Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-04-04
an gutsrsstina Storp.
From The National Magazine.
UNCLE JERR9'S GHOST.

III mas Deen saiu that all children
are naturally credul,us. do not be-
lieye il. At least It WIS not so with
me. From my infancy / have been
inclined to slxepticism. aud have had a
stronger propensity to doubt than to
believe on almost every subject. l
was especially incredulous with regard
To ghosts, about whom, as suppose
Is common with children, | heard
many narratives. said to be well-au.
thenticated. But never put any
faith in them, aud as grew up TO
manhood l was in the habit Of treat
ing the subject with ridicule. A
friend Of mine. whom | shall call
Smith, that being a name by which
his real cognomen may be most sue
cessfully concealed. was on the con-
trary, from the manhood, credulous.
aud, | may say. almost superstitious,
especially on the subject of visitors
from the unseen world.
II is now more than quarter Of a
century since Smith and l were fellow
students at a large boarding school,
We were inseperable friends, and
slept in the same bed. He was a
troublesome bed fellow, and frequently
disturbed my slumbers by starting up
in his dreams, which were almost al
ways about ghosts. remember very
distinctly many Of the poor fellows
experiences, one Of which l win re-
late for the readers edifcation.
On one occasion our teacher gave
us tea-party, to which were invited
most Of the boys and girls in the
neighbcrhood, Cakes and confection-
airy, almonds and raisins. oranges,
kisses, notices. and other good things
were provided in abundance. The
master seemed determined to make
some amends for the short commons
on which we had been kept, and, as l
have thought since. to impress upon
the villagers an enlarged idea Of his
liberality, and Of the happiness Of the
young gentlemen and ladies who
were so fortunate at his bountiful ta-
bic. The evening spased delightfully."-
in eating and drinking, in romping,
and in playing blind-man's buff, hunt
the slipper, pillow and keys, and va
riety Of other games, in which the
master condescended to assist: and
even the mistress, remarkably sharp
visaged lady, gave us instruction.
o, it was a merry time, you may be
sure! and no one enjoyed it better than
my ghost-ridden chum.
remember distinctly how he COM
piled with the directions given to the
owner Of a jack-knife, when, to re-
deem that pawn, be was directed, be-
ing fine and not superfne. to bow to
the wittiest, kneel to the prettiest,
and kiss the one he loved best.
Smith bowed to the madam, whcreat
We all set up a loud laugh; but he
knew what he was about, and then
knelt with face Of wonderful gravity
cunning Smith-to. the madame's S
red-haired daughter Jerusbs. AT
this too some of the village girls
snickered, but we, members Of the
academy, knew better, and looked
grave. as il we really agreed in the
opinion that Jerusha was the the belle
Of the evening. There was a momen-
tary pause, and all were eagerly
watching to see whom he could Sc
lect as the one he loved best, for
Smith was a fne-looking fellow, then
almost fifteen. and his father was said
to be rich. To the surprise Of us all,
he selected for this special favora little
dumpy girl, whom almost everybody
had neglected, and upon whose plump
cheek he implanted rousing kiss.
These details are perhaps Of little
interest 70 you, oil fogy; but TO us
they were as momentous and and i'm
portant as you choose to deem the
TOM -fooleries Of Congress in pretend.
ing to elect speaker, and wasting
Tina day after day on a matter ol
about as much consequence. Like all
good things in this lower sphere the
party cvme to an end. 1t was about
eleven o'clock. and as nobody came
for Jemima, SO was the dumpy CIR
called. } Smith. with some little reluc
tance. agreed to see her home. ]
had no call for my services in this
line, and Immediately went to bed
where ] soon fell into n dreamles.
sleep. How long l slept l know not
/ was suddenly aroused by violent
shaking OF the bed; aud the frs
sounds that met my ears were groan,
and CALCULATIONS from my chum
whom | found laying by my side, anC
bathed in a most profuse sweat.
"Why, Smith, saidI. "what il
the matter? are you sic1?"
NO." said he; "but-o dear, {
dear, such night as have had. an,
such a chase. There's been ghos
after mcp' s.
"a ghost" said /; "nonsense,-- =
There ~ no such thing
"Isn't there?" said he. "On,
chased me all through the graveyard
aud / think he's in the room now
Do you see anything"
During this short coloquy. Smitl
had his face buried nndor the quill
and ] found he had got into bed with
oyt undressing himself. | jumped nj
and succeeded in striking light
which somewhat allayed my compan
ions trepidation. lie sat up in tn
bed. and gazed wildly around tn
room.
"Iie isn't there" he said; "but d
lock the door,
"That's Of no use, saidll, "for if
be really ghost he can come thrc
the key-hole." To please him, how
ever. turned the key, and in th
course Of the night. for neither Of u
fell asleep until tho gray dawn 9
morning streamed through the win
dow. he related in broken snatche
his wonderful adventure.
II seems that after leaving Jemim
at her home, and while passing th