The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-01-17
NUMBER 90.

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a glo6lnier twilight, and night had fully
set in when, at last, l started for home.
! Il remember hesitating when l reached
the first croSS-road. The nearest road,
which would take me straight home was
: very lonely one, and led by an old church.
yard. \ very dismal place 1t was toe
and many strange stories had gone tie
! rounds Of the neighboring fire-sides, of
winter evenings, about mysterious lights,
and ehoStly shadows, which had been seen
fitting around amongst the tOmbS, arc
mos. of them, rumor said, haunted the
gave of Il man who had come to ms death
by some foul play, a hundred years before.
! In fact, so many of these stories had been
told, that no fresh graves were made there
/ any more from long neglect 1t had oe-
come overgrown with rank weeds and tins
ties and in many places the walls had
crumblcd and fallen away. Now, of
course, | never believed any of these idle
tales, and had always laughed AT them in
broad daylight nevertheless, l had been
| exceedingly careful about passing there
after dark The night of my story, how
ever, | concluded to take the straight road
home, for the wind was bitter cold, and the
other road took me four miles out OF my
way. So | spurrcd up my faithful horse,
Brownie, and was soon gallOpIng over the
hills, and down the valleys, through lone
some forests, and past level fields with here
and there silent farmhouse, until at last
we neared the haunted churchyard.
Gas | said before, it was dark night, as
dark us pocket, and could barely dIscoN-
er the outlines of the low, ruinous walls.
| All the ghostly stories l had ever heard Of
the place darted into my mind, and, IN the
black darkness, l had no power tozreslst
! them.
drawing the cape of my great-coat over
| my head, so that could see neither to the
right nor left, was galloping madly past,
1 in rnH hssfaL
nearly throwing me from the saddle. I
never shall forget the chill of horror that
crept over me as | turned toward the
church yard and saw, what appeared to
/ be-
"A ghost - exclaimed Jack.
''What appeared to be, continued grand
father, "a great fire not a real, blazing,
! crimson hearted fire, but a pale yellow sheet
of flame, perhaps ten feet high. BY the
light of the fire | could discern something
| Lohfte, slowly moving around 1t.
''Oh - sighed Oracle, growing pale, and
/ even mother left her work drop, forgotten,
| into her lamp.
s.To add to my terror, the air suddenly
! grew full of meanings, and piteous wall
ings, which would die away into soft,
sobbng sound, and then return louder than
ever.
81 spurrcd Brownie on with all my
Z might, thinking 10 hurry away from this
fearful scene, but it was Of no use the
| poor animal plunged from side to side,
and reared back, but would not stir step
forward. l saw plainly that l could not
go past the churchyard that night; to so
/ back to the cross roads with the north wind
| i'll my face was not to be thought of.
''In this strait, it occurred to me that L
| was very foolish to be afraid of a poor
! ghost, who was only trying to make hln-
| self comfortable this raw November night.
! Besides, l delighted i'll adventures, and
I with chattering teeth, boldly resolved to
go in and speak to his ghostship. Jump
ing down, fastened Brownie to the near
est tree and then, very slowly, climbed
over the church-yard wall.
! Summoning up all my courage, hurried
bravely on, keeping my eyes fixed, all the
! while, upon the phantom, lest it should dis
appear Sometimes would fancy it beck
= oned to me. and then such mournful voices
would sob and moan in all the willow trees
! as passed by. My knees trembled, and
! fairly knocked together as neared the fire,
while the voices grew louder, and loader,
! until they seemed to scream and shrek
with terror. Imagine my feelings, when
the ghost, raising his head, uttered a loud,
piercing neigh"
'.Myt' cried Milly, nearly tumbling out
of her chair.
I..ugning until his fat sides shook again.
''Ho me 1t was only neighbor Williams
old gray horse that had broken through
gap in the wall
s'And the voices, grandpa - said Oracle.
"'They were only the winds, my chilG,
whistling dismally through the tree tops"
"But, grandpa, how can you account for
that fire ?'' asked Jack, who felt disappoint-
ed at this commonplace ending.
Il believe did shudder little when I
touched the flames and found they were
| cold" said grandfather. ''It was so un-
natural, you know but my fears soon van-
ished when L found the spectral fire to be
an old stump | had often seen in broad
daylight. 1t was covered with species of
! phosphorescent fungi, which, in the night,
! gave out pale light. As the stump was
eight to ten feet high, it appeared in the
distance to be great fire. L have often
seen and read of this fungi since. In the
coal mines near Dresden it covers the pill
lars, walls, and roof, lighting up the whole
place with great splendOT, and giving it
the air of an enchanted castle. In Brazil
it grows on the decaying leaves of the
dwarf palm. A. night the whole plant
gives out a bright phosphorescent light, Of
a pale greeniSh hue, similar to the light of
the larger fire-flies. From this circum-
stance it is called by the inhabitants ''E'l0r
do Coco" | could not help laughing to
myself when l thought of how many poor
mortals had been frightened by this limo
cent old stump. / put several mOIseIs oI
the fire into my pockets and found, by eN-
pertinent Afterwards, that the Ilght gwen
out by few of these fungi, III dark Iooiii'
is sufficient to read by Io;,..,
s.Now, dear children. you see Spohed
,,.,- - host story by walking mp 70 tho
ghost 2; and you may all be assured that
the most feani idra h"OEo9lins %s y0@ eDe5 met
s.,i,.s If you viii only turn and bravely
face them"
s'Did you ever play ghost again ?'' asked
Jack, who was picking for another story
'.No, Jack, " returned grandfather, II
never had any fancy for such tricks after
wards. ! had found out how it felt to be
frightened half ont of ones wits, and Jack,
my lad, always remember that if II hut
poor joke where the fun is al, on one side
From What Ns1t p Chicago.