Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-12-10
The eye Of glass had met

i .s more PaercinS Inc eye OF glass had met
elbows from the table, the ill-looking old bag
moved towards the empty CRATE, and began 10
scratch the wall above the chimney piece, ut
tering at the Same time low, wailine sound,
which was the moro horrible from being ac-
eompanied BY no corresponding effect in the
face, which was again expressio sless, and com
pletely oorpse-like. Samson Brown stepped
up to the old lady and examined the wall over
ner mead, STOPPING for that purpose till his
o1rn almost rested upon her antiq aa.ed cap.
"Ha. see," said he, Chat spruce piece of
paper has been pasted on after the rest allow
ms-snd taking hold of loose corner of the
paper ne pulled it of, thus disclosing . small
aperture in the wall, at the sight of which the
ghost, rushing from the hearth, few about the
room with the most frantic gestures, till stlast,
apparently exhausted, il squatted down in o
corner, repeating the low wailing noise.
Compose yourself, madam" said Samson
Brown, and taking from the recess miniature
portrait and piece Of folded paper tied up
with narrow green ribbon, be placed them on
the table at which he resumed his seat.
The miniature represented lovely girl Of
about twenty years Of age, with her hair
dressed after the fashion. of hundred years
back. While Samson Brown was examining it
with all the admiration of which his mind as
capable, the ugly old ghost rose from the cor
ner and pointed its foreGnger with great earn
estness, first at the picture, and then at the pit
OF its own stomach. As Samson Brown had a
friend who often allowed him q seat in his
opera box gratis, he was rather an adept in
the Language of the ballet
"Do you mean" said he, 'that this is por.
The ghost nodded.
"Then, )" said Samson Brown, "ysn must have
altered confoundedly as You advanced in years
The expression assumed by the ghost on the
occasion OF this remark was certainly ungenial.
Every feature was distorted with rags, the
CLASSY eyes looked like red Goals, the skinny
night hand took sweeping gesture, and for a
moment Samson Brown felt as if he had placed
bis head in violent draught He received a
spectral box on the ear
Il see, he observed, the cuffs of o ghost.
like hard words, break no bones"
Laying aside the portrait, he united and
opened the folded paper, when the worst speli-
ing and the worst handwriting he ad ever seen
were revealed to his astonished eyes. Every
crime that could possibly be perpetrated by NOR
tai IN transmitting his thoughts to paper with
the aid OF pen, was apparent in that vile man
uscript. There were adjective s beginning with
cspitai', and little ii" to denote the rst
person; and tho verb "to write" commenced
with an "r," while certain rights that had bee
violated were spelled wright, with Nv" Even
Samson Brown could not avoid some thing like
sensation Of awe when he saw how MANY sius
against every law Of grammar, orthography.
and caligraphy had Been committed within the
confined space of single sheet of paper.
'Good heavens, what G. fist" he exclaimed
Then addressing the ghost, who had returned
suikIly into the corner, he said. els this your
handwriting, madam ?"
The ghost nodded.
ibid you learn writing at SCHOOL,"
The ghos, nodded
And your parents paid the schooling bills
regularly ?"
The ghost nodded.
Then, said Samson Brown, ''if ghosts are
condemned to walk the earth on account e
wrongs committed in their lifetime l think YOU
must very often meet the ghost of your writing
TO BE CONTINUED