Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-10-22
For the Spectator.
Adventure in a Church.

1t was at the close of sultry day in August
of the year l0-, when riding alone through
one of the Eastern counties of this State, [ was
warned by the rapid gathering of clouds over
my head, that [ must seek some shelter, or [
would receive a severe drenching. Quickening
the pace of my horse, by the application of the
spur, [ rode rapidly forward, in the hope Of
reaching some Farm House before the rain
came on. In this, however, [ was doomed to
disappointment, as no house of any description
could be seen-only long line Of woods on my
right, and an uncultivated waste of fields on my
left, met my view. By this time few drops
of rain had fallen, which, taken with the ap-
preaching darkness and the repeated flashes of
lightning, rendered the prospect before me any
thing but pleasant one had just made up
my mind to ride quietly along and take things
as easily as could, when [ came across an
opening in the woods, and could discern through
the gloom Of twilight, the outline of an old
fashioned country Church, or Meeting House,
as they are termed in that part Of the State. =
Thanking my stars for this piece of good luck
[ rode up to the door and dismounted. In a
very short space of time, having taken the sad
die from my horse and tied him to a tree, en-
tered the building Cropping my way down the
aisle, aided by an occasional flash Of lightning,
| found myself Immediately in front Of the Pull
pit. Impelled by curiosity, [ assembled the
Short flight of steps that led to it, and, taking
a seat on a rude bench which found there,
fell to thinking on my adventure, and the prob
abilities of a cessation in the storm. Soon my
thoughts connected themselves with the build
ing and | found myself peopling the empty
pews before me with an imaginary congrega-
ton. In thought [ saw those benches filled
with forms that had long since mouldered in the
dust greyhaired men and women, with eager,
my tacnc ICfnpIpr RI fhn Of tho
Preacher as he told them of that valley Of
death which they must soon enter. The mid
die aged some drinking in the words Of eter
nal life, others lost in thoughts of this world,
and forgetting they were in Gods sanctuary
The young too were there, those who had found
the paths Of peace early, as well as the gay and
thoug ghtless, who saw pleasure only in the
haunts Of san. The voice of the Preacher
seemed to ring through the empty house, as he
pictured the agony Of the lost soul, or the un-
utterable happiness Of the redeemed had
occupied my mind for some time with these
vagaries of the Imagination when sudden
my hair to stand on end, and cold sweat to
break out of every pore in my body. Great
God had [ indeed called up the dead? was it
true, the souls of the departed haunted the
places they had frequented while on earth P
With strained eyes, and in an agony OF mind,
which no pen can describe, tremblingly rose
to my feet, and looked towards the spot, where
[ had just seen the apparition, but the intense
darkness hid every thing from my sight. l
listened in vain for any sound that might be-
tray the presence Of any being save myself. -
All was quiet-no sound could be heard, but
the constant pattering of the rain on the roof,
heart Perhaps after all, | had been made the
victim of my own Imagination. Yes, it could
not be otherwise. Reasoning thus and smiling
at my own fears, was on the point Of resuming
nv seat, when another flash convinced me that
l labored under no illusion, but that figure
whether material or disembodied, knew not
stood on one of the pews near the door. Fur
thermole, the flash revealed to me, that | also
had been discovered by this object, whatever it
was, and that it had actually made step in
towards me. Horror struck, and in an agony
of fear, which no words of mine can express, [
stood as if chained to the spot. | fatter my
self that am no coward, yet even now, look
ing back through the long vista of years that
has interviewed since that time [ wonder that
| did not fall dead In the Pulpit through sheer
fright Far from any human habitation, at
that hour OF the night, in that old Church. with
that dreadful phantom confronting me, is it
any wonder that my blood seemed to have cur
died in my veins, under the influence of utter
terror, produced by such a sight? Another
flash and | saw that it had passed over half the
space between the door and the pupit-in
another moment it would reach me. Merciful
Heaven what would reach me? What was
it, that was gliding through the darkness to-
wards me-? Had one Of the graves in the
Church yard given up its victim, to haunt the
Church, that, perhaps in its life time, it had as
persistently Stunned? Would another moment
bring it to my side, reeking with the dampness,
and impregnated with the foul odor of the
tomb? Horrible thought already 1 seemed
to feel its cold touch and chilly breath. Icould
feel that it was drawing nearer and nearer-I
could bear it no longer. With wild shrek of
terror | leaped the pulpit and fed past the
gh6sty visitor, down the aisle, out of the door
into the woods. Terror gave me its wings, and
[ ran with the rapidity of startled deer. In
my frenzy | knew not where l was going one
desire only possessed me-to make my escape
from the phantom. But horror of horrors! !
felt that l was pursued, and that my pursuer
was as feet as myself. On and on we went