The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-11-18

| When a few chapters of this book had
been read, Mr.. Guilfoil's sister insisted
/ that Fred should contTive to remain in
his uncle's house as a sort of amateur
keeper: "Else," cried the good lady,
4" he'll do something dreadful to him.
self, Pm sure"
"I'm pretty certain that uncle is quite
| harmless" said Fred; I" butI'll risk my
throat since you desire it,
And so it came to pass that Fred, with
amiable hypocrisy, pretended faith in
the apparition, and interestin the forth
coming volume, which, indeed, was the
most comical thing ever written, and
got himself invited to his uncle's for a
three months visit.
One evening "a moonlight evening,
exactly like that memorable Halloween
Fred and his uncle sat by the window,
looking down into the street with no
other light in the room than that which
came from without, and Uncle Guilfoil
was talking.
81 never knew how hard literary men
worked before, Fred, said Uncle Gull
foil. "What with writing and making
extracts, and going to the library for
works on psychology and mesmerism,
I'm quite done up. Then I've entered
upon new train of thoughts, and I'm
quite ashamed of my previous blind ig
norance. You know how fused to laugh
at black Deb, your mothers cook, who
said she saw her 'Ole massa' washing
his hands at the stationary tubs one
night. / thought she'd been drinking.
Now l am going to interview her, and
get particulars. Washing his hands was
symbolical, you knOw-washing away
the stains of slave-dealing. All! you
know my experience was symbolical.
I've explained it to you. She won't look
like that; | shan't know her when | see
her; but | shall experience wrath, jeal-
ousy, melancholy, and-Good Lord!"
"What is it, Uncle!" cried Fred,
whose eyes were turned street-ward.
"LoOk!" shrieked Uncle GuilfOil,
pointing into the room, "There she is
again!"
And as Fred turned, he saw before
him a most hideous, diabolical creature
"a woman in red skirt, blue cloak, yell
low bonnet, who shook a hearth-brush
at him; not a solid, substantial woman,
but a spectral and transparent shadow
of one, not IN the room, but on the wall,
as Fred at a glance discovered.
"There she is" said Uncle Guilfoil;
" and Providence has sent you to me to
bear witness of this second appearance
of the phantom"
$50 that is your future" cried Fred,
quite unconcernedly; "See, there she
goes"
The figure had given sideways fling,
flashed over the ceiling, and vanished.
In its place stood rustic, in a green
smock-frock, smoking a pipe, and with
a dog at his heels.
"AnOtheri" cried Uncle GuilfOil.
" Fred, must be material medium
YOU know what | meant can't think
of the correct expression"
"Uncle GuilfOil," said Fred, who had
rushed to the window, and was peering
out, "put on your hat, and come with
me.n
Where?" asked Uncle Guilfoil.
"Oblige me, Uncle said Fred.
ooh, any thing to oblige," said I'm
Gle Guilfoil, who was trembling very
much, and whose voice quaked.
" These experiences upset the nervous
system, Fred"
Fred said nothing; he also took his
hat.
The two went out at the door to-
gether.
"To that confounded Doctors, to tell
him he's a fool?" asked Uncle Guilfoil
hon fn1 hot tn
said Fred; "not so far tonight"
He had crossed the street and as
cended the steps of the house directly
and rang the bell.
"WhO lives here?" asked Uncle Gull |
foil.
"I'll show yOu," said Fred.
Then the door opened, and a servant
girl appeared.
" Can you tell me if there is a magic !
lantern in this house?" asked Fred !
"To the best of my belief some one is
playing pranks with it at this moment
on the second floor"
The girl grinned.
"It's Masther Tom, the villain - said |
she, "and his father'll fog him for it.
But yestherday night didn't he set the
back of the house into fits, wild an old |
woman in a red frock wild a brush she |
did be shakin' at him-and it was a
bastin' he got. And maybe he did that
same to yours"
"Yes," said Fred, she did; but we
don't want the child punished unless he
does it again. Good evening" Where
with he descended the steps.
A very meek old gentleman stood at
their foot. A vanquished scientist, an
awakened seer, a medium reft of his
Fred" he said, meekly, 81 never
once remembered a magic lantern.
haven't seen one since / was a child"
And that night the manuscript of the
great book lay a smouldering heap
within the CRATE, and no one who de-
sires the good graces of Mr.. Horace
Guilfoil has ever mentioned Halloween
to him since.