Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1872-12-13
The Virtue of Ventriloquism; or Mich
Murphv and the Ghost.

Murphy and the Ghost.
An incident occurred in the hotel
of one of the picturesque marine vii
lagos which skirt Lake Pontchairtrain,
on certain occasion last summer, that
effectually served to dispel the istless
.ennui too prevalent in such Places
Among the guests there, for the time
being, was one Michael Murphy, an
eccentric, good natured soul, a native of
what used to be par excellence the land
of potatoes, but which now may be cal
led potatoless land. He had been on a
big burst in the city, and went over the
lake to dispel the fumes of debauch,
and take salt baths and soda at the
same time.
All this became known to the ven
triloquist, who had paid flying visit
to the place, and who had such COM
mand over his voice that he could make
lit do anything, from the squeaking of
a pig under the gate, to the singing of
hooking bird. Believing that Mich
ael was Just about that time in an i'm
pressible state-in reformatory mood
he thought he would, through the
medium Of his art, endeavor to effect a
favorable change in his morals. With
this view he booked his name for a bed
in the same room with Michael, and a.
bout II o'clock at night-that hour to
superstitious minds so fraught with
terror-he pitched his voice outside the
door, saying in trombone tone:
"Michael Murphy! Michael Muir
ply! are you asleep?"
"Who's that?" said Michael, much
startled at the sepulchral tone in which
the query was put, and the time of
putting it.
"Ask me not, but answer" said the
ventriloquist, still continuing his ghost
like accent.
"Well, what have you got to say ?''
said Michael.
'Much of which [ want you to take
notice." said the ventriloquist, or rath-
er the ventriloquist voice.
80, 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.
ssWhat's all this Mise about:?" said
the ventriloquist, speaking from the
bed.
"Some dirty BLACKBOARD that's out
side the door there" said Michael, Gin
terferin' with what's none of his bust
ness"
"Why don't you drive him from it %
said the ventriloquist from the bed.
81 wish he dare" said the voice out
side the door.
''Be jabers, ri let you see I dare, %
said Michael, jumping up, Selling his
hickory, and hurriedly opening the
door, ready on sight to knock down
the annoyer.
"Give it to him." said the ventrilo-
quist from the bed.
''Be COR, l believe it's the Old Boy
himself was it," said Michael, "for [
don't see a sowl here"
cts very mysterious" said the ven
triloquist from the bed.
81 WONDER" said Michael, eff there's
any evil spirits in this country?'
II don't know" said the ventrilo-
quist, "but they say the ghosts of de-
parted Indians haunt the place."
go, that was no Indian ghost" said
Michael, "for it spoke as good English
as | do myself"
"And a little better Michael" said
the voice, as if it proceeded from one
standing by his side.
go, the cross O. Christ about us, -
said Michael. "What are you at all,
at all ?"
'No evil spirit, but your guardian
genius" said the voice.
GA mortal queer genius you are, y
said Michael, ''that can be heard and
not seem"
'sGet into bed, then,' 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 I ever could keep tally
Of" said Michael.
"Then you'll pledge yourself to me
to change your mode of life" said the
voice.
cpl do anything you ask me- said
Michael.
"Then I'm off," said the voice, "but
remember, if you attempt to break it
I'll be present, and punish you through
life"
"Who is that you are holding con.
versation WITH" said the ventriloquist
speaking again from the bed.
"Devil one at ALL said Michael
"barrin' some mighty polite, invisible
gentleman, that seems to take grea
interest in my welfare"
80, you are dreaming" said the ven
triloquist, continuing to speak in pro
prja perSopB.
"Faix, it'slike a dream sure enough,
, said Michael.
y Next morning friend asked Mich