Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1857-03-28
From the Spirit Of the Times.
A GHOST STORY.
BY HAZEL GREEN, ESQ.

anything like a GHOST said Timothy
Tyes. 'and then was frightened certain.
was living on The upper Mississippi at
the time, but that makes no difference.
! Ill tell how il was.
One night, about 10 o'clock, | heard
some one rapping at my door. who S
there | asked,
'Mosier,' replied voice from without;
Il thought I'd stop and see if yon wouldn't
90 and watch The coal, pit for me till morn
ing. | am not very well, and having
been up all last night. think | had better
tIy to &c! lltrle sleep.
Now know Mosier very well-knew
he was burning charcoal about half mile
up the river; and not only that, but knew
he had real pretty girl. and that had
taken great notion to her. So up |
jumps, hauls on my clothes, and was
ready to be off in few minutes.
You will not be afraid TO stay by your
self, will you Tim 2 asked Mosier, as
we were about separating, for he lived
still further down the river.
Afraid y exclaimed |. No what should
| be afraid of? | have never yet seen
anything worse than myself
oh, did not mean TO say you were
cowardly, Tim, bu. thought you might
be lonesome, perhaps; and if you thought
so, that | had better awake up the Dutch
man, who is staying at your house, and
trv him t0 90 with you.'
assured him that | needed no COM
pany, and so | started for the oal-pit.
The night was very dark, and must con-
(ess that did feel little squeamish, but
| could not tell why. There was the
grave of an Indian by the side of the path
which must travel to reach the coal-pi
and il had been reported that wonderful
sights had been seen there. Perhaps this
was the cause of my unpleasant feelings.
tried 10 whistle my spirits up but II
was all no 90. The nearer | approached
the dreaded spot, the worse felt. When
had reached the cliff Of rocks around
which should turn IN a few PAGES, and
right at the Indian grave. felt my hat on
my head, and then il seemed that myriads
of little demons were dancing through my
hair, anG playing at leap-lrog up and down
my back and over my shoulders, and hum
ming queer noises in my ears. stopped
and began TO think seriously OF beating d
retreat Just then the fair image of Jane
Elizabeth Elvira Mosier fitted across my
fancy, and said TO myself This will
never do Go back ,and let the old mans
coal-pit burst out and burn up! Why, it
would settle the hash with me forever
The next time I'd 60 and see Jane Eliza
beth Elvira, he'd up and kick me out of
the house; BESIDES reasoned l, what
have seen! What kind of an excuse
could | make? No Stree, Ill GO
through or 'bust bier.' If there's any
thing at the old Indians grave, I'll not see
it, for | won't look that way
Thus saying, | started at rapid pace.
The rocks were rounded, and nearly pas
sed The grave, when bright light blazed
across the path jus. before me. Before |
had time to think, | looked up, and oh !
great Jupiter what sight. 4 monster
with head about the size of a half bushel
measure, was standing upon the Indian
grave. lis eyes as large as cocoa-nuts,
were rolling in its great heal, and glaring
frigh,fu!ly at me. From between its huge
teeth bright jet of fire flashed and blazed
across my path, like streaks of miniature
lightning. In fact, It's entire head seemed
to be one great red ball of fire, with small
pieces of the sun set in il for eyes.
While stood gazing, completely stupe-
fed with horror, il made low bow TO
me, then raising itself erect, it shook lis
head and ratlled its teeth together most
IfrghtfuIIy. Then | fancied that Isaw it
take few steps towards where was
standing This rather reused me TO a
sense of action, and in the next instant /
was bobbng along down the river bank
little swifler than il was usual for footmen
10 pass that way. AT every leap | i'm
agined it was grabbing al my coat-tall, for
when | started, thought | heard il at my
heels. Reaching home, | did not wait TO
open the door, but throwing my weight
against it, bursted it in. The Ouchman,
who was sleeping up stairs, hearing the
rippet, and supPoslng the house was be-
sieged, came down, with a chair drawn,
and crying al the top of his voice:
sRobbers! leis murter Robbers In
chins Oh, mine Got
Seeing nobody but me, he settled down.
All in the family were reused. | told my
story in as few words as possible. Some
believed it--others laughed al me, and the
Dulchman in particular. He said 'vos
Won cowarlly poy, and 'got fright at my
own shadow. That there was no such
thing as ghost, and that he would will
lingiy go right up 10 anything OF the Kind
that could be shown him.
Il d, =