New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1880-08-25
Jane cried, rather pleased at seeing her
relatives naughty mien subdued.

N0UC0AAASS Ou pAuS, tSAu uc 1Auu SISStt
chests full Of black beetles and snake
skins stuffed. He nebber seed a critter
he didn't kill it fur his lection, as he
called it. Well, dc Lordlet him run his
course a-torturin' dc dumb tings till his
time had coined.
. One day he was standin' on de gal
lery up dere looking out, when he heard
. noise, and dere jest tween him and de
door was big rattlesnake all i'll pile
ready to jump. De old sinner seed plain
he couldn't git to de door, so he gin a
acreech, and jumped out on dat brick
pavement. His neck was broke, and dey
took him up stone dcad.''
80 my blessed Marster!' quayered
Elizabeth, chow did de snake git up
darP''
"He had 1t in box, and somcway Do
warmth got out, but I thinks it was de
evil one hisself coined fur his own Well,
two years AFTER dat; his son hanged his
self In dis room from dat jist.'
Elizabeth screamed Historically.
We'll, de house got a bad name. and
d Simmons fanbly dey moved away.
Aunt Mary Green she bought dc place,
for she SEE, DE white folks ghostesses
amt gwine to trubble an honest ole col,
ored woman DE berry next week dey
found her dead in bed wild her pore face
all twisted round.
"'.Oders tuck de place, but dc spirits
kept SIGH a tromplin' in dc loft, and
bangin' and brick bnttin' at dc doors
and dc windcrs, dat dey couldn't stay.
Sometimes OBJ a dark night, Of you goes
out, something Almost knocks you down,
groanin' all dc time, and sometimes
givin' awful screoch, till your har
stands on ecnd."
go, mercy on us!' groancd Elizabeth.
"Wot Is we gwinc to do, wild dc rent
paid, and our plumber moved here? My
Joe is q master hand fur prayin' and
singin' hymns. He's 'ligious man, is
Joe, and I've hearn toll spcrts can't
abcar dc Bible.'
Joe Smith entered the room ut that
moment, his face bcaming with delight
ut the excellent bargain he had made in
getting the Simmons farm. He was Il
small, wiry, nervous little man, much
lighter in complexion than his wife, but
in spite of his diminutivc stature, he was
master in Ills household.
He was accomplished by his only son,
a pert, couceitod young fellow about
eighteen years old, who had thorough
contempt for his parents homcly ways
and opinions, though he did not dare
express himself in his fathers presence
He had a wholesome remembrance of
the discipline of his early years.
Sarbent, ladies'" said Joe, with a
bow. Alexander, make your manners
to dc company. Glad to see you, Mary
Jane, but 'clar to goodness, Of YOU
amt skinpicr and more dried up dan
you was in Texas. Country don't agree
wild you, l reckon
"'Twon't agree widus, Joc," groaned
his wife. "Miss Pottor's been tellin'
me how dis hore house is harnted."
Now Joe was devout believer in the
supernatural, and it was a terrible shock
to find himself in a house with a ghostly
reputation. But he was also a prudent,
moncy-loving man. He had paid his
rent in advance, he had brought his
stock and farming implements, and he
could not give up the place without a
pccuniary loss that he shrank from con-
tcmplauing.
"Wcll, I reckon Wen hab to lay d.
ghosts someway," he said with sickly
smile, which did not impose upon sharp.
eyed Mrs. Potter, who WIS watching
him intcntly..
"rll promise to eat all the ghosts"
said Alexander, laughing scornfully. IL
declare, if mother don't really believe in
'em, shaking and trembling there. No.
body-no educated person, I mean-be-
lieves in such things nowadays. Pm
willin' to face an army of 'em. only
ask 'em to spar my mustache, "-laugh-
Ing and carcssing sparse assemblage Of
hairs on his upper lip.
! "Hush up, you wicked, sinful boyl"
groancd his mother. ode spcrits may
DC listcnin' to your mockin' words. q
Miss Potter, is you gwine, you and Mary
Jane, too? I'll come ober and see you
tomorrow, Of Pm spared to SEQ anodcr
sun"
Mrs. Potter shook hands with her
pityingly, murmured, "Hebcn purtect
your several times, gazcd up at the f.-
tai joist with Il groan and a shuddcr, and
was gonc.
The husband and wife looked at each
other, and Elizabeth poured the dolcful
tale into Joc's ears, who listened in dead
silence. The ghostly legends seemed to
affect even the scoffer Alexander, for
when his mother told him to go to bed
In an inner room. the valorous youth
positively refused. So the whole family
sat by the fire, almost overcome by sleep
and WEAKNESS, but yet afraid to close
their eyes.
Late in the night bang, bang, bang!
came to the back Kitchen door, and sim
ultancously there were shuflling noises
heard in the loft overhead, accompanied
by groans.
Too terrified to scream, Elizabeth
clutched Joe tightly around the neck.
"Sing 'Rock Oh Ages" she gasped.
"Maybc it'll drive 'em away. -,
Poor Joc's quavering VOICE rose faint
ly in the first line, and when hooking
laugh was heard overhead, and the bang,
bangl commenced again on the back
door. Crash went one of tho kitchen
windows, and then came the noise Of
broken crockery.
"I'm gwine to see bout it," Joe spoke
up, trying to summon. up his departed
courage: "De ghostesses is MAXIM a
smash oh our crockery, and / can't stay
quiet and hear dat. amt got money to
waste dat way.''
30, don't 60, Joe,' sobbed Lizabeth,
clfnging to him. Let Alexander 60 and
drag the box in here. You're a husbind
And be fader OBJ a family alexander was
the only child), and You sha' mt 'spose
your life.''
II amt a-goin'," spoke up Alexander,
whose yellow face had become CHASTITY.
II amt a-goin' to be killed for q box Of
crockery. nohow. Let pa 60, sence
he's so brave. Listen! they're 1T 4
again in the loft
The dancing and grooming were heard
again, followed by b quavering cry of
agony.
The cold sweat broke over Joe's fore
head, but another crash from the direc-
ton of the kitchen decided him. He took
the candle, and with his wife clinginp