The register. (Monroe, La.) 185?-1861, 1860-02-23
- For the Register.
A Ghost Story.

HAM.-"Angclsan ministers ofgracc defend us!
Be thou spirit of health, or goblin damned
Bring with thee airs from Heaven OF blasts
from htll''--Shahespsare. !
History has failed to record the date of the
first ghost or to give any account of the visit.
Vague tradition even remains silent; SO with
nothing to the contrary we are left TO suppose
these ethercous beings fitting in and out
through the whole chronography of our planet.
IF we attempt TO describe their presence at one
time, aud arrive at some satisfactory conclusion
by comparing with theipappearance at another,
minds gives up in despair, leaving the ghost in
its sinuous path still covered with tlcmysterious
mantle to tantalize the man and terrify the
child. 80
There are very few MEM ompnringly- who
can say, that their minds have never at any
period of their lives entertained a dread of
these erratie spirits Very few, indeed, whose
hearts have not beaten with irregular throbs
whilst penetrating dense woods, crossing n
dismal fen, or feeling away through, the dark
entries of some old deserted mansion,
...,... Where dwell the ghouls, Il
BY each spot most unholy
IN each nook most melancholy
There the traveller meets aghast
'-.' Sheeted memories of the past" "a
Prcsuming on my hypothesics, that the
majority of mankind, have ,(nt some part of
their existence) dreaded apparitions, and if
dreaded then believed in--for We arc not ant
to fear that which we don't credit. | Law claim
to degree OF sympathy in the relation of the
following occurrence. 1t transpired during my
residence in Pa, some thirty years ago. and at
the time was recounted by several Journals Of
the highest standing. ~ SID
Permit me- first, to walk the reader over the
ground. or rather the locality of this strange
affair, then-.though at the risk of his patience
TO carry him through some absolutely
necessary preliminary remarks and finally
place in his hands The history Of the mystery,
which has at last come to. light from amongst a
confusion Of my old papers. 1t was written
two days after the occurrence, immediately nm
on receiving it from the mouth Of the interest
cd party and was intended for the Ri,
weekly paper, then much esteemed. 80
In The upper part Of the town, there is, to
the present day, large park we'll planted with
noble old trees through which ihe nipht winds
moan and the owl shieks out her discorlan
prophesy (aceorling to the old traltion) of
inc death OF some poor mortal not far distant
:. Owls and night ravens few,
me hateful messengers of heavy things
Vi death and dolor telling sad tidincs' - Sueuce,
Opposite the West side of this enclosure is an
antlquated graveyard, fenced in by high brick
walls on the front and back. but on either side
by houses. built up. to ,the line. Within. the
ground Is completely covered with slabs and
monuments In the center, is tall. handsome
obciisk, towering above and casting u shadow
upon the highest shafts about it, AT the time
OF which We speak. it had recently been erect
eli ana attracted considerable notice from Tho
community. lis naked, pallid
mead can be seen far above the top Of the wall
from the outside. In daylight one might
gaze upon it with admiration, but upd,r the
sickly rays OF the moon it appears ghas,ly. sue-
Sest'hS TO the medltations Of the passcr-by no.
thing but death and The worm. Many night
as passed this place--I have buried nv
face in the folds of my cloack and accelerated
my steps into-wcll ngIl--a ran. Though !
never acknowledged it was fear which 81
strangely prompted me, yet peculiar loncli-
SsjX ~ eff ,,ci,
whole spot which wrought too powerfully IN
Oh quick Imagination to allow cool pLiloso-
phical pcrambuations.
In one of the houses, previously mentioned
during the evening Of the 18th Of June. 1929
merry company Of young people were en-
Toying themselves in the absence of the head or
the household. agrerably to the principle Of
the absent cat and the iiolisomc mice, We had
all been invited to have some regular fun: in
which we succeeded to the satisfaction of every
Nearying with the active excitement of plavs
and the like, which occupied the former mart Of
the cvcning--wc drew our chairs in circle.
ready for some quictcr turn of amuscment,-
Well do remember The rosy checks, the merry
faces OF the girls of our party. Nothing like
the many anguid. prcmaturely old creatures
VIC see nowadays, but always prompt partic;-
pants OF good wholesome games, which fully
ahsolvcd them from the painful necessity of n
superficial means of bloom. But some mem
bers of the party proposed "a ghost story
which was unanimously agreed upon. One was
soon volunteered then another. until the circle
contracted considerably by the trembling girls
drawing closer together to assure themselves
that nothing but flesh and blood sat beside
them.
1t was nearly midnight when the con1nanv
broke up, and never can forget the scenc.-
inc poor-glrls were shaking as with nervous
'hisls--'hcir teeth chattering--their whole
frames starting at the crcakng of door, or n
louder moan of the wind through the park
And this pitch of excitement was princinallv
Inc effect ot4the last story--a terrific narrative
~ Jack W. All our party are living
out he. All! distinctly remember him that
hight. He was a noble felow--bandsome
popular with every body. having rich fund
'f arecdote. The story referred to was called
The Dead Mans Hand" and was said ia have
actually occurred. The scene was laid in the