The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1880-06-17
slumber thew did speedilv. heavily.

swing by the neck from the stceplc or a
tree, whichever came the most handy.
Fortunately they were at the extreme
end OF the church, screened by the pull
pit, the doors strong, and they had a
little time for reflection,
Let's slide out of the window and
cut for it, whispered Dick, with chat
tcring teeth.
Peter hide" suggested Johnny.
"Or get ready for fight" put in
Larry, whose Milesian blood always
"boomcd" at the prospect of a scrim.
mage.
Hold onn commanded Charley, who
WAS he coolest Of the lot. "Wait and
see what turns up"
Almost with the words the fastcnings
Of the door gave way and in rushed
party Of young girls and boys, shiverng
with cold, who crowded around the
stove,
" Who could lave expected to find a
fire here" sud one, stamping his feet
and blowing his fingers.
"Lucky there was" responded an
other, " for since that miserable old
sleigh broke down | have nearly per.
ished."
Charley Bennett drank in every
word and whispered to the now re-
assured BOYS. But unsuspcctng the
presence Of others, the slcigS-riding
party made merry over their mishap,
now that they were safe, crowded tho
great stove with wood, and some of tho
most daring even limited that the fire
had been started by ghosts who had
found it uncomfortable roaming around
in such weather.
" Don talk that way" said one of
the bevy Of beauties, as she chung to
her companion and looked around IN
terror
ooh, don't please" chimcd in an
other at is bad and wicked enough
to break into church, and am certain
something terrible will happen. am all
in trcnIbc"
60 am /, to kiss and console the
darling" whispered Larry.
Hush! or | II choke your com
manded Charley. Remember what
told YOU"
But though he succeeded in keaping
order in his part Of the house, it was
not 50 easy in the other. The mere
mention Of ghosts had caused the blood !
to for8lkc the checks Of the girls, and
they declared they would sooner walk
all the way home and he frozen to
DEATH than remain any longer.
Think OF the pretty little dears
wading through the snow" whispered
Larry.
" Be quiet, will your and strong
hand was instantly laid on his throat
and bHwny fist shaken in dangerous
proximity to his nose, and he "col
IHp.cd' into silence, as he aitcrward
said
And by deg ccs the other company
al o were quoted. Going home afoot
over the prairie in such Il howIing storm
wa5on imp sibiity; there could b, no
stirring until the sleigh that had been
sent for came and SO to pass the time
they began singing But suddenly they
paused. looked at each other with eyes
starting out from pale faces and qucs
tlons with trembling lips;
" What sound was that"
he wind, suggested one of tie
number in the lowest Of whispers.
1T sounded like stringed instru-
mcnts.'
" Guess they think it is angels playing
on the 90 den harps" intcrposed Larry |
to Immediately have his wind shut of |
by Charley.
" | knew 1t was" exclaimed one of the
@r'. " | heard it MS plainly us could be.
llau,"
y sound as of a far-away song, under.
toned by the melody of harps touched |
by the -oItcst Of fingers, came to their
ears and held them spclI-bound. Now
the words seemed to float in the air
above now to come from beneath their
icnt-thcn to swell into chorus, and
then to die away as the whispering of
ghosts
n1lt was too much for the visitors to en-
duro-was painfully suggestive, and
with one accord they would have rushed
from the church had not the sleigh at
The moment arrived at the door. I'm
lalter!ng accents the girls told the driver
what had happened He laughed at
them and questioned from what dircc.
tIon the sound mostly came. They
pointed to the pulpit, aud armed with
Il huge whip he started thithcr.
II show you what fools YOU are to
ne AFRAID, he began vauntingly, to end
the sentence with "Deyils!' and beat n
rapid retreat.
And devils they appeared; four of
hem black rs the ace Of SPADES with
immense mouths, and great white rings I
lronnd their eye, woollcy heads, claws
mt armed with Instruments that made &
he most diaboical nois I
mere was no standing upon the order 9
II their going. Every one OF the com Il
ANY rushed to the sleigh, tumbIcd in v
'romIscIously, and with horses dashed v
o their utmost speed, were driven away. I
'nd the last they saw of the imps of r
arkness they were dancing regular n
,rcak downs upon the steps of the Il
hurch with forked and lurid flames e
laying iitfully around thcm r.
That was the story they heard; but q
ne boys had Il merry time over it as II
hey removed wigs, washed off the cork g
nj settled down again; the last au !ibc a
mark being that of Larry: L
" By my soul, that was brilliant e.
ca OF mine to open the door of the CO
owe and let the flames flash out" -
The first of dawn found the bows ON
cir journey, and though subsequently
ey had many adventures, they never
ain enacted the part of satan in Il g.
urch. :.