Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-06-01
The BARRIERS Ghost.

A gentleman travelling in one of the East
ern States, some years ago, called at tav-
ern and requested entertainment for the
night. The landlord informed him that it
was out of his power to accommodate him,
as his house was already full. He persist
ed, as himself and horse were already ex-
hausted with travelling. After much So
licitation, the landlord consented to his
stopping, providing that he would sleep in
q certain room that had not been occupied
for some time in consequence of the belief
that it was haunted by the ghost of bar
ber who was reported to have been MUIR
dered in that room some years before.
"Very WELL" says the man. Il am not
afraid of ghosts"
After having refreshed himself, he in
quired of the landlord how and in what
manner the room he was to occupy was
haunted. The landlord replied that short
ly after they had retired to rest an un-
known voice was heard asking in tremb-
ling and prolonged accent-"Do you want
to be shaved?"
"Well," replied the man, ''If he comes he
may shave me-"
He then requested to be shown to the
apartment, in going to which he was con-
Quoted through large room where were
seated great number of persons at gam
most every one possesses, after hearing ghost
stories, he carefully searched every corner
of the room, but could discover nothing
but the usual furniture of sleeping apart
ment. He then lay down, and in a few
minutes he imagined he heard a voice say
ing .......
"D-O you tu-d-n-t to be S-h-d-U-e-d?"
He arose from his bed and searched every
part of the room, but could discover moth
ing. He again went to bed, but no sooner
had he begun to compose himself to sleep,
than the question was repeated. He again
rose and went to the window from which
quarter the sound appeared to proceed, and
stood silent After few moments he again
heard the sound distinctly, and was con-
vinced that it was from without; he opened
the window, when the question was repeat
ed full in his ear, which startled him not a
little. Upon minute examination, how
ever, he observed that the limb of large
oak tree which stood under the window
projected so near to the house that every
breath of wind, to lively Imagination,
made noise resembling the Interrogation
"D-o You w-a-n-t to be s-h-a-y-e-d?"
Having satisfied himself that the ghost
was nothing more nor less than the limb of
the tree coming in contact with the house,
he again went to bed and attempted to get
asleep, but was annoyed by peals of laugh
ter, or volleys of oaths and curses from the
room where the gamblers were assembled.
Concluding to turn the ghost-story to his
own advantage, he took a sheet from the
bed, wrapping it around him, took the
wash-basin in his hand, and throwing a
towel over his shoulder he went to the room
of the gamblers, and throwing the door
wide open, stalked in, asking in tremulous
"D-o you w-a-n-t to be s-h-a-v-e-d ?"
Terrified at the sudden appearance of the
ghost, the gamblers were thrown into the
greatest confusion, and tumbled pell-mell
over each other down stairs in their hurried
efforts to escape, leaving the last stake
about $l,000-on the table. which his ghost
ship pocketed and then returned to his room,
where he was troubled no more that night
with gamblers or mysterious noises. -.
In the morning he found the utmost ex-
element and alarm prevailing in the house
on account of the appearance of the ghost,
and in answer to the landlords inquiry, re-
piled that the ghost had not troubled him,
and departed without being suspected, after
quietly eating his breakfast. ''.' s.'" ''