Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-01-06
MICK MURPHY AND THE GHOST.

tie picturesque marine villages which skir
Lake sPontchartrain, on certain occasion las
summer, that eiiectually served to ditpel the
listless enn,li too prevalent in such Places
Among the guests there, for the time being
was Michael Murphy, an eccentric, good natnr
i ed soul, that used TO be par excellence In tho
land Of potatoes hut which now may be called
| potatoless land. lie had been on big bust in
the city, and went over tha fake to dspel the
fumes Of debauch, and take salt baths and SO.
| da water ut the same time.
All this had become known to the ventriio.
| quist who had paid flying visit 10 the place,
and who had such command over his voice that
| he could make 1t do anything, from the squeak
| Ing Of pig under The gate TO the singing Of q
| mocking bird. Believing that Michael was
just about that time In an impresslble state
| In reformatory mood--he thought he would,
through the medium OF his ant, endeavor TO eff
feet favorable change In his morale. With
this view he booked his name for bed in the
same room with Michael, and about IL O'clock
at nieht-that hour 10 superstitious minds SO
fraught with terror-he pitched his votgs out
slds the door, saying ln trombone tone?
g .Michael Murphy! Michael Murphy!! are
"Whos that ?" said Michael, mucn s..r.,.A a
at the sepulchral tone In which the query was
put, and at the time Of putting 1t.
s1Ask me not, but answor," said the yspIrilo-
quist, still continuing his ghost-like accent.
swell, what have YOU got to say ?' said MI
ehael.
"Much of which want you 10 take notice" Z"
said the ventriloquist, or rather the veutrllo-
"Oh, clear off," said Michael, or else I'll give
yen yonr 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 p" 1aid the ven
trloquist, speaking from the he'd.
'Soma dirty hlackguard that's outside the
door thefe,' said Michael, ''interferin' with
what none of his business"
"Why don't you drive him away from it p"
said the ventrloquist from the bed.
81 wish he dare" said the voice outside the
door.
"Be jsbers, III let you see If dare" said
Michael, jumping up seizng his hickory, and
huriedly opening the door, ready on sight Ia
knock down the annoyer.
"Giye 1t 10 him." said the ysRtIiloqulst from
the bed.
"Be gor, believe il's the Old Boy himself,
was H." said Michael, for | don't see soul
here"
"Its very. MYSTERIOUS ssid the venlriloquist
from the bed. .--5..- ....
81 wonder" said Michael, "f THERE'S any
evil spirits In this country?"
~ don't know said the ventilloquist, "bnt
they say the ghost OF! departed Indians haunt
the place" - -,
''0h, that was no Indians ghost" said Nj
chael, ''for 1t spoke. as sgood Euslish as DO my
self"
"And a little better, Michael" said the voice,
AS If proceeding from one standing by his side.
"Oh, the cross % Christ about u.s." said MI
chael. "What are you, at all?'
"So evil spirit, but your guardian genius
said the voice.
"A mortal qrieer leniois you are" said Mi
chael, .'that can be heard and not seem
"You wont do anything bad 10 me-" said
Michael.
"Nothing,i' said the voice.
Honor bright?" said Michael.
"Honor bright" said the voice, you know
| you have been q hard liver.
That's n fact" said Michael.
'You broke the pledge" said the voice.
"Aiore than could keep tally Of" said
Michael
| "Then you'll pledge yourself to me, III al you
will change your mode Of life ?" said the voice
'11l do anything you ask me-" said Michael.
"Thep I'm oh," said the voice, shut remem
Der, il you attempt 10 break It Ill be present
and punish yOn through life."
| "Who is that with whom You ara holding
| conversation ?' said the ventriloIuist, speak
! Ing again from the he'd.
"Devil one at ALL" said Michael, "bariin
some mighty polite, invisible gentleman, that
seems to take great interest In my welfare"
"Oh, you are dreaming" said the ventrilo-
| quist continuing to speak In pfoprla personR.
"Faix, It's like dream, sure enough" said
Michael.
The next morning friend asked Michael to
| take his bltters. lie consented, but Just as
he took the glass in his hand, the voice Of the
ventriloqulsi, who was present, was heard
| above his head, la the air crying out
"'rouch it not, Michael Murphy-remember
ysar promise Ii was enough, Michael would
not taste.
"The pleasure Of the wine With you. Mr.
| Murphy" said gentleman at the table.
| "With pleasure, sir" said Michael, but just
| at that moment q voice was heard to issue
F, from the corner Of the rooIl-it was that of the
ventriloquist VINO sat by hi. side, u.tering his
| sdmonition.
+! Thus the thing went Oh for week, I'LL Mi
chael was then aud forever made tsetotaler.-
He now indus,riously minds his business en-
| joys good health snd prospers. In relation to
the circumstances undel which he became =
teetotaler, he says he has never had the. pleasure
OF seeing his best friend