Middletown transcript., 1876-12-09
Aulnorolls.

of small Centennial hotel, situated near
the grounds, determined to have some
amusement at the expense Of old Dick,
the colored night porter and watchman.
1t was late before they returned from
the theatre, and before retiring to their
rooms. they spent an hour around the
Office stove relating, within Dicks hear
ing, some of the most blood -curdling
ghost stories ever heard by mortal ear
"Dick, did you ever SEQ . ghost !"
inquired one Of the number.
Don't know. couldn't swar to it. but
l specs has," answered Dick.
What would you do. Dick. if you
should happen to Gee ghost this very
night?"
"Wby just 60 right up to dat ghost
take him by de arm. ard say. Look
ysre, what does yer want running around
here dis hour Of de Dight2 Why doesn't
yer go back to yer gravel"
'.Then you arc not afraid Of ghosts.
Dick 7"
Afraid, !" scornfally repeated Dick
docs I look like a niggar dat would
be skeered at ghost? No. indeedy."
And then. With q coptemptuous toss Of
bis woolly head. be picked up the coal
scuttle and started towards the cellar
By the time be returned the party had
all vanished. but plot had been formed
by which it was determind to put Dicks
vauDted courage to test before many
minutes. 3
Now it happened to be among Dicks
duties to extinguish the lights in all the
halls after 12 O'Clock, and usually, in
making his rounds, be completed that
job in the long hall. whore all the con-
spirators slept. This hall. which was
very long and narrow. was lighted dur
ing the day BY two small windows. one
at each end. The plan Of the conspira-
torsrwas to wait until Dick extinguished
the hast light and was returning towards
the Office, then one Of their number was
to step from room, enveloped in
sheet, and asuddesly confront him.
Should be shrek and turn to flee,
another at the other extreme end was to
confront him in similar manner.
Presently the conspirators heard
Dicks well-known steps pass along the
hall, and the gloom that followed in
formed them that all the lights had been
extinguished. Then unsteady footsteps
were heard asif man was cropping bis
way back. Noisslessly : door at one
end swung open and a frightful figure
in white stepped out and stood clearly
and distinctly defined in the moonlight
"Ol de good Lord Oh de good
debbl3 PSas iwsy. gone away now,
please good mister debbil I done tole
yer dis chile nebber done muffin to YER"
gasped Dick. suddenly pausing. bis
shiningeyes bnlgipg out, and bis whole
frame quivering like an aspen leaf.
Still the figure moved not
Look yere,"" sobbed poor Dick. fall
ing on bis knees, sdis chile nebber
called yer bad names. Oh! good debbil,
gone away now"
The apparition slowly drew towards
him Seeing it was advancing, Dick
sprang to bis feet with terrible shrek,
and turned to fee, only to find himself
confronted by another horrible spectre
at the other end Of the ball.
"Oh, good mister second debbil."
moaned Dick, falling prone upon the
floor and clasping the supposed ghost
around the legs 'Indeed | didn't do
muffin to yer. Indeed | didn't" be con-
tinusd. bobbing bis head against the
ghosts feet
Finding the figure did not stir or
speak. Dick slowly raised his head,
gased shyly and curiously down upon
the booted feet, revealed to view by the |
moonlight, glanced upward at the form
above. felt Of the limbs .hi1 arms encir-
cled. and then as sudden light ap-
peared to dawn upon bis intellect, he
rose to his feet and exclaimed:
He, he, now Yer thought you bad
dis old niger skeered. didn't yer? Look
at dem feet Of yours. Look at dem now
See dem humber lebben boots. and Just
s'pose any fool wouldn't know dat a
ghost didn't have feet like dem Gone
away nov Yer feet is too natural to
play ghost wid,' and amid roars Of
laughter from the entire party Dick
walked away as pompous and consequent
tal as if he had achieved . wonderful |
victory.
UTILIZING HUSBAND -.sY Your hus-
band is sick good sight of late. bent
he 7" remarked Southern Illinois wo-
man to another, one day last week.
"Yes." answered the wife, "he's got |
tuck down mighty hard with them ere
ager shakins agin."
Il shed think it 'ud be sorter dis
tressin' like to have him around the
house," remarked the other. sympathiz-
ingly, "spec'y when yer at home clean
in,