Weekly Trinity journal., 1878-03-16
TOM LEGGETS GHOST.

lOll L6RSot was ln0 Maine Oh very
eccentric individual who formerly lived
in the town of Greenfield, Vermont. His
eccentricity was not Of that kind which
made him unpopular by either word or
act. Indeed, Tom would not have will
lingly injured the meanest insect that ev-
or crawled. Still, he had his errors
grave errors-and excessive drinking was
one Of them.
In Squire Deans store, on q stormy
night in Winter, after inviting all hands
to drink, Tom would launch into the
creates; maze of yarns about this, that
and the other, ever heard of. 1t was ac-
knowledged by all that. when about half
tipsy, he could inven: moro lies than any
other man in town.
On the night when the following story
of his was told-which give as near per-
6dti8e as l remsm berthe squire's store
was pretty we'll filed with q motley as
semblage of neighbors. Some we're seat
cd in chairs around the stove, others on
top of barrels, and some on the lower end
of the counter. Customers were scarce,
and tho company present were mainly
bent upon the enjoyment of their pipes.
with nip now and thon at the squire's
cider, which contained something little
stronger than apple juice. "A few feeble
jokes had been gotten off at somebody's
expense in the company, which were not
relished any too well, when Tom opened
with the following interrogatory.:-
" | say, squire, did ye ever hear toll of
genuine ghost about these parts--a real
downright, out-and out ghost 7"
d" No, Tom, | never did, unless that
lame mule Of Farmer Jones', which the
boys whitewashed and tied to the church
bell, was one."
" Nary timo, squire !" said the un-
lucky owner of that piece of mule fesh,
who occupied one of the barrel heads
Those boys got their deserts, and that
'ore mule is jest as pretty an animal as
ever ye laid eyes on, now."
"Then Tom had better give us his sto-
ry, for have never heard that one about
the mule beaten yet. What say the
company 2"
"Tho story The story - they all
exclaimed.
Tom cleared his throat, adjusted him
self to more comfortable position in his
chair before the glowing FIRE, and COM
menced -
eall remember tho cold, clustering
disagreeable weather of last twentieth of
November, suppose 1t was the night
jeff Knox's brindled steer died, aud all
the ponds hereabout froze up solid. Well,
on that night, as some of you we'll know.
for sec 'em here now. was seated with
you around this stove and engaged in
about the same divartsoment. We got
rather noisy as the hours wore on, and at
last the squire here turned us all out OF
doors. Didn't ye, squire 2"
" 1t was about the hour of closing, l
think" mildly answered the squire.
Yes, and as we stood shivering around
the doorstep, tho midnight express came
laundering through tho town, and ye
asked us all in again for night cap
Well, when reached home that night
some one had left a light on the sitting
room table, with mate to il In tho fro
place. / thought it strange that such a
big, roaring fire should have been left for
me to 20 to bed by-quite an unusual
thing. The old people have set up later
than common | thought, never once
thinking Of the boys. sat down in the
big arm chair in front Of the fireplace,
took off my boots and put them beside
tho fender, and then lay back and watch
cd the hugo back log blaze.
"This is solid comfort" thought L.
" Here am, having nice time OF II,
and outside the weather is cold as blazesi
" decided to have little smoke, and
then retro so | blew out the light and
put my feet upon the fender. Very soon
after fell asleep in the chair, with the
pipe in my mouth. had distinct re.
membrance Of hearing the bell ring one,
and of comparing the time with our old
clock in the corner. Ii was Just two
minutes behind. Whom l awoke, the
hand pointed TO three. had slept two
hours. Re-liKhting my pipe, turned
my attention toward the fire which had
g>t down to embers. Fuel was added.
and l soon had the pleasure OF feeling
myself growing warmer, for the room
had cooled off rapidly during my sleep.
" 1t was halfpast three o'clock when T
concluded to retire. rose 10 get the
lamp, when my eye fell upon tho west
window, which looks out into an old
corndeld back of the house. Was it fan
cy 2 Did my eyes deceive mo thought
as | looked Il mans face dropped down
out OF sight. The curtain moved as il
some one had hit ii Intentionally and sot
it curveting from side TO side, / did not
see how it could be done with the window
shut. While was watching 1t. and try
ing TO think where the DRAFT came from,
the object that first gave me the shock
came into view. | stood there looking
straight iLto the Dom, a manor at least
mans face.
" Heavens and earth What ails the
man ?" / asked myself.
There was in his face such an expres-
sion Of diabolical wickedness as never
again wished to behold. He made no
movement nor spoke word to explain
himself Blu. right there, under the win
dow, in black, shiny broadcloth coat,
an old silk hat that had seen many chan.
ges in fashion set jauntily on one side OF
his head, for all the world like second
a1tt 81 h. L 4 +.