The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-04-10
Uncle Ben's Ghostly Ride

NV Uncle Ben DeueVe Ii q OSIS VI
course he did he used to say "No
modern mansion of stueco and plaster
for me give me grand old house, all
covered by ivy and hidden by trees,
whose walls are hung with tapestry, and
whose passages, extending from room to
room, make the blood curdle with their
gloom and length. Why, Sir, there is
something enlivening even in its decay !;
the dampness ofits walls, and the cracks
in the discolored ceilings, which only
suggests to the vulgar mind ague and
rheumatism, are evidences to me of It's
venerable age, and responsibility. The
very mice that scamper up and down in
the time-worn wainscoting give me q
friendly greeting that I never meet in
your new-fashioned houses, built for a
race of mammon-worshipers who have
made their wealth out OF shoddy and
petroleum.
I really believe that Uncle Ben valued
the shade that was said to haunt his
house far higher than all his more tangi-
BILE property. Nothing made him more
angry than for any one to doubt its e1-
istence he was always ready to break q
lance with any skeptic on the subject,
and to offer him bed in the haunted
room and, although many of the young
members of the family scoffed at the
story, very few had the courage to accept
the challenge.
One winter night, when the wind was
moaning round the chimney-pots and
through the caves, singing a dirge
among the leafless branches Of the gaunt
old spectral treesfor the joys of the dead
summer, the family was gathered round
the fire in the drawing-room.
Uncle Ben, who was standing with his
back to the fire, said to his nephew
81 think, Joe, we had better put on
another log of wood; I don't feel inclined
for bed yet, and I suppose you youngs
sters intend to sit up half the night, as
usual"
"I don't mean to turn in yet for one,
uncle" replied Joe. "Tel US one Of
your ghost stories; regular blood
cutdler."
"Ah, joe. said the old man, "I am
afraid you are a thorough skeptic. You
disbelieve in all supernatural appear
anees.'' ..
"Certainly." answered Joe, who was
secretary to the Literary Debating So
ciety in the little town of Marlborough,
and who had written an essay to prove
thenon-existence of everything, and that
we are simply the creations of our own
thoughts. Certainly these impalpable
specters are only illusions which the dis
ordered condition of our weak physical
organs bring before US. -. ...
"I own you are q clever lad, Joe, but
I don't care button for your arguments.
I believe in ghosts because I have seen
them"
aOh, I am pen to conviction; if you
introduce me to a bona fde ghost I'll
give in. I believe only in the things
understand ? go. .s..s.
"Joe, If you only believe in what you
understand, yoHr creed will be shorter
than that Of any man I know"
"Can you give us any proof? Gar
you mention one instance in which the
specter has appeared to any one you
know 2? slrry vls1. ... !.
"a hundred, if you wish it," said
the old man. "a. ....,.... 49,.
cone will do; give Us one genuine
case and we viii believe"
"I will; listen. The story that an
about to relate is an incident that hap
pened to myself some twenty years ago
and for the truth Of which I can vouch.
"Wen, proceed" 4r.
".Iwould give you the history of the
specter attached to this house, but thai
only appears to a favored few, and
have not yet seen it, although I have
often enough heard the noises il
makes"
"We should prefer a ghost that car
be seen, if. you have ever met with one.
,"You must understand that the vii
lage inwhich I lived, like many others
possesses its spectral visitor. Abou
100 years ago, an ancestor of mine start
ed for London in his travelling carriage
one evening about the latter end o
June. He was an exceedingly irascibl,
man, and, the coachman was not suf
fciently quick preparing the vehicle
hebecame much ehraged, and used ex
ceedingly passionate language Fo
some time che coachman bore his abus,
patiently, but, at last, be lost his tenn
per, and struck the old gentleman in tn
face. .nasys - -vz-..--...
sword and my ancestor, who was al
ways ready to draw, snatched his wea
pom from his sheath, and, with on