Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-06-02
Bill Wilson'S Ghost Story.
BY JACOB SAD.

1 ID UASOIS D-hD'
It's all nonsense, said Bill, more solemn
than usual-to say there's no such thing
as ghosts. How do you know? What
makes you cover up your head when you
get into bed? Don't talk to me of nery-
business. You know the atmosphere is
full of ghosts; or if you don't, L do; L
| have seen them-one at least.
1t was ten years ago; L and thirty
others were on guard in the citadel of
Quebec. was Number Three, Tom
Sawyer was Two, and little Welshman
was Number One on the post of the Kings
Battery. where the flagstaff stands and
the union-jack fies-for the present. 1t
was summer time. At 8 o'clock the
evening gun was fired, and number one
took up his position on the first relief,
while the second and third lounged
around the guard house, picking up the
drunken soldiers as they came in, and
amusing themselves as best they might.
By half past all was quiet, and the
lights all out.
All at once we fellows heard a terrible
scream from the little Welshman,-you
can tell Welshman two miles of,-and
in he came without his shake, running as
| though q woman was after him with tin
dipper.
"Halloo = said the sergeant, cleft your
post-wot's the meaning of all this ?"
"a go-host" the Welshman jerked
out in two distinct and painful efforts.
"a go-host," repeated the sergeant,
in sneering imitation of the Welshman,-
take off your belts,"-which is polite
English for saying you're prisoner In
the army.
The Welshman was marched into the
inner guard-house and Number Two, Tom
Sawyer-and mighty pale he looked-was
trotted out to take his place.
Billy said he to me, grasping my
hand,-he was cockney, too-"i if l wan
ishes in a cloud of blue smoke, write to
the old woman that died game" and l
told him would.
Well, there was no alarm for some
time, not for most two hours, perhaps; I
feel pretty sure it was almost midnight
before Tom Sawyer screamed, and didn't
he scream
"Turn out the guard-thunder-Go
save the Queen murder !" This was the
substance of Tom Sawyer's remarks; but
the ghost was too smart for him, and be-
fore file of men could be marched out
he marched in, and no ghost was ever
whittier.
"Ah alb ~ said the sergeant, "another
coward; take off your belts. sir"
Sergeant Pipeclay, said Tom. his face
turning as red as a beet, g. look at these
six medals and don't call me coward !;
but l can't fight with ghosts
old Pipeclay had no medals. Why? Be-
L he hOo,.s+al rr-loy, Ton,
was fighting the Sikhs in India. So he
put Tom in irons for his insolence, aud
then it was my turn-and was only re-
cruit- to take my place at the Kings
battery. How my heart did beat! How
my eyes did wink How my legs did
shake and shiver Keep the right step /?
Why it was almost too much to keep step
ping at all.
"Take care, Number Three" said the
corporal, " take care, or I'll take your belts
off for drunkenness; you stagger like
fool"
81 want to report myself Sick" said l.
"Silence in the ranks" said he.
"No CO." thought l; "well, let the
ghost come; I'll try and be friendly with
him"
But didn't feel queer as the tramp,
tramp, tramp" of the relief went far
Their away from me? Contrary to my
orders and to my first intentions, | got
ready to do as the rest had done-to run.
put my musket in the sentry box, loos-
ened my stock, tucked up my pant-legs,
and twas more deliberate about doing it
than most men would have been under
the circumstances, owing to my tempera-
ment. Finally l placed myself with my
back close to the sentry box entrance, re-
solved to keep a sharp look out L don't
know whether it was the deliberation
with which my preparations were made,
or what it was that impressed the ghost
with the idea that / must be treated
different from the rest, but he was i'm
pressed with this idea; perhaps he
heard me say that I meant to be friendly.
However that may be, instead of coming
up in front as any other ghost would have
done, the first I knew of his presence was
by hearing q very melancholy voice right
back of me-in the sentry-box saying:
"Oh, Billy Wilson; don't run away
like the rest
There was no fear of it; was so much
worse scared than the other two had been,
that I couldn't have run yard to save
my commissioner I'd had one. But I
turned around shaking like a recruit
under fire, and there, in my sentry-box,
was as sad looking ghost as I ever saw.
Why, sir, ghosts amt white-at least this
one wasn't. He had three cornered hat
on, such as the soldiers wore q hundred
years ago, white belts crossed on the
breast, top-boots and white breeches AS
soon as got good look at him, wasn't
at all afeared. 1 believe there is no harm
in ghosts, if you treat them right
Chilly" said the ghost, wen I was
alive l was Hinglishman like your
self; you see this ole in my cross-belt =
'undered years ago to-day bullet from
French musket made that mark-tore
through the leather and through the lung,
and when our fellows entered this place
they brought me here to die, and I died
Here the ghost began to weep.
Well, my FRIEND" said II was used
to ghosts by this time" this is very in
teresting statement, but what does it all
amount to ?"
"Hear me out" said he. 81 'ad been in
the service twenty years; what with prize
money and plumber and pay, and stealing
from the natives wherever I was, I 'ad
scraped together quite sum, which it
was sewed up in the lining of my coat.
and buried with my body, close by the
magazine wall, where the rock is covered
with little earth, not two hundred wards
from here, right under big round stone"
"Well," said impatiently, for this be.
gan to look like business.
L