments of disordercd brain. But | was
doomed-howevcr, | will not anticipate.
l got as far as the graveyard without
meeting any hindrance, and with bold,
confident air, leaped the stone wall which
served as its boundary, and found myself
at once within the precincts Of the dead.
Say what you will" continued uncle
Benjamin, his voice becoming deeper and
more solemn, "there is feeling of awe,
scarcely to be resisted, which steals over
one, when he finds himself in the gloom
of midnight surrounded with the relics
of frail mortality, and considers that ere
many years be shall be as those around
him."
"But the ghost" suggested the stern
looking gentleman, who was apparently
very much interested in the denouement.
Il was coming to that directly" was
the reply. -... -..c.. -. ...
LAS said, l jumped over the stone
wall, and proceeded, Notwithstanding a
slight, feeling of awe with tolerable bold
ness, till [ had got, l should think into
about, the centre of the yard"
cit was very dark night. There was
no moon, but few stars dimly twink
ling in the distance, to light up the dark
ness of the way. -.-....-. ..........
"At this point, from behind a monu-
ment which stood beside the path, there
suddenly strode forth figure in glostiy
white. The arms were extended, and
one of the hands contained something,
but what it was could not discover. y.
"I | shallneyer forget the horrors of that
moment A sensation of freezing terror
crept over me, and paralysed all my
limbs though would have given worlds
to have moved from the spot, there Lwas
fixed, and all the while al. FIVE feet dis
tance from me stood that sepuichral fig
ure. ..i- sa7s. -6- or.F -...
Uncle BENJAMIN paused, as if overcome
by the recollectlons of that fearful night,
and every eye was bent upon hlm with
eager interest. -...~ .,-,.,,,.. ,-,--,., ,-s..-.
The sad-looking gentleman gazed about
him in triumphant at this corroboration
of his opinions. -.-.-.... -.
, Proceed, for heavens sake!'' he ex-
claimed. -'.' 90 H'
Thus we STOOD" said uncle Benja-
min, looking at each other, for will
not say how long. 1t might not have
been two minutes, yet to me it seemed
an e:enitys At myth L could bear it
no longer, but burst forth imperiously-
"In Heaven't name, who, and what
are youa" al u. s7n,:a.=..a e. .s.l...
And what did it say g queGied the
sad looking gentleman, sneryously pushing
his chair towards Uncle Benjamin. .; d.
at slowly: turned its gaze iull upon
me. and with an uynearthly laugh uttered
aLor, mister, you amt afraid Of me;
now, are you z I'm only Polly Henshaw,
cone out to pick SOME yarbs for my Old
man, what's too sick with the cholic !"
The spell was broken. The sober
gentleman sprung to his feet, and amid
a shout of irepressible mirth winch
which shook the very rafters, called for
his hat, and left with all possible e1pedi-
ton. - a:g,r f. g ,s1 Fl ;. Asa ..J..sct
REEPING MILK FROM SOURING