Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-06-17
YOUTHS DEPARTMENT.
THE BOY With STRONG NERVES.


was Jacks cousin, and as soon as he could
get away from his classes he came to give
Jack welcome, and help him arrange his
room.
"What this ?"
This was the exclamation uttered by
Tom, as he crossed the threshold of Jacks
chamber and looked around with conster.
nation on his face.
whats the matter, TomS" asked Jack,
in surprise.
"MatterH" cried Tom. "Do you mean
to say this is the room they have given
you"
eyes"
Whe-e-e-e-e-e-e e-ewp
"Whst in the worlds the matter {?
What are you whistling about?'
O-notbing its nothing--only--I
was thinking-that they'd give you an
other one, somewhere else"
Tom stammered and hesitated while
saying this, but Jack did not remark it.
"Well, it's not bad room," said he !;
I'm glad have so good a one"
Tom had to leave pretty early, and
promised, as he lefC the loom, to be back
the following evening.
On the next evening, as they sat at
supper, Tom suddenly changed the con-
90, Jack, ! forgot to ask you how you
slept last night"
"Sound as top" said Jack.
HEM Didn't you hear any-any dis.
turbance" .....
"No"
"No noisess ?" .......... 80,
I" My dear Tom, 1 was so far away in
the land of Nod, that no sounds from this
world could reach me-
And you like the room still ?"
"The room? Like it? OF course / do.
It's aflrst-rate room. But explain what all
this means. You have a peculiar look
whenever you speak about that room.
What's the matter with it? Has any one
died there of the smallpox"
"No."
"Well, what's the matter with it?"
90, never mind"
" But want to know"
III tell you some time"
"Why not now"
"There's no necessity. I'd rather not
III tell you in week or so if you wish /;
but you won't need me to tell you. You
will find out soon enough yourself"
Several hours passed, and Tom was in
Jacks. room, telling ridiculous story
about one of the boys, when suddenly he
his face ghastly white"
"Why, Tom," cried Jack, "what in the
world is the matter with you? You
look -
Didn't you hear it ?" gasped Tom, in a
scarcely audible voice"
"Hear it?"
"Yes-the-the-ther it is again. o,
can't stand itr'
"Are you crazy?" cried Jack, starting
up, and going over to his cousin.
you're as pale as death. What's the
matter?"
at is there" He shuddered.
"Now, I'll be blowed if can make you
out at all What do you mean p cried
Jack.
AS he spoke, there came dull, low
sound, like football overhead, rather in.
distinct, but regular, like some one walk
ing with muffled tread. Over Jacks
room was a large unfinished garret, ex-
tending the whole length of the building,
and Jack at once thought that some OF
the boys were up there.
Toms condition now was really alarm
ing. "There, there-that is it-that is it y
he cried and, while he spoke, a low sigh
came to Jacks ears.
"Whatl thatS" cried Jack. "Do you
mean to say that you're afraid of that
You are crazy. 1t is only some one
walking in the garret in his slippers, or
in his stocking feet. hear the wind
too, blowing about the place. Are you
such fool, Tom, as to be afraid o.
that?"
40, you don't know-you dom
know" said Tom.
"Wen, l will know, precious soon,
said Jack; and, seizing the lamp, hi
strobe toward the door. "Come along
Tom"
But Tom didn't move.
"Will you come and see for yourself,
said Jack
"I wouldn't go up there for the world
nor would any of the boys, Jack; there's
horror up there. None of the boys dar'
stay in this room | wouldn't. You stay
here because you don't know; but you'll
leave it soon enough. There is something
up there; we have often heard it (; and
is in this room that it sounds the worst
It's mysterious walk of something. YoU
hear football, and sigh, as of one il
pain. On wild, stormy nights it is horri
BILE. DIR. Pendergrast cannot make it on
at all. None of them teachers can
They've tried to reason us out of fear, bu
they are afraid themselves. The last boz
that was put in this room rushed out o
it at midnight almost frightened to death
You were put in here because you were
new boy. DIR. Pendergrast wouldn't sleel
here himself, know"
All this Tom poured forth in slightly
incoherent manner, and concluded by en-
treating Jack to leave the room at once
and pass the night with him. Jack hear
him through, with look of wonder.
"Well, l declare !" he exclaimed
"What set 'Pon my word, l neve
would have believed all this Of you if yol
hadn't told me with your own lips. YoV
talk like school girl of six. And yol
seem to take me for baby. A ghost
Ha ha | hal What rot and rubbish
And then to find whole school goinl
mad after it o, Toni Tom Tom
wouldn't have thought this ofyou. Come
mani Shake yourself, and be a mar
Come up with me, now."
Tom shook his head.
"Well," said Jack, "Pll have to go alone
and you must feel ashamed OF yourself
Come"
"Nop said Tom, with downcast lool
go, Toni Have you no pridep Wi
you let me stand here, and dare you to fo
low me?"
"Jack, it's madness"
"Poohp said Jack; and without al
other word, he left the room and wake
along the hall to where the stairway ra
up the garret. Tom looked after hin
and seemed, at one time, gathering up h
courage to follow. He even took one ste
forward; but at that moment there cam
from above heavier sound, like heavie
/ firmer football, and long, shrill sigh T,
sounded through the whole hall. 1t fro7
the very blood in his veins. He shran
back and, instead of following Jack, /
ran down stairs in terror.
But no sooner had he reached the lowe
floor than he felt a pang of intolerab
shame. He had deserted his friend an
left him alone to encounter the mysterioI
fate. Yet what could he dor He dare
not go back. But something must J
done. SO he went to some friends an
told them what Jack was doing.
The tidings created an immense sens
tion. II spread from one to the othe
till, finally the whole school had learne