Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1859-08-06
Bill Wilson and the Ghost.
nY MAL. InSEpu HOMES

seed it fust, and they told such terrible
tales about it that the wimmin and child
ren was afraid to go to bed in the dark for
month, and you couldn't get nggcr to
go outside the door after dark for all Geor-
gy. Ut was monstrous talk for more'n
ten miles around the settlement, and eve
rybody was anxious to find out whose ghost
it was, and what it wanted. Old Mr.
Walker, what had been cheated out of all
his property by the lawyers, hadn't been
dead grcat while, and as he was a mon
strous curious old chap any how, the gene
raj opinion was that the old man had come
back for something.
With that, sum of them offered to bet
him five dollars that he dasn' 30 inside the
graveyard alone after dark
dun" scs Bill, "plank UP your mon
cy. But I'm to go jest as I've u mind to-"
Yes" says the boys.
And shoot the ghost cf sect ?"
says he.
"To be sure
"And I'm to have bottle of old jim
maky to keep me company 2"
eyes" says all of en-
agreed" ses Bill. "Put up the
stakes in Mister iEarlcy's hamds
The money was stakcd and tho business
all fixed in nc time.
Now" Sos Bill, give me a pair o'pis-
tolls, aud let me load en- myself, and Iii
show you whether I'm afraid o'ghostS"
Captain Skinners" big hoss pistols was
sent for, and Bill loaded ono of 'cm up to
the muzzlc, and after gcttin bottle o
Ticker in his pocket, and takin' two or three
D., l., 1 1
till twas dark Everybody in town was
wide awake to see how the things would
turn out, and some of the wimmin was
monstrous conSarncd for Bill, for fccr he'd
git carried off by the ghost shulc cnuff
just about dark Bill set out for the
graveyard with hull heap o'fcllcrs, who
went to see him to the gate.
Look out now, Bill-you know ghosts
is monstrous dangers things" sed the boys
as they were bou, leavin' him.
Never you mind" scs Bill. But re-
member I'm to shoot"
Yes ~ scs all of en-.
Bill marched into the middle of the
graveyard, singin' "Shiny Night" as loud
as he could but monstrous out of tune. and
tuck seat on one of the tombstoncs
The graveyard in Pmcvillc stands on
the side of hill abouta quarter of mile
from town The fence is monstrous high
rail and post fence, and the lot Is a toll able
big one, extending good vase down the
hollcr on t'othcr side, whar ther aint no
graves.
The nitv was purity dark, and Bill tho't
1t was very cold so he kept takin' drinks
every now and then to keep himself warm
aud singin' all the sam tunes lie know d
to keep awake. Sometimes he thought lie
hcerd somcthin', and then Ills hair would
sort o crawl up, and he would grab hold
of his pistols, what he held cooked in his
hand, but twas so dark lie couldn't sec no
thin ten steps off. Two or three times nc
felt like backin' out, but lie know'd that
would not do so he would take anothcrd drink
and strike up another tune, Bimeby he
got 50 sleepy that he couldn't tell whether
he was singing Lucy Neal" or the I" PRO
mise Land" and bi,heby he only sung
word here and thar, 'thout bcn' very par
ticular wot song it belonged TO-
lie was so 'obminablc sleepy and corncd
together, that he couldn't keep awake, and
in spite of his fears, he began to nod a
little. e.
Just then Bill SnccZcd.
"Ugh!' scs Bill What s that 2"
But he soon cum to the conclusion that
he must have been sncc2in' in his sleep,
and after sccin' that his pistol was safe, and
| takin' another drink, he was soon in the
land of Nod again
Bout this time old Mr. Jenkins gang
of gotcs cum out of the thickct, whar they
had cum thro' the gap in the fence, and
with old white Bcshazar in the lead, cum
smcllin' about whar Bill was watchin' for
the ghost
Old l,clchazar is one of the outdacious-
est old rascals to butt in all Gcorey, and
/ sccin' Bill sctIin' thar all alone by himself,
he goes up and smells at him Bill nod
dcdto himin his sleep. Old Bcshazar step
back little ways and bill nodded agin
The old fellow tuck it for banter, sure
enough, and back he went few steps, and
rasin' up on his hind legs loctle, he took
deliberate aim and sprung, takin' Bill right
tween the eyes, and knocking him and his
pistol both off ut the same time.
Bang goes the pistol, .roarin out on the
still night air like young five FOUNDER. so
everybody heard it.; and the next mint
You might have hearn Bill hollcr, ",NIur-
der Murder Lord, preserve me- p' for
moro than mile.
The hall town was out of bed in min
it, and every body that could go was out to
the graveyard as quick as they could git
thar. r..
Thar was Bill Wilson layin' sprawled