Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1874-10-24
THE GHOST RAISER.

The following admirable tale, winch
appeared in print some fifteen years
ago, was brought to our recollection by
the thrilling ghost story related
yesterday evening by a city contem'
porary:
My Uncle Beagley, who commenced
his commercial career very early II
the present century as hangman, val
tell stories. Among them, he tells
his Single Ghost story so often, thai
am heartily tired of. In self-de-
fense, therefore, I publish the tale, IL
order that when next the good, kind
old gentleman offers to bore us with
it, everybody may say they know it.
l remember every word of 1t.
One fine autumn evening, about for
ty years ago, was travelling on horse.
back from Shrewsbury to Chester.
felt tolerably tired, and was begin.
ming to look out for some snug way
side inn, where 1 might spend the
night, when a sudden and violent
thunderstorm came on. My horse,
terrified by the lightning, fairly tool
the bride between his teeth, and
started off with me at full gallon
through the lanes and cross roads, un-
til at length I managed to pull him
up lust near the door of a neat-loOk-
ing country inn.
''Weu," thought I, ''there was wat
in your madness, ,Eold boy, since il
brought US to this comfortable refuge.
And alght ng, gave him in charge
to the stout farmers boy who acted as
| hostler. The inn-kitchen,NYh was
also the guest-roOm, was large, clean,
neat, and comfortable, very like the
pleasant hostelry described by 4saaE
Walton There were several travellers
already in the roOm-probably, IKE
myself, driven there for shelter-ani
they were all warming themselves bl
the blazing fire while waiting for sup.
per. 1 Joined the party. Presently
being summoned BY tho hostess, We
all sat down, twelve in number, to s
smoking repast of bacon and eggs
corned beef and carrots, and stweC
| hare.
The conversation naturally turned
on the mishaps OecasiOned by the
storm, of which every one seemed Il
have had his full share. One haC
! been thrown off his horse; another
driving in his gig, had been upset in I
muddy dyke; all had got thorough
wetting, and agreed unanimously
4 that it was dreadful weather. regu
4 lar witches sabbath
Witches and ghosts prefer for then
sabbath a fine moonlight night tC
such weather as thisl'
L. II
emn tone, and with strange emphasi:
by one of the company. He was {
tall, dark looking man, and I had sci
him down in my down in my OWL
mind as a travelling merchant or ped
dler. Ny next neighbor was a gay
well looking, fashiOnably dressed
young man, who, bursting into a pea
of laughter, said:
"You must know the manners anC
customs of ghosts very well, to be
able to tell that they dislike getting
wet or muddy"
The first speaker, giving him dark
fierce look, said:
Young man, speak not lightly o
things above your comprehension"
do YOU mean to imply that Their
are such things as ghOsts?'
Perhaps there are, if you had cour
age to look at them"
The young man stood up, tiushe,
with anger. But presently resuminl
his seat, he said, calmly:
THAT taunt should cost you dear
if it we're not such a foolish one.'-
"a foolish onem exclaimed the mer
chant, throwing on the table a heav,
leathern purse. ''There are fift,
guineas. I am content TO lose them
if, before the hour is ended, I do no
succeed in showing you, who are :,
obstinately preiudiced, the form o
any one OF your deceased friends; AM
if alter you have recognized him
you allow him to kiss your hps,''
We all looked at each other, but m,
young neighbor, still in the sam
moeking manner, replied:
''You viii do that, viii you?''
''Yes," said the other, Il will stak
these fifty guineas, on condition tina
you will pay a similar sum if yol
lose.' -.