The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-06-02
JUVENILE COLUMN.
ABOUT GHOSTS.

ABOUT GHOSTS.
You youngsters know we'll enough for
all practical purposes what is meant by
superstitious. Believers In the greatest
nonsense and humbug, persons subject to
fear from "something queer" something
very odd and unaccountable," "mysteri-
ous," and apparently belonging to the
and in every country. The lower classes
in many countries have as firm q belief in
charms for cattle, and as great faith in some
kinds Of witchcraft as the most ignorant
among the negroes or the North American
Indians. The upper ten thousand have
their snperstitions beliefs as truly as the
lower ten thousand have theirs.
Belief in the eviI eye, or in the supposed
malicious influence of the look of certain |
persons, lie as common and as deeply rooted |
In Palestine as in Lochaber. have met |
doot whatever" most intelligent man re-
marked to me in Lochaber, "that Mac
bad the evil eye, that's certain 1 have
known many cases where a calf or even a
cow died the day after he stopped and |
looked at her." And educated persons
he really has the power, bat l do confess
that I would rather he passed by in silence
than that he should express his admiration
for any living thing in my possession"
And as for Palestine, on one occasion when
| in the north of that country, asked my
whom had shown the photographs of my
children, how delighted was with the
health and beauty of his family. The
dragoman explained that the sheik would
| be miserable if said so, as he would fear
| the "evil eye"
a belief in Ghosts, or spirits of the de-
parted, visiting the earth is also common.
Many people never realize the impossibility
of seeing with the eye of the body what is
not a body, neither are they capable of in
vestigating calmly the evidence for the ex-
istence of anything beyond the range of our
present experience.
will tell you true story, however, of
grave digger who was wiser than most peo-
pie in this matter. There were some boys
boarding with q teacher whose house was
not far from country churchyard. They
determined to alarm the old grave-digger,
who was in the habit of reaching his cot
tage, often late at night, by shortcut
through the bCrying-ground. One boy who
was especially mischievous, and had often
. teazed old Andrew, dressed himself up in
white sheet, and while his companions
: were to lie Hat upon the graves moaning
Warren" as he was called, was TO rise up
slowly behind headstone land finally stand
ON its top, with his long drapery falling
down on every side, 80 as to give great
height and dignity to his person: Aftel
waiting (but not without some anxiety ant
. fear} for Andrew, he was at last seen aP
preaching the memorial stone behind which
, Warren was esconced. Soon a number o
: low means were heard coming from thu
graves.
> "Keep us az" exclaimed Andrew
: "whats that7" and as he approached
i slowly and cautiously towards the tomb
E stone, white figure arose, and got tale
= and taller before his eyes. "What's this !
asked Andrew, with . voice which seeme'
= to tremble with fear, although if any on
! had seen how he grasped his stick, b
:, would not have noticed his hand trembling
|. "It's the resurrection " exclaimed til
:, irreverent Bully Warren.
"The resurrection" replied Andrew
/" May I take the leeberty O. askin," b
- continued, slowly approaching the ghost
y I" if it's general one, or are ye just takin'
;" quiet daunder (saunter) by yersepf' 5
= selling it, while number of other smale
and darker ghosts rose and ran of in te!
ror to the school house, he exclaimed
,. "Come AVA wi me! 1 think I surel
haena buried ye deep eneuch, when ye ca
" rise sac easy! But haze dug fine dee
=. =; cover ye up with sac miokle yirth, that M
~: =. word yen no git cot for anither daunder
~ So saying, Andrew, by way of carryin
~ his threats out, dragged Master Bully WA
40 rem towards newly-made grave! tn
a boys horror may be imagined, a. Andre
y y He assailed the old man with agonize
~ petitions for mercy, for he was q gre'
y, "a coward. "I'm not o ghost! Oh, Andrew
y, ~ Pm Peter Warren Andrew! Andrew
~ don't bury mel I'll never annoy 70
10 again! Don't bury me! Oh--o-o-o:o
20 he considered due punishment, let Ware
y, ,s off with the admoHition, "Never daur tt
% speak o. guide things in yon way New
s 10 play at ghaists again, or leeven folk lii
30 me may grip ghaist like you, and TAX
Il. stick tae ye! Aft VII ye"
Up -,
q ANEcDoTE OF Tom CoRw1N.-When tt
he late Tom Corwin was quite a young mt
T." he was elected q member of the Gener
| A for tba State of Ohio and ear