The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1857-03-13
A GHOST STORY.
BY HAZEL GREEN, ESQ.

living on the Upper Mississippi at the time,
but that makes no difference. I'll tell you
how it was.
One night, about l2 o'clock, heard some
one piping at my door. "Who's thereT
| asked.
"Slosier," replied voice from without al
thought I'D stop and see if YOU wouldn't 90
aud watch the coal pit for me till morning.
| am not very we'll, and having been up all
last night, think had better try TO get II
little sleep"
Now | knew Mosier very well-knew he
was burning charconl 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 upl jumps, hauls
on my clothes, and was ready TO be off in q
few minutes.
"You will not be afraid to stay by YOURSELF
will you, Tm?" asked Mosier, as we were
about separating, for he lived still further
down the river.
"Afraidr' exclaimed |. "No, what should
| be afraid of! have never yet seen any.
thing worse than myself"
"Oh, did not mean to say that you were
cowardly, Tim, but thought you might be
lonesome, perhaps; and if you thought 30,
that had better wake up the Dutehman, who
is staying AT your house, aud try to get him
to go with yOn."
assured him that | needed no company,
and 80 started for the coal.pt. The night
was very dark, and | must confess that did
feel a little squeaInish, but ! could not tell
why. There was the grave of an Indian by
the side of the path WHICH must travel to
reach the coa-pt, and ii had been reported
that wonderful sights had been seen there
Perhaps this was the cause Of my unpleasant
feelings.
tried to whistle my spirits up, but it was
all no go. The nearer approached the dread
I'd spot, the worse | felt. When ! had reach
ed the cliff of rocks around which should
turn in few PAGES, and be right ut the Indian
grave, ] felt my hat raise on my head, and
then il seemed that myriads of little demons
were dancing trough my hair, and playing u
leap-frog up and down my shoulders, and
humming queer noises in my ears. stopped.
and began to think seriously of beating a re-
treat Just then the fair Image of Jane Elz.
abeth Eivira Mosier fitted across my fancy,
and said to myself, "rhis 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
10 see Jane Elizabeth Eivira, he'd kick me
out of the house; besides" reasoned |, "what
have Scent What kind OF Nh excuse could
| make? No Sir rec, I'll go through or burst
biler. il there's anything at the old lndi-
an grave, I'll not see it, for wont look that
way"
Thus saying, started on at rapid pace.
loA kaa
eyes bent on the ground, had nearly passed
| the grave, when n bright light blazed across
the path Just before me. Before ] had time
to think, looked up, and oh great Jupiter
what a sight A monster with head about
the size OF hai-bushe measure, was stand
ing upon the Indian grave. Its eyes rs large
ny cOcoa.nuts, were rolling in its great head,
and garing frighliully ut me. From between
its huge teeth bright jets of fire flashed and
blnzed across my path, like streaks Of minla
lure lightning. In fact, its entire head seem.
ed % be one great red ball of fire, with small
pieces of the sun set in it for eyes.
While | stood gazing, completely supefied
with horror, il made low bow to me and
then raising itself erect, il shook its head and
ratified its teeth together most trightfully.-
| Then | lancied thui | saw it take a lew steps
towards where was standing. This rather
reused me to n sense of action, and In the
next instant was bobbng along down the
river bank II little swiiter thnn it WAS usual
for foomen to pass that way At every leap
imagined il was grabbing at my coat tail, for
when started, thought heard it right at
my heels. Reaching home, did not wait to
open the door, but throwing my weight
against it, bursed it in. The Dutchman, who
was sleeping up stairs, heard the rippet, and
surprising the house wns besi"ged came down
with chair drawn, and crying at the top OF
his Voice:
"Robbers tiefs murier Robbers! liefsl
Inrhins! Oh, mine Goi"
Seeing nobody bu, me, he settled down.
All in the family were aroused. told nv
story in MS few words as possible. Some
believed it--others laughed nj me, the Dutch
man in particular. tie said "vos Won cow
ardly poy," and got fright" al my own shad-
ow. That there was no such thing MS n
ghost, aud that he would willingly 90 right
up to anything of the kind that could be
shown him.
"You would not have went up to this"
said, still trembling.
"Pesure would Shust 60 back wild me,
and let me see der blace, an I'll show you
dcre's notin' dere."
refused ut first, but being urged bv the
family, and thinking of Jane Ellznnelh EIvirn
Mosirr. the coal pit, and of being kicked out
of the house by the old man, reluctantly con-
sphtpd.
We started back: the Dntchman casing
along about his bravery, and about how he
had unrnveled many ghosial mystery, ard
trembling from the effects of my fright, but
saving nothing. In due time we reached the
cliff.
"Now. ius, around this rock is where |
saw it," snd I, stopping and turning back
for the path was not broad enough for US to
walk side by side, and he was following close
at my heels.
"0h, 90 on" said he, "it makes nothing
Tsh not afraid OF ter hfe."
We went ON. We turned around the rock
looked, and there il vns blazing and flashing
inst ns I had seen il before. turned to the
Dutcbman. to see what effect IL produced
uuon him, when 10! he WIS not there A
glance down the path revealed him streaking
| i like n comet around the rock. This fright
rn,d me worse than ever, and 80 set out
after him M swi.. as my locomotive powers
would carry me. Being rather the swiitest
runner of the two, ] passed him just as We
renched the mouth Of the long lane which led
10 our house, lie was fairly hoeing il down,
and pruntng. every jump, loud enough TO
have been heard hundred Yards.
I had not been long in the lead before
b.nrd kind Of humping and iusseling noise
lust behind me, and in the next instant the