The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1866-12-01
GRANDMOTHER'S STORY.
BY JULIA GODDARD.

BY JULIA GODDARD.
"GRANNY, do you believe in ghosts ?n
"What has put that in your head,
child?"
"Because to-day is the third of May,
and Esther Lowell says she would not
for worlds so near the old Hall tonight
for strange sights are to be seen there
after night-fall."
Esther Lovell's goose" replied
the old woman, somewhat testify. "The
worst that could be seen would be q
sweet lady weeping and wringing her
hands; and what harm would that do
any one, / should like to know?"
"Then you do believe in ghosts 2"
said the child, timidly, drawing nearer
to her grandmother, and throwing her
arm round her neck. "I ran so fast
by the Hall, and never once looked
round; and Pm so glad Pm going to
sleep hero, for never should have
dared to go home. again, if it were
dusk.n
"1ou're a silly child, Meg; it's only
wicked people that need fear ghosts, if
there are such things. Mind you, I'll
not say whether there are or not. fnr it's-
not for such as me to judge. One hears
strange stories sometimes; but all
you've got to do, Meg, is to be a good
girl, and then you'll have no cause to
fear ghosts OF goblins, or anything
else.''
"But Pm not always good, granny"
returned Meg, despondingly, "and I've
been particularly naughty the last day
or two; so it's comfort Pm going TO
stay here all night. But l did ohope,
granny, that you would not believe in
ghosts"
"I've never said did, child, and I'vc
never said didn't; its just one of those
things that I've no belief about either
one way or another; and take that to
be the best way of settling II doubtful
point"
Meg looked as though she did not
quite understand the force of her ergrand-
mothers logic, or ut any rate Us though
no consolation were to be derived there
from; hut the subject being too deep
forher childish meditations, her thoughts
reverted to what had been the primary
cause of her question.
'Why is the third Of May worse
day for ghosts than any other day,
granny"
att isn't, that 1 know Of" returned
the old woman.
"Then why should Esther Lowell be
more afraid of passing the Hall tonight
than any other night in the ycar?"
"That's because of the old story.
should not mind telling it to you. Dear
dear, what a many years it is since, and
it seems just to have come to me as fresh
as when it all happened. Sit down tC
your tea, child, and after tea We'll settle
down costly, and have it all over. It'll
be like calling up an old friend that''
been dead and buried many a long year
to have chat with one."
Meg did not by any means consider
this " consummation devoutly to bC
wished" the idea was nota pleasant one
and she would rather her grandmothe
had not mentioned it, for there wer'
three chairs in the neat little kitchen
and who knew who or what the occu
pier OF the third might be. Meg gav'
q little shudder.
"Youre not cold, child, suroly?" sal,
her grandmother, pouring out anothe
cup Of tea.
"No, granny" answered Meg, he
hand tremblingas she stretched it out 70
the cup.
"Then, you're frightened ?" said tn
old woman, looking at her. 81 wis
Esther Lowell and her nonsense wer
far away. L shan't be able to tell 20
my story, child. It's not well TO fl
young heads with fears"
"Nay, granny, you must tell it M
now. i shan't sleep if you don't; be
sides, ] shall think ii more horrible tina
it really is, and shall go fancying a
sorts of things"
"There's something in that" said II
old woman, frightening up, for she ha
felt a little disappointed at the though
of not being able to indulge in old r
miniscences, "and that would be a pit
So, make haste ana finish your tea, al
then Wen clear away the toa-thlng5 al
have cosy evening together"
The ,tea-things were cleared awi
quickly enough, and Meg took Il lit
stoo! and sat down close by her gran