Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-01-07
THE GHOST RAISER.

Ny uncle Bailey who commenced his
commercial career very early in the pres,
ent century as a Bagman, will tell stories.
Among them he tells his single ghost sto-
ry so often, that ] am heartily tired Of it.
In self-defence, therefore, I publish it in
order that when the good kind old gen.
tleman next offers to bore us with ii. eve
rybody may say he knows it. I remem-
Der every word of it.
One fine autumn morning. about forty
years ago, | was travelling on horseback
from Shrewsbury to Chester; | felt toler-
ably tired, and was beginning to look out
for some snug way side inn, where l might
pass the night, when a sudden thunder.
storm came up. My horse terrified by
the lightning, fairly took the bride be-.
tween his teeth, and started off with me
at full gallop through the lanes and cross
roads until at length, / managed to pull
him just at the door of a neat country
inn. Well" thought l. g there was wit
in your madness, old boy, since it'brought
US to this comfortable refuge and alight-
ing, gave him in charge to the stout
farmers boy, who acted as hostler.
The inn kitchen which was the guest
room, was large, clean, neat and comfort.
able, very like the pleasing holstery de.
scribed by Isaac Walton. There were
several travellers already in the room
probably like myself waiting for supper.
| Joined the party. Presently, being sum.
moned by the hostess, we all sat down.
twelve in number, to a smoking repast Of
bacon and eggs, corned beef and carrots.
and stewed hair.
The conversation naturally turned on
the mishaps occasioned by the storm, of
which every one seemed to have his full
share. One had been thrown from bis
horse, another, driving in his gig, had
been upset in a. muddy dyke; all had got
a thorough wetting, and unanimously
agreed that it was dreadful weather.
regular witches Sabbath
Witches and ghosts prefer for their
Sabbath a fine moonlight to such weather
as thisln
These words were uttered in a solemn
tone, and with strange emphasis by one
OF the party. He was a tall, dark look.
Ing man, and / had set him down in nv
own mind as a travelling merchant or ped.
lar. My next neighbor was a gay, well
looking, fashionably dressed young man,
who bursting intu a peal Of laughter,
said:
You must know the manners and Gus
toms OF ghosts very well, to be able to
dy."
The first speaker giving him a dark
fierce look said:-" Yeung man speak not
SO lightly Of things above your compre-
tension"
DO you mean to imply there are such
things as ghosts?' asked the young man.
Perhaps there are" replied the other
II you had the courage to look at them"
The young man stood up, flushed with
anger. But presently resuming his seat,
he said:
That taunt should cost you dear, fit
were not such q foolish one.n
"A foolish onel" exclaimed the mer.
chant, throwing on the table a heavy
leathern purse, There are fifty guineas;
| am content to lose them, If before the
hour is ended, / do not succeed in show.
ing you, who are SO ~obstinately preiudic.
ed, the form of any Of your deceased
friends; and after you have recognized
him, you will allow him to kiss your lips.n
We all looked at each other. but nv
young n~eighbor, still in the same mockincl
manner, replied
You will do that, will you?"
yes" said the other I will stake
these fifty guineas, on condition that you
will pay a similar sum if you lose.n
After a short silence the young man
said gaily:
Fifty guineas, my worthy sorcerer,
are more than a poor collegian ever pos
,sessed; but here are FIVE, which, il you
are satisfied. / shall be most willing to-
wager
The other took up the purse, saying in
q contemptuous tone:
back.n
Here said /, are four guineas.
which / will stake on your wager
No sooner had | made this proposition
than the rest of the company, attracted
BY the singularity of the affair came for.
ward to lay down their money; and ia a
minute or two. the fifty guineas were sub
scrloed. The merchant appeared 60 sure
OF winning that he placed all the stakes
10 the Students hands, and prepared for
his experiment.
We selected for the experiment a small
summer house in the garden, perfectly IS.
solated and having no means Of exit bnti
. window and a door. which was carafnl.
" fastened after placing the Young mon
within. We put writing materials With.
IN on q small table, and took awav tba
candies. We remained outside. with the|
pedlar amongst us. In d low. solemn
voice, he began to chant the following
lines:
What riseth slow from the ocean caves,
And the stormy surf
The phantom pale sets his blackened foot
On the fresh green turf.
Then raising his voice solemnly, he
said: 4 You asked to see your old friend
Francis Vi!lers, who was drowned three
years ago off the coast Of South America;
what do you see?"
!" see" replied the student, a white
light rising near the window, but it has
no form-it is like an uncertain cloud.n
We the spectators remained profound
~ silent.