Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1872-12-27
TIRTUE OF VENTEksLoQUIsM.
Mick Murphy and the Chest.

II incident occurred in the hotel of or
!, lof the picturesque marine villages whic
q skirt Lake Pontchartrain, on 4 Certain b
u l.casion last summer, that effccfnally serve
to dispel the listless ennui too prevalent
such places. Among the guests there, Il
the time being, was'one Michael Murphy. a
eccentric. good nafllred soul. what used
be par excellence Iii the land of pntatoc
but which now may be called potafoles
4 land. He had been on burst III the cit,
and went over the lake to elispcl the fums
-4 Of debauch; and take salt baths and SOD
water at fhe same time
II All this became known to the vcntrioqu;.
| who had paid nying visit TO the place, an
Who bud such command over bis voice tha
he could make it do anything from til
squeaking Of a pig under the gate to til
singing Of mocking bird. Believing tha
4 Miehasi WAS inst ahout That fIuae III an iii
prassihle siaae-- in Il reiormafory mood Ii
siisuzllSs b b uouisi, through the siassiiiuair
4 his art eaadeaver til elect a faverablr chang
I'LL his nlnrssia. With this view liz beoke,
his name for 4 bed in the same room viii
] Michael. and about twelve o'clock at nigh
l-tllat hour to shperstitious minds so fraugIl
4 with tcrrer-he pitched his veics outside th
door, saying in trombone tome:
Michael Murphy! Michael Murphy! ar,
| yon asleep?''
{ silo s that?' said Michael, uuch startled
at tha sepulehral tone In which the qucr,
! Vas put, and the time Of putting it.
Ask ME not. bnt answer said tie ven
triioquist, still continuing his ghost-like &C.
cent.
s'Well. wha: have you TO say!.' said Nj.
chael.
Much Of which want Youfo take notice.
said the ventriloquist, or rather the rentril-
oqRist voice.
%, clear off, said Michael, TOR else I'll
give you your tay.''
Batter had you continued to take tea than
to break the pleqse: as you have done.'' said
the voice outside the door,
Whats al this noise ahouty'' said the
yeIltriloquist speaking from The bed. II
Some dirty blaekguarl that's outside the
door there" said Michael. .interfarin' with
what's none of his business
Why don't you drive him trem isg, said
ia.ss:s;'i ] 'saa.,isI g from he bed.
the door. 7 4.
BE iabbers, I'll let ron see I dare, said
Micllael, jumping up, seizing his hickory.
and hurriedly opening the door, ready on
sight to knock down the annoyar.
s.-s
Give it to him. said the Yentriloquisl
from the bed.
Be gor, | b.l;eye its the Old Boy him
self was it. said Michael, for don't see
soul here
Its very mysterious.'' said the rentrilo-
qaisi from the bed.
Il wonder,'' said Michael, ssif there's am
evil spirits in this codntry?''
II don't KNOW said the Ventriloquist,
sbut they say the ghost Of departed Indians
,aunt tho place.
20, that was no Indians ghost" said Mi
:hael, "for it spoke as good English as / do
myself
''And a little better, Nishael,'' said the
rsice,. as il proceeding from one standing By
lis side.
20, the cross Of Christ about u.s. said
Michael. :What are you, At all. at all7''
No evil spirit. but your guardian genius, .
aid the voice.
"a mortal queer janions you are.' said
THAT can be heard and not seem"
Get into bed. them said the voice, II I
lave something to say to you.''
You Won't do anything bad to me- said
Iichael
Nothing said the voice.
Honor bright?'' said Michael.
Honor BRIGHT. said the voice; syou
now you have been hard liver
That's fact, = said Michael.
You broke the blcagc.' said the voice.
More than ever could keap account Of,
aid Michael.
s'rhen you'll pledge Yourself to ME, that
'ou'll change your noie Of life?' said the
oice.
.sI'iI do anything you ask me- said Mi
hael
s.Then I'm off, said the voice, shut re-
lember, If yon attempt to break it Ill be
resent and punish you through lite.'
"Wllo is that with whom you are holding
onversstinn?n said the ventrilequIst, speak
lg again from the bed.
devil one at all = said Michael, ssbarrln.
ome mighty polite. invisible gentleman,
nat seems To take 4 great interest in my |
felfare.
20. you are dreaming, said the ventrilo- j
uist, continuing to speak in propria per-
)nae. ,
.Faix, its like dream. sure enoue b, said
[ichael. ia
The next morning friend asked Michael /
J take his bitters. He consented, bnt Just III
he took the glass in his hand, the voice of ]
le venfriloquist, who was present. was
card above his head, in the air. crying t..,f: j
Touch il not, Michael Murphy member
our pronlise. II was enough, Michael IS
onid not taste. c
The pleasure of the wine with rou, Mr. Y
urphY, sail gentleman ut the table. f
with pleasure, SIR said Michael, but z
st at thai moment voice was heard to " i
les from tile corner of the roona-it was 70
lat Of the ventriloquist, who sat by his 9
dc. uftering his aslm0nition. t
'fhus the Thing went On for Il week, till i
ifhaei was then and forever made 4 teeto- Z
Ri Ha aeAs ii,ds.striously minds Ills hiisi- +
IS, els goeI heaitI, aid prespsTs. Ia !