The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-11-28
|. NEW AND TRUE GHOST STORY.


/ NEW AND TRUE GHOST STORY.
BY JAMKs +. FIELDs
Come my Tavvie, Jennie, florey,
Paul and Maidie. II 'twont bore We
Come and hear my new ghost story
-<4.rtain true " IL In. aud therefore
Something that perhaps you'n care Tor
or the rocks we'll sit together.
La this blessed summer weather.
Holding hands. the mooniikht watchihs'
With no fear of bad cold catching.
Paul. YOU rogue, II you don't falter,
You shall win q prime Gibraltar"
and the girls shall have four others,
Inst a. IL they were our brothers.
Now we're seated, all Is ready,
So be silent, firm and steady.
Never mind, 1t Is no matter
III your teeth do clash and clatter.
They are wisdom teeth that chatter
When a true ghost story rises,
Filling US with new surprises.
On the beach that lies before ye
liz the scene of my ghost story,
And IL came to pass In July.
-Sure as eggs Is eggs " and truly.
Well. IL really makes me shudder
When think in what pudder
That same night my nerves went jumping,
And my heart kept loudly humping.
Deary me- let's all sit snugger,
In general kind of hugger,
80 IL any sprite should bump US
Wen together share the rumpus.
I'm sleepless kind of fellow:
Moonlight always makes me mellow;
And like to walk when people
Are as silent as a steeple
Where the bell-rope has been rended
Twenty years, and can't be mended.
So, last month, when all was Silly
Midnight, moonlight, nothing chilly
From our hilltop descended,
And by "Masconomo" wended.
Overh ad the stars ceased swinging;
Underfoot the b ach stopped singing;
Not mollusk then was stirring;
Not a fairy-puss was purring
Not love-sick pertwinkle
III guitar took out to nkle;
All the sirens, silver dripping,
Into amber caves wer- slipping;
Even Neptune, that old schemer,
VentuI ed to become dreamer
Everything and everyb dy
Passed into the land of Noddy.
1 began TO feel quite creepy,
Thinking of a world so sleepy;
Still kept on, walking, walking,
Sometimes to myself low talking,
Sometimes sotto-voce chanting
Songs like Shelles's that come haunting
All our ire h-awakened senses
with their lovely moods and lenses.
Tennyson sang and shouted;
Longtellow's brave words spouted;
Homer, with his grand emotion,
How l Numbered to the oceani
All the bards seemed there assembled,
Az alone / walked and trombled.
In my memories aud forgeteries
Never night had such 81 cgterds:
Never did the moon shiie brighter;
Never did the waves dance lighter,
Warmth and coolth were gently blended,
Like two lovers, Triton-tended;
Every breeze came in caressing,
Freighted with an amorous blessing.
Solitude oped every portal.
Never was u lonelier mortal!
Still trudged along, and listened
Now aud then, as round me gliaened
Sand and rock, but not a whisper
Came from any human hsper.
What is that so white and tiny,
Moving slowly toward the briny
Pausing, resting, tripping, slidingI
Heavens what is that baby visien.
Wandering there from haunts Elysian,
Coming nearer. nearer. nearer,
Growing clearer, clearer, clearerr
Soon my hair began TO bristle,
And / tried in in TO whistle.
Could it be ghost invidious,
Moving on with step insidious,
Bent on helpless mans destruction,
Like vampire full of suctionf
should rnnf-that was the question.
Perish such base suggestion
MOI because my limbs rheumatic
banished feats on land aquatic.
Shou boldly lace the danger,
And regard the little straneerf
Sure that form is nothing human
But pigmy faery womanl
Now the figure ceases motion,
Gazing oct upon the ocean.
s.hat pair of eyes to look ont
What an arm for love to hook oni
oh. what golden ringlets rippled!
Mouth where spirits might have tippled.
And become inebriated,
Kissing oft but never stated
Pesrly hands just left of waving,
Pinky toes in foam beds LAYING,
what ravishing admixture,
Gracing that infantine fixturei
What impelled me then TO snatch up
In my arms this ghostly catch-up,
Who can telly can't determine.
But did, as IL 'twere ermine,
Or bunch of pure-white roses,
Lilies, or any other posies.
Yes, 1 did: aud then, good grsciousi
What happened thenf Don't be rspacious :
Five young listeners knew tn sequel;
10 write il out don't feel equal.
But, II you will take your pottage
Some day in our Gambrel Cottage,
I'll explain to lads and lasses
What the ghost was. IL surpasses,
Paul says, mortal comprehension,
And quite worthy your attention.
H0rDeg's N00nzine