The weekly Anglo-African. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1859-1861, 1860-03-03
A GHOST STORY.

roads of the best. Night, cold and damp,
overlook us eight or ten miles from home,
but only a short distance from Judge
Blanks. Knowing that we should find
outside the Judges door the latchstring,
and inside warm welcome, warm sup
per, and warm fire, besides beds which
we could warm for ourselves, we unhesi-
tatingly consigned ourselves to his hospi-
talities Supper being over, and our per-
sons seated according to our several tastes
in semi-circle before an old-fashioned
blaze, we were just in the mood to enjoy
the entertainment of our hosts converse
tional gifts. Among other things, he re-
lated the following unique tale, which we
unanimously agreed to put in print. Said
the Judge substantially as follows:
Years ago we had in our house sweet
little child about four years old, the object,
of course, of very tender affection. But
sickness laid his hand upon it. Remedies,
promptly resorted to, all proved in vain.
Day after day the roses faded from the
cheek, and the fire in the eyes burned low;
and at length death closed those eyes, and
sealed the lips forever, and we learned by
trying experience how intense a darkness
follows the quenching of one of those little
lights of life.
The time rolling steadily on brought us
at length to the hour appointed for com
hitting our treasure to the ordinarily sure
custody of the grave. The friends assem-
bled, the customary services were held, the
| farewell taken, and the little form securely
shut beneath the well-screwed coffin lid,
and in due time the grave received its trust.
We looked on and saw the earth thrown
in, the mound raised above, and the plates
of sod neatly adjusted into green shelter
ing roof, and then wendell our way back
to our desolate home. Evening came on
and wore away, My wife had gone into
an adjoining room to give some directions
to a servant, and |, untitled by the scenes
of the day for aught else, had just laid my
head upon my pillow in our room upon the
lower floor of the house, when l heard a
shrek, and in a moment my wife came fly
ing into the room, and, springing upon the
bed behind me, exclaimed:
"See there our child our childw
Raising my head, my blood froze within
me and the hair upon my head stood up,
as saw the little thing, in grave clothes,
with open but manifestly sightless eyes,
and pale as when we gave it the last kiss,
walking slowly towards us Had l been
alone-had not the extreme terror of my
wife compelled me to play the mani
should have leaped from the window and
bed without casting a look behind.
But not daring to leave her in such ter
ror, arose, set down in chair, and took
the little creature between my knees. A
cold sweat covered my body, and / gazed
with feelings unutterable upon the object
before me. The eyes were open in a va
cant stare; the flesh was colorless, cold,
and clammy; nor did the child seem to
have the power either of speech or of hear
ing, as it made no attempt to answer any
Of our questions. The horror of our minds
was the more intense as we had watched
our child through its sick less and death,
and had been but a few hours before eye
witnesses of It's i..;erment.
While gazing upon it and asking in my
thoughts, "What can this extraordinary
providence mean2-for what can it be
sent2" the servant girl crept to the door,
and after time suggested, sit looks like
Mrs. -'s childT Now, our next
neighbor had child nearly the same age
as ours, and its constant companion. But
what could bring it to our house at that
hour and in such plight Still the sng-
: gestion had operated as a powerful soda
tive upon our excited feelings, and render
ed us more capable of calm reflection; and
after a time we discovered in truth that the
grave clothes were night clothes, and the
corpse somnambulist, and it became man.
ifest that it was the excitement attending
the loss and burial of its playmate, work
ing upon the child's mind in sleep, to which
we were indebted for this untimely and
startling visit.
Wiping away the perspiration, and TAX
ing few long breaths, l prepared to coun-
termarch the little intruder back to its for
Saken bed. Back we went, the child keep
ing at my side, though still asleep. 1t had
walked quite distance across the damp
grass. found the door of its home ajar,
just as the fugitive had left it, and sleep
ing parents unconscious of its absence
The door creaked as pushed il, open, and
wakened the child, who looked wildly
around moment, and then popped into
bed
Now, had it not been for my wife, as |
have said, should, on the appearance of
the apparition, have made leap Of uncom-
mon agility from that window, and after
flight of uncommon velocity for a person
of my age and dignity, should have been
ready to take oath in any court either in
Christendom or Heathendom that l had
seen ghost.