The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1867-04-25

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in the meantime, how Jared the author
of these lines with the ghost. Moth
ing but the desire to adhere, as literal
~ as possible, to the truth, could induce,
him to mention hi, own particular
share in the adventure. But as his
identity is unknown to the readers of
this paper, and us such a statement will
add To the fitness of this sketch, he
thinks 1t will not be an act Of special
egotlsln to refer to his own conduct un-
der such trying circumstances. He con-
fesses, furthermore. not to he indiffer-
enfStO his reputation for accuracy; and,
therefore, begs the indulgence Of his
readers if he declines to omit what, un-
der other circumstances, might be deem
ed an insutierable exhibition ofegotism.
[ confess to a certain sense Of dread
while entering the yard, and to a dis
tinct and palpabe fear while remark
ing upon the condition of the grave.
supposed to contain the satanic bomb
shells; but upon the first appear nee of
the actual apparition, these feelings
were immediately succeeded and over
come by an intense curiosity to discov-
er the character of our visitor. Having
read somewhere in early life, and being
very much impressed with its force, of
the argument used by the sturdy farm
er to expedite the descent of a vagabond
urchin who had climbed into his apple
tree, I drew out of my pocket Il sand
stone with which had fortunately pro-
vided myself while crossing the COM
mon. Ny manner Of throwing Il stone
was somewhat singular. 1t had been
impressed upon me as being just the
thing, from the circumstance that had
y aI E.,it
by a boy who threw in that manner;
and from the sheer force OF the argu-
ment, suppose, I had contracted his
popularity. This consisted simply in
stretching forth the arm. at right angles
with the body, and holding it in that
position while you calculated the dis
lance to the object, the force to be eXer-
ted to render the blow effective, and
the elevation to be given the missile in
order to hit the mark. pulled the
stone out Of my pocket, then, and took
the position ola scientific throWer. And
l had need Of despatch. The ghost.
$ ar ed by the retreat Of the sentinel in
the woods, and which he may have con-
strued into the advance of yet more
formidable Zoe, showed symptoms of II
desire to evacuate the premises, and by
a lateral movement had almost succee-
dad in screening himself behind some
evergreens on the right. Not a moment
was to be lost. Hurriedly throwing
myself into position, was just upon
the point Of executing one of the most
remarkable, and, as hoped, most etfec-
tive throws of my life, when some UNI
seen power suddenly lifted me Off my
feet, hurled me violently through the
air, to the top of a small hillock, some
t N feet distant; which I struck, and
t1en rolled down the further side into
an indenture in the ground, which COM
pletely hid me from view. This das-
tardly trick, as Iafterward learned, was
performed by the terrified Waterman
from the woods, who, crossing me in
his flight, and supposing me to be a
veritable ghost, took this summary
method, both of clearing his course, and
of disposing OF my pretensiohs. ! lay,
for a moment, stunned and beWildered,
in the hollow into which l had rolled,
hut the noise Of the retreat soon re-
called me to roy condition. | lost no
tit, in getting upon my feet and out of
tie hollow, when giving glance to
assure myself that the ghost had disap-
peared, | made the fastest possible time
to the gate On the south. A pretty set
YOU stiC truly ~ lilFCStASatS my StVl eSo
was my salutation to the discounted
students on my arrival there. They
were al! on the outside looking through
the stats. Let us leave here, boys; |
don't feel safe!" Brown said this. He
was beyond question the worst fright
ened man in the company. The hint
was Immediately acted upon. I have al
ready mentioned the old common, and
the race which was now taken acrossit to
the bridge leading back to town, actual
ly "beggars all Descriptions so ! shall
not attempt it. We arrived, however,
at the ceilege without the loss ola man,
and retired to our rooms more tired and
it is to be hoped wiser men than we
were few hours earlier.
As regards the apparition, !! have
already mentioned my suspicion OF
grave-diggeYs. This suspicion was sub
seoutntly confirmed from the fact, that
Brown, in his reckless Hight, kicked off
the neck OF a whiskey hottie setting in
the grass; and as,it is contrary to allidea-
fthe fitness of things. to suppose that
a ghost would have course to such an
abominable stimulus, we must conclude
that it was thc property Of some medi-
cal students from an adjoining town,
who believed in the efficiency of ''good
old Rye to help or a nefariOus work.