Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-08-08

ChOker's Resurrection.
The only true ghost story know is the
story of Choker's Ghost. That is posi-
tive fact, we'll atLcsted. All the neighbors
know what happened. All the neighbors
saw all that was TO be seen. All the
neighbors SAW how it began; and ms it is
the story of Choker's ghost, it could not
have begun until Choker died.
Old Choker he had been called for II
good many years-before he was actually
old, l should suppose; but he was very
queer fellow, II man without relatives or
friends, and who seemed to want none.
He was Il mysterious man, too.
He had wooden leg, and no one knew
how he came by it.
He had Il black patch over one eye, and
no one could tell why he wore it,
He had II rusty brown wig, and there
was no man intimate enough to know
whether he adopted it because lie was bald
or because he was gray.
He had u deposit in the bank, and no
one knew how he earned the money.
lie came IL stranger to Grabtown and
bought house and little farm there,
giving his name us Guy Choker.
That was all that anybody knew about
him except that he had the best crops 10
be seen for miles around.
He never went to church, and never
chattcd to II neighbor.
No one knew anything against him; as
they knew nothing, they suspected a great
deal; and when ut last he was found dead
one morning, all the boltled-up curiosity
popped out us champagne does when 1t is
uncorked.
Everybody went to see him where he
lay.
1t was decided that he died of apo
pleXy.
There was no relatives to see him, bu
there would probably be plenty left to pay
for his funeral. so there was no difficulty
about that.
The clergyman said IL doubtful sort o
good word for him, and us he was 'io"d i't
one contradicted it.
And Peggy Kinder, who said she WASH
afraid of anything, was put into the hous'
to take care of it.
She knew old Choker very well, having
g done washing for him for five years.
I That night, the weather being chill,
Spring weather, she made up II good fir
in the kitchen and slept on an old loung
there.
Once in the night she woke up ant
thought she heard the clump, clumr
clump OF II wooden leg overhead, bu
though she felt Il chill run up her back
i bone ut the thought, she made up lie
-
v mind that 1t was all nonsense, and wen
:. back to sleep again.
9 At six she was up and had put NOR
coal on the fire and was filling the kettle
II when positiyely-no fancy about IL thi
e time-she did hear that clump' rlum
h again across the room up STAIRS hall
- dozen times, then down the stairs.
The sound OF Choker's wooden leg, an
o nothing else; and as she turned abon
!, shaking and trembling she saw Choke
d himself at the door IN his Dig nowere
dresslng-gown, with the black patch oV'
lie his eye, and the brown wig on.
81 Lord have mercy on us cried Peggy.
N Then as Choker nodded cheerlully m
III said:
so Breakfast ready yet? she grew bewil
lie cred.
nj I've been having holrld dream, 81
G. she said, getting away from the hgur
Ell though, rs she spoke; and Its us natural
life. dreamed you were dead, Sir; but
was so natural that you skeer me.
rs DO j? said Choker' why, bless
80 we must all die.
Us Yes, sir, said feggy.
IS Ana all be buried too' SAID ChoNer.
Is, know that, said Peggy.
,er Only all of us won't stay buried 81
H. Choker, putting his hnSer TO MS nose
"0 And at that Peggy never waited ev
9rs Tor her bonnet but bolt out OF the hou
M and came tumbIing into her dauShte
he half an hour after, shaking win lrlS
W. W. and vowing she had seen Choker's ghos
nd The daughter was nearly as mu
mo- frightened AS her mother, anu the ne
ire spread, but nobody believed it.
sts AT last every one said 1t was rldlculo'
the and that Peggy had been drinking
led She did drink more than was good
la her now and then; and at last the und
is taker himself accompanied by Tue co
in ner-the Two men nervous on inc Supj
,ed OF ghosts and besides VINO nau lnorou
tlv knowledge OF ChoGer 5 dealh anu Duria
OFT went 10 the mousse to9eInor' acconipah
ten by tram OF admirers WGo kepO ~ u
pectlul distance as they knocked at
door.
1here was no answer 10 1lle llrs' nm hh'
has bUt haVhS Khockea "Saln' cluinp, olu
mi came the wooden leg across tne Piss''
~ and there In the door stoo" oiu 0noAer
HVely onc hli1" 11 il'i'' ;. oo,,,r ho
ing lie wore his OLD dresslhS-Spwn' ne
In Iittle on one side as usnal'
in ilItle oii ouo er',V 10 Usual,