The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-05-14
AUNT sARAH's GHOST.

AUNT SAkAHS HHOSI.
"It's all very well to laugh at ghost,
and spirits" said Aunt Sarah, lookinf
solemnly at rs, f but, my dears, there
are more things In this world than YOU
know Of"
That's from Shakespeare. Aunt
Sarah"
"Suppose it isP" replied the old
lady, adjusting her cap; "it's true,
nevertheless"
"Oh, it's quite true but did you
ever really see a ghost =" we asked, all
anxiety to hear her strange expert
ence
tive seen a ghost" answered Aunt
Sarah, slowly, "iust as plainly as I see
you now"
ooh, how dreadful r" we all ex-
claimed. "TelI us about it, Aunt
Sarah" And we drew our chairs
closer around the table, and wondered if
| Thorn wasn't coming soon to Light the
gas.
Amt Sarah smiled upon us with the
conscious superiority of wisdom, but,
we'll pleased to be the center of so at
tractive a circle, put aside her knitting
and commenced as follows
90 A great many years ago was stay
| ing, with number of other guests, at
a friends house in the country. Among
the various people, old and young, who
were gathered there, was a maiden lady
of rather mature age; in fact, she ought
long ago to have taken her degree as a
| confirmed old maid. Some people SO
dread the approach of age that they
cling to the semblance of youth almost
with the tenacity of despair. Miss Big
low-that was her name-was one of
this kind and so, by the aid of pains,
powder and false hair, she really made
herself look twenty years younger than
what we knew to be her actual age. It
was even whispered that her cheeks
owed their seeming plumpness to some
mysterious cause not attributable to
nature. Now, girls, !" said Aunt Sarah,
pausing for a moment, and looking
sternly upon us, q" hate this deception,
and hope none of you paint, or powder,
or wear false hair.
Goodness, Aunt Sarah You don't
think we wear false hair, do you %
cried Bessie Gray, putting up her hand
to ascertain if her chignon was in its
right place.
q am sure don't know, my dear,
but hope not. Well, one day an elder
ly gentleman arrived at the house, in
tending 10 spend a week in fishing,
hunting, or idling about, as most of Is
were doing. This gentleman was very
rich, and avowedly looking for wife.
Under these circumstances it is not sur
prising that he at once became the lion
of the day.
''The evening on which he arrived
saw Miss Biglow painted and powdered
TO the verge of observation-disclosures
that may be-and looking, to an unprac-
tised eve, almost girlish.
It was really wonderful, my dears,
to see how the eligible bachelor-Mr.
GoOdman-took to her from the first.
We really became afraid that she would
carry off a prize for which so many
blushing young ladies had angled in
vain.
''NIiss Biglow seldom came down
stairs in the morning, and when she
ventured out always wore n thick veil
to protect her skin, which she said was
very tender indeed. OF course We knew
the reason, but Mr.. Goodman, like all
other men, was SIS blind as a bat, and
as easily taken in by woman as any
chi d would be. 1t would not have
been fair for us to undeceive him, you
know, for I think women ought to re
spect each others little secrets.
Honor among thieves, murmured
Bessie.
'My dear, that is not pretty sim
lie" said Aunt Sarah, gravely. But
let me 90 on with my story. One even
ing we were all sitting at the open win
dow, in the moonlight, and, by some
means or other, the conversation turned
upon the habit of wearing false hair,
and other deceptions of a like nature.
"'I never want to marry a woman
who would wash out like a cotton nm
Il.
Goodman.
"'I quite agree with You, answered
Miss Biglow. It must be dreadful to
use all those things that you were talk
ing about
"Mr. Goodman glanced approvingly
toward her, but Gertie EdmOnds pinehed
my arm and whispered:
"'I'll bet pair of gloves that she
won't stand washing
I'D like to try it. I answered.
'tGirIs are always thoughtless and
foolish, " said Aunt Sarah, sagely, "and
I was no exception to the rule. That
speech of Mr.. Goodman's suggested a
wicked thought to Gertie Edmonds; it
was that we should all go out in the
boat next day, taking, if possible, Miss
Biglow with us and when in quite
shallow water, manage to upset the
boat"
"And then" said Gertie, g it wouId
be such fun to see the paint wash off her
face"
ct regret to say, my dears, that I en-
tered into this wicked joke with a hear
ty good will, but was repaid for my
share in it by what happened afterward,
as you Will see by and by.
q" At first Miss Biglow absolutely re-
fused to go on the water at all, but by
Mr.. GOodman's earnest solicitations she
at last teonsentedto to make one of theparty.
Besides Mr.. Goodman there were two |
other young gentlemen, cousins of Ger /
ties, and need scarcely tell you that /
they entered with delight into our plot |
against the unfortunate Miss Biglow.
IS Next day we dressed ourselves as /
plainly as possible, not caring to ruin /
our best things by our contemplated |
ducking in the lake. Everything went |
on as well as could be wished, and we /
pushed out gently from the sSore, with 4
our unsuspec ing victim on board. We |
had agreed to row along the shore to a 4
place where we girls sometimes went IN /
bathing, and then, at a given signal, /
manage to upset the boat.
"Mr. Goodman was whispering some /
soft nonsense into Miss Biglow's ear,
when Henry Edmonds gave the precon- /
certed signal, and we all headed over at /
once to pick water lily. Over went |
the boat, and in an instant everybody /
was fioundering about N three feet of
water. A terrific scream from Miss Big
low, some violent splashing and trem-
bling on the part of Mr.. Goodman, and
then we saw him rescue her bodily from
the water, and carry her triumphaniiy
to the shore.
"We followed without delay, and
found Mr.. Goodman sitting on the bank,
gazing IN direst dismay at the object be
had 50 gallantly carried TO shore. Poor
Miss Biglow did not look prepossessing;
oDd the fwo ruda vOung enusins OF