The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-01-12
THE HAUNTED PEAR TREE
BY II. Il, GREEN.

|
! If YOU had been at our village on certain
night, not many months ago, and had peer
ed Into each and every residence you might,
at one of them, have seen half Il dozen young
sters, lads and lasses, who had formed them
selves into kind OF social party, and who,
after the manner of lads and lasses, were
drinking deeply into all manner OF innocent
enjoyment. Prominent among them you
might have observed youngster of about
fifteen summers, whose silly actions evnced
self man, and to fancy himself the great
centre round which each member of the So
cial party desired to revolve, And short
pause at the open window would have con-
yinced You that he was not far wrong so far
az the latter was concerned; he was the real
centre of attraction at the time selected for
the opening of our story
"joe," said 4 fair member of the party Just
mentioned, addressing the hero Of our first
paragraph, "you needn't try to deny it; you
are afraid of ghosts, SO you are"
Fudge. Me afraid of ghosts! Why, l
wouldn't mind to 90 and sleep all night in
the graveyard"
"Oh, yes, you're brave enough to hear you
talk" spoke up another; 'but it wouldn't
hold good if put to the test. You wouldn't
90 10 the graveyard now, and 90 inside the
fence, if any one would offer you ten dol
lars"
Not he, even if he was offered the whole
village" said third,
'pshaw ye're all gasin',n continued the
innocent. ''Td Just 60 there for nothing, and
ia as live do ii as not. If you don't believe
IT, can show you"
"IIow ?"
nI}v ponp there ,,
''Yes, yes that'll do for a come-oh. If
YOU were to start who could tell after re-
turning that you had been any nearer the
graveyard than you are now? You would
find it Just as easy to 60 some other way, and
doubtless far more agreeable"
He'd want some of us to 60 along, to see
whether OF not he fulfilled his promise
80, yes, guess he'd 60 to the graveyard
if some one would 60 with him."
II can 90 alone, and if you say so III do
it pom honor"
''Say," exclaimed one OF the party, affect
ing to have been suddenly taken with a new
idea, ''l'll tell you how We can test him. You
remember the large pear tree in the grave
yard Well, its full this season, and the
pears are now ripe and delicious. Let him
take a basket and bring it back full of fruit !;
then we shall know he has been there, and
that the story Of his supersttious fears is
without foundation"
Poor Joe shook in his boots at this last
proposition; but it was now too late to back
out The girl he loved best was q member
of the little party and it would never do for
her to know that he was cowardly. He was
completely trapped, and therefore his only
resource was to take the basket, prepare for
the worst and go it blind.
| Our readers must have noticed the catch
ere this That old pear tree, with its ripe,
mealy fruit, was creating quite a sensation
among the pear-loving youths of the vicinity
round about, especially the male portion Of
Gus treats which bountiful nature had placed
in store for some one; yet could not, owing
to the fact that they were ashamed to be seen
robbing the village Of the dead" in the day
time, and afraid to do it after dark. But the
little party had settled upon plan to get a
bait of pears-and now for the result
Before proceeding with our story, however,
we must tell the reader that could he have
been concealed somewhere along the streets
of our village at the time he was looking in
upon the little party, he would have seen
two dark figures passing near him, and heard
them discoursing in Il low tone, somewhat as
follows:
II swag, Dick, it's rooted shame to let
them pears go to waste when they can be had
so slick, Jest for the takin'."
That's so. and | Jest believe we're the
boys what kin go and git 'em. What of we
with us ef we don't meddle with them, and
we won't, you know. They can't eat pears
we kin, you know. Besides, I don't much
believe in ghosts, for | never seed emmy, al
though Pete Grimes sez he's out about the
pear tree, you know. And old Jane Fowler
sez the tree is hanted and was ha'nted afore
there was a grave on the hill, you know
''All bosh, Tom. Come with me, old boy
if you want some pears. Let's 60 down to
Langley's and get a couple of bags. Wei
strip the last one of the mealies off, and bad
luck to the ghost that attempts to interfere
with us. Why sir, there never was ghost
seen yet; I'd pledge my word on that. Come
along, my hearty; never fear when Dick
Finley is with you. He is willin' to clean
out anything in the ghosa line that may run
across your track
IAN right. When there's emmy fun, OF
ennythin' good to eat on hand, Tom Scott.
alters in you know"
And the reader would have lost sigh! OF
them in the darkness as they hurried on to-
wards the residence of Mr.. Langley.
Joe, inc Vlctln, WIN DiSkeI Ill nanu, zeal
in his heart, and trembling in his frame
} strobe Oft with unsteady steps towards the
village graveyard; and following him at q
distance which rendered them safe from OBJ
servation, might have been seen two male
members of the social party, not with basket:
in hand OF fear in their hearts, but with mis-
chief in their eyes and laughter in thei
, sleeves. Joe reached the gate of the GENE
I tery--they reached the valley below the stop
ping place OF timid, noctural ramblers. 10,
kneeled down and offered up prayer fol
safety ere he ventured to raise the latch
,, They. sat down and gave vent to subdue(
merrlment at the thought of how they shoult
fr1ghten him when he came out. And tha
was the difference between them.
| The victim reached his destination in safe
ty, ascended the tree, filled the basket will
| naars and was inst makinne raaa,, 70 coro ~,