The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-04-01
THEBARBER's GHOST.

The following story is old, but pre-
cious good one. We laughed heartily
over it a 'loBg time ago." and presuming
many of our readers never heard it, ne
serve it up for their edifcation:
A gentleman travelling some years
since in the upper part of this State, call
e6 at tavern and requested entertain
ment for the night. The landlord in
formed him that it was oct of his power
to accommodate him, as his house was
already full. He persisted in stopping, as
he as well as his horse were almost ex-
hausted with travelling. After much So
hcitation the landlord consented to his
stopping provided he'd sleep in certain
room that had not been occupied for
a long time, in consequences of belief that
il was haunted by the ghost of barber,
who was reported 20 have been murdered
in that room some nights before. every
well, says the man, sim not afraid of
ghosts" After having refreshed himself.
he inquired of the landlord how and in
what manner the room in which he WAS
to lodge was haunted? ? The landlord re-
Piled, that shortly after they retired to
rest an unknown voice was heard in 3
trembling and protracted accent saying"
Do you wasn't to be sha-a>ved." sfWell,"
replied the man, ''if he comes he may
shave mef"
He then requested to be shown to tho
apartment in going to which he was
conducted through large room where
were seated great number OF persons at
a gambling table. Feeling a curiosity
which almost every one possesses after
having heard ghost stories he carefully
searched every corner of the room but
could discover nothing but the usual fur
niture of the apartment. He then laid
down, but did not close his eyes to sleep
Immediately, and few minutes he i'm
agined he heart voice saying, 'Do yoH
tc-d-n-t to be shd-v-e-d - He arose from
his bed and searched every part of the
room, could discover nothing He again
went to bed, but no sooner had he begun
to compose himself to sleep than the
question was again repeated. He again
rose and went to the window, the sound
appearing to proceed from that quarter,
and stood awhile silent-after few mo-
ments of anxious suspense, he again heard
the sound distinctly, and convinced that
If it was from without, be opened the.
window. when the question was repeated,
in his ear, which startled him not little
Upon a minute examination, however,
he observed that the limb OF large oak
tree, which stood under the window, pro-
jected so near the house that every breath
of wind, to a lively Imagination, made q
noise resembling the interrogation, 'tDo.
you want to be shaved"
Having satisfied himself that his ghost
was nothing more or less than the limb of
! tree coming in contact with the house,
he again went to bed and attempted to
sleep but he was now interrupted by
peals of laughter and occasional volleys
of oaths aud curses from the room where
the gamblers were assembled Thinking
he could turn the late discovery to his
own advantage, he took a sheet from his
bed and wrapped it around him, and tax
ing the wash basin in his hand and
throwing towel over his arm, proceeded
TO the room of the gamblers, and sudden
ly opening the door, stalked in, exclaim-
ing in a tremulous voice, "Do you w>a-n- t
to be s-h-a>v-e-di" Terrified at ths
sudden appearance of the ghost. the gam
blers were thrown into the greatest con>,
fusion in attempting TO escape it 5; soma.
jumping through the windows and others
tumbling head over heels down stairs
Our ghost, taking the advantage of a.
clear room, deliberately swept a large
amount of money from the table into the
basin, and retired unseen to his own
room.
The next morning he found the house.
in the utmost confusion. He was imme--
diately asked if he rested well, to which
he replied in the affirmative. "'Weil, no
wonder said the landlord, "for the ghost
instead of going into his own room, made
a mistake and came In ours, frightened
us out of the room and took away every
dollar of our money" The guest, with
out being the least suspected, quietly ate
his breakfast and departed many hundred
dollars richer by the adventure.