The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-12-24
Mick Murphy and the Ghost.

which skirt Lake Pontchartrain, on GER
tain occasion last summer, that effectually
served to dispel the lstless ennui too prev
alent in such places. Among the guests
there, for the time being, was one Michael
Murphy, an eccentric, good natured soul,
that used to be par excellence in the land
of potatoes, but which may now be called
potatoeless land. He had been on big bust
in the city,and went over the to lake to dis
pei the fumes of his debauch, and take salt
baths and soda water at the same time.
All this became known to the ventrilo-
quist who had paid flying visit to that
place, and who had such command over his
voice that he could make it do anything,
from the squeaking of pig under the gate
to the singing of mocking bird. Believing
that Michael was just about that time in an
impressible state-in reformatory mood
he thought he would, through the medidm
of his art endeavor to effect favorable
change in his morals. With this view he
booked his name for a bed in the same
room with Michael, at about twelve o'clock
at night--that hour to superstitious minds
so sfraught with terIor--he pitched his
voice outside the door, saying in from
bone tones.
"Michael Murphy ! Michael Murphy |!
are you asleepe"
"Whos that?" said Michael, much start
led at the sepulchral tone in which the
,,,ar,, xuoe md o,1 tka t;r,a Of ,o,,t;nu n
"Ask me not, but answer" said the ven-
triloquist, still continuing his ghost like
accent.
swell, what have you got to sayP" said
Michael.
"Much of which want you to take
notice." said the ventriloquist, or rather
the ventriloquist voice.
go, clear off," said Michael, cor else
I'll give you your tay."
"Better had you continued to take tea
than to break the pledge, as you have
DONE" said the voice outside the door.
"What's all this noise about?" said the
ventriloquist, speaking from the bed.
"Ssme dirty blackguard that's outside
the door there" said Michael, "interferin'
with what's none of his business"
"Why don't you drive him from it?"
said the ventriloquist from the bed.
al wish he dare" said the voice outside
the door.
"Be jabers, I'll let you see dare"
said Michael, jumping up, seizing his hck-
ory, and hurriedly opening the door, ready
ON sight to knock down the annoyer.
"Give it to him said the ventriloquist
from the bed.
"Be gorry, believe it's the Old Boy:him-
self was it," said Michael, " for don't
see soul here"
"It's very mysterious said the ventrilo-
quist from the bed.
"I WONDER" said Michael, "if there's
any evil spirits in this country?"
81 don't know said the ventriloquist,
"but they say the ghost of the departed
Indians haunt this place"
"O," that was no Indians ghost" said
Michael, "for it spoke as good English as
do myself"
"And little better, Michael" said the
voice, as proceeding from one standing by
his side.
so, the cross O. Christ about u.s." said
Michael. "What are you, at all at all ?"
"No evil spirit, but your guardian
genius" said the voice.
GA mortal queer famous you are, said
Michael, "that can be heard and not seen."
" Get into bed them" said the voice, 81
have something to say to YOU"
"You won't do anything bad to me-"
said Michael.
Nothing" said the voice.
"Honor bright?' said Michael.
"Honor BRIGHT said the voice, "you
know you have been hard liver"
"That's fact" said Michael
"You broke the pledge" said the voice.
"More than ever could keep tally
Of" said Michael.
"Then youth pledge yourself to me, that
you'll change your mode of life?" said the
voice.
"I'll do any thing you ask me-" said
Michael.
"Then Pm off," said the voice, "but
remember If you attempt to break it I'll be
present and punish you through life."
"Who is that with whom you are hold
ing conversation ?" said the yentriloquist
speaking again from the bed.
"Devil a one at ALL said Michael
"barrin' some mighty polite, invisible