The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-10-05
A Typical Ghost.

ooh, dearl" groaned Mrs. Capt. Steb
bins, as she leaned back in her big, stuffed,
calioo-covercd arm chair, aid held her felt
slippered feet to the fire. ''Oll, dear!
have got u terrible cold, my teeth are sore,
the chills go creeping down my spine, and
my bones ache 80 severely that am sure
shal. have the rheumatic fever if I don't
get some spea-mint from beyond the inca
dow and take a green spearmint sweat.
But Is too dark for any one to 90 for the
mint might and the fever will be settled
before morning."
81 will go" said Lucina Fairman, one of
the neighbors' little girls, who had just run
in, IL will go, Mrs. stebbina, if Becky
will 20 with me "
Gan right" said Becky, who was Mrs.
Stebbns slster-in law, stout buxom
girl Of fifteen. 81 will be ready ip one
minute: You are real kind to take so much
trouble, Lucina, should have gone my
self hours ago, only didn't know the way,
and don't know spearmint from any other
plant or weed"
II should as soon 60 alone Us not" said
pleasant little Lucina, s'only rather dis
like to 60 past the burying ground in the
twilight-poor gandfatEer's grave looks so
lonesome, with, the grass not yet green
over it."
Becky stood near the door, tying on her
sun bonnet; but just then she pulled it off
and throwing 1t into the nearest chair, said
decidedly:
II have changed my mind 1 won't 90
single step!"
ooh, how perverse in you, Bcclly!" OK
postulated Mrs. Stebbins, beginning to
Dnl. ,1,,l~ 1s411
Stood by, watching her for Il moment, and
then said:
elbow foolish in mel am ashamed of
myself! If grandfather vert alive, l am
sure he would be ashamed of he. There
in lifetime" and seizing small basket,
the moving lot toward the brook US fast as
her small flying feet would carry her.
''She is one in thousandl" exclaimed
Mrs. Stebbins. "Shc is accommodating
and kind-heartcd and sensible, and puts
her own incllnations by when they conflict
with the needs of others. How unknd of
you, Becky, not to 60 with the poor little
soull"
But Becky had slipped out, and a min
ute or two later Mrs. Stebbins saw her
pass the kitchcn-window with white
bundle Ill her arms.
Lucina had been gone barely fifteen min
utes when Mrs. Stebbcns heard her flying
feet coming up the plank-walk to the
kitchen-door
The small basket crowded full Of spear
mint, was thrown into the room, and oblig-
ing little Lucina fell upon the floor, white
and limp, in a dead faint.
Mira Stphhin ar,r0pp from, har or,,
chair, and, lifting the insensiblc, girl placed
hcr upon her own bed, and proceeded to
bring her out Of her faint by every means
in her power.
AS soon as her eyclids began to quivcr,
in indication of returning consciousness
the good woman said:
"Whatever you may think you have
seen, it was only that wicked, mischicvous
Becky, am sure she planned to frightcn
ynr. That was why she changed her mind
aoout going with you"
''Oh, could it have been hcr2" whispered
Lucina. ''lt was all III white, and was
bending over poor grandfatherS ncw-madc
grave and as was passing the yard it
groancd three times drcadfully," and poor
little Lucna tainted away again.
Becky entered soon after, in high glec at
the way in which she made Lucna run,
but She looked very grave when she found
the poor girl going from one fainting-t fit in
to another, and heard Mrs. Stcbbins say
that she was fearful lest she would lose her
reason.
81 only did it for fun" said Becky,
over and over; but it proved to be very
serious fun, for it was several weeks before
Lucina recovered sufficiently to be moved
home.
Becky was pcnitent enough, and her
shame and sorrow and anxiety changed hei
from rude, mischief-loving girl to 1uict,
helpful, sensible young woman.
Mrs. Stebbins didn't have rheumatic
fever. When she thought Of her aches and
pains agan, they were AL gone and she
was in profuse perspiration. So Becky's
shabby foolish trick had one guod result:
but Mrs Stcbbins used to say she would
no, recommend the treatment.