Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-06-11
THE HOST RAISER


that am heartily tired of il. In self-defence
therefore, publish the tale, in order that when
next the good, kind old gentleman, offers to
bore rs with 1t, everybody may say they know
1t remember every word Of it.
One line autumn evening, about forty years
age, was travelling on horseback from Shrews-
bury to Chester, | felt tolsrably tired, and was
beginning to look out for some snug wayside
inn where might pass the night when q sud
den and violent thunder storm came on. NV
horse terrified by the lightning, fairly took
the bride between his teeth, and started off
with me at full gallop through the lanes and
CROSSROADS, until at length 1 managed to pull
him up, just near the door Of q neat looking
country inn.
WE'LL" thought L, 90 there was wit in your
madness, old boy, since it brought US to this
comfortable refuge"
stout farmer boy, who acted IS hostler. The
inn kitchen, which was also the guest room.
was large, clean, neat and comfortable very
like the pleasant hostelry described by Isaak
walton. There were several travellers already
IN the room, probably, like myself, driven there
Tor shelter-and they were all warming them
selves by the blazing FIRE, while waiting for
supper joined the party. Presently, being
summoned by the hostess, we all sat down
twelve in number to a smoking repast of bacon
and eggs corned beef, and carrots, and stewed
hare
mishap occasionod by the storm, of which every
one seemed TO have his full share. One had
been thrown of his horse; another driving in a
gig had been upset into a muddy dyke; all had
got thorough wetting, and agreed unanimous
ly that 1t was dreadful weather. regular
witches sabbath"
Witches and ghosts prefer for their sabbath
q hne moonlight TO such weather as this ~
These words were uttered in a solemn tone
and with strange emphasis, by one Of the COM
pany. He was tall, dark looking man, and
had set him down in my own mind as travel
was gay well looking, fashionably dressed
young man, who, bursting into peal Of laugh
Ter said:
You must know the manners and customs
OF ghosts very well, to be able to tell that they
dislike getting wet or muddy"
look, said
Young man speak not 50 lightly Of things
above your comprehension
Do you mean to imply that there are such
things as ghosts"
l." Perhaps there are, if you had courage to
The young man stood up, flushed with anger
But presently resuming his seat, be said,
calmly:
g That taunt should cost you dear, if it were
not such q foolish one'
a foolish one" exclaimed the merchant
throTlng on the table heavy leathern purse.
Inere are fifty guineas am content to
to lose them, II, before the hour is ended, do
not succeed in showing you, who are so obstin-
ateiy preJudiced, the form Of any one of your
deceased friends; and If, after you have recog-
mixed him you will allow him to kiss your
lips. "
We all looked at each other; but nv young
nelgh6Or, still in the same mOcking manner,
replied
You will do that, will you?''
les, said the other, ~ will stake these
Fifty guineas, on the condition that you will
pay q similar sum if you lose''
After short pause, the young man said,
gaily:
Fifty guineas, my worthy sorcerer are more
than poor college sizar ever possessed; but
here are five, which, if you are satisfied, shall
be most willing to wager"
The other took up his purse saying in q con-
temptuous tone:
Young gentleman you wish to draw back "a
draw back exclaimed the student
Well, If had fifty guineas, you should see
whether / wish to draw back ~
Here" said j, 8 are four guineas which /
Will stake on your wager"
No sooner had / made this proposition than
the rest Of the company, attracted by the sim
guiarlty Of the affair, came forward to lay down
the money; and in q minute or two the ffty
guineas were subscribed The merchant ap-
peared 50 sure Of winning that he placed all the
money In the students hands, and prepared
for his experiment We selected for the pur-
pose a small summer-house in the garden, per-
fectly isolated, and having no means of exit but
window and a door, which we carefully fast
ened, after placing the young man within. We
put writing materials on a small table in the
summer-hOuse, and took away the candles
We remained outside with the pedler among u.s.
ln low solemn voice be began to chant the
following lines:
90 What riseth Slow from the ocean caves
And the stormy surf,
The phantom pals sets his blackened foot,
On the fresh green turf"
Then raising bis voice soiemnly he said:
You asked TO see your friend, Francis VII
lisrs, who was drowned three years ago of the
coast Of South America; what do you see?''
81 see, " replied the student, :" white light
arising near the window; but it has no form; it
is like an uncertain cloud"
We-ths spectatOrs-rsmained profoundly
silent
"Are you afraid?" asked the merchant in
loud voice
II am not, replied the student firmly.
After a moments silence, the pedler stamped
three times on the ground and sang:
=" And the phantom white, whose clay-co face
Was once so fair,
Dries with his shroud his clinging vest
And his sea-tossed hairh
Once more the solemn question:
- You who would see revealed the mysteries
Of the tOmb-uhat do you see now2''
The student answered in a calm voice but
like that of man describing things they
passed before him.
Il see the cloud uoking the form of phsn-
tom; its head is covered with long veil-it
stands still 80
Are you afraid
"I am not -
We looked At each other in horror-stricken
silence, while the merchant raising his arms
above his head chanted in a sepulchral voice :
And the phantom said as he rose from the wave
He shall know me in sooth!
will 60 10 my friend, gay, smiling, and fond
As in our first youth,''
What do you see '" said he
g See the phantom adj ance he lifts his veil
It's Francis Villiers he approaches the ia
BILE! he writes-'tis his signature
Are You afraid 90
A fearful moment Of silence ensued then the
student replied, but in an altered voice