Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1860-05-04
Truly a Ghost Story.

The Nclc lDJk IfcStyteTi1h states tha'
gentleman and two ladies', being oycrta-
ken one cold, damp night, on returning
from Prcsbytery, were forced to seek
lodgings with Judge B. During the
evening, the Judge related the following
unique but instructive incident
Years ago, We had in Our house sweet
little child, about four years Of age, and
the object, Of course, of a very tcuder al
fection. But sickness laid its hand upon
it. Remedies, promptly resoried to, all
proved in vain. Day after DAY the rose
faded from The cheek, aud the FIRE in the
eyes burned low. at length, death closed
those eyes, and sealed those lips, for ever )
aud We learned by trying experience how
intense darkness follows the quenching
Of one Of those Little lights Of life. The
time rolling sadly on, brought Us to the
hour appointed for committing our treas
urc to the custody of the grave. The
friends assembled, the customary services
we're held, the farewell taken, and the lit
tie form securely shut beneath the wei!
screwed coiIin-lid, aud in due form 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 great, sheltering roof, and
then wended cur way TO our desclate home.
Evening came, and wore away. My
wife had gone into an adjoining room to
give some directions, and |, untitled By the
scene Of the day for aught else, had just
laid my head on my pillow in our room
upon the first floor of the house, when l
heard a shrek, and in a moment my wife
came flying into the room, and, springiug
upon the bed behind ne, exclaimed, ".yec
there orr cAAd! or chVd"
Raising my head, my blood froze with
in me, and the hair upon my head stood
up, as | saw little form in grave clothes,
with open, but manifestly sightleSs eyes,
and pale as when We gave the last kiss,
walking slowly towards Us. Had | been
alone-had not the extreme terror Of my
wife compelled me to play the mani
should have leapod from the window and
fed without casting look behind. But,
not daring to leave her in such terror, |
arose, sat down in chair, and took the
little creature between my knees-a cold
sweat covered me-and gazed with feel
ings unutterable upon the object before
Us. The eyes were open, in a vacant
stare. The flesh was colorless, cold, and
clammy; nor did the child appear to have
the power of either speech or hearing, as
it made DO attempt to answer any Of our
questions. The terror Of our minds was
the more intense, as we had watched our
child through its sickness and death, and
had been, but few hours before, eye-wit-
nesses of its ntorment.
While gazing upon it, and asking in
my thoughts, "What can this extraordina-
~ Providence mean? For what can it be
sent!" the servant girl, having crept to
the door, after a time suggested, at TOOLS
like BIS. IS child"
Now, our neighbor had child of near
ly the same age as ours, and its constant
companion. But what could bring i. to
our house, at that hour, and in such a
plight? Still, the suggestion had opera
ted as a sedative upon our excited feelings,
and rendered US more capable of calm re-
tiection. And, after time, we discover
ed in truth, that the grace clothes were
night clothes, and the corpse was som
uambulist Aud it became manifest that
the excitement attending the loss and bur
ial of its playmate, working upon the
child's mind in sleep, was the cause to
which we were indebted for this untimcly
and startling visit.
Wiping away the perspiratiop, and tax
ing few lopg breaths, prepared to
counter-march the little intruder to its
forsaken bed. Back We went, it keeping
By my side, though still asleep. 1t had
walked quite distance across the wet
grass | found the door Of its home ajar,
just as the fugitive had left it, and its
sleeping parents unconscious Of its absence.
The door creaked as pushed it open, aud
awakened the child, who looked wildly
around moment, and then popped into bed.
Now, (said Judge b ii it had not
been for my wife, as have said, | should,
on the appearance Of this apparitiOn, have
made leap Of uncommon agility from
that window and, after fight of extra
ordinary velocity for person of my age
and dignity, l should have been ready to
take my oath in any court, either Christ
iaa or hca.hen, that h.d seen ghost