The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1880-05-15

80 my blessed Marsterr' quavere
Elizabeth, show did de snake git n
darP"
i HE had it in box, and someway d
warmth got out, but / links it was d
evil one hissef coined fur his own. Well
two years arter dat, his son hanged his
self in dis room from dat jist."
Elizabeth screamed Historically.
"Well, de house got q bad name. ant
de Simmons family dey moved away
Aunt Mary Green she bought de place
fur she seq, DE white folks ghostesse.
amt gwine to trubble an honest ole col
ored woman De berry next week de,
found her dead in bed wild her pore facs
all twisted round.
"Oders tuck de place, but de spirit.
kept SIGH tromplin' in de loft, and .
bangin' and brick-battin' at de door.
and de winders, dat dey couldn't stay
Sometimes OBJ a dark night, eff you goes
out, something almost knocks you down,
groanin' all de time, and sometimes
givin' awful screech, till your han
stands on eend."
40, mercy on usr' groaned Elizabeth.
"Wot is we gwine to do, wild de rent
paid, and our plumber moved here? NV
Joe is master hand fur prayin' and
singin' hymns. He's 'ligious man, is
Joe, and I've hearn tell sperits can't
abear de Bible
Joe Smith entered the room at that
moment, his face beaming with delight
at the excellent bargain ne had made in
getting the Simmons farm. He was a
small, wiry, nervous little man, much
lighter in complexion than his wife, but
in spite of his diminutive stature, he was
master in his household.
He was accompanied by his only son,
a pert, conceited young fellow about
eighteen years old, who had a thorough
contempt for his parents homely 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 de company. Glad to see you, Mary
Jane, but 1 'clar to goodness, eff YOU
amt skimpier and more dried up dan
you was in Texas. Country don't agree
wild you, reckon
"'Twon't agree wild us, Joe, I" groaned
his wife. Miss Potter's been tellin'
me how dis here house is harnted.n
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 prudent,
money-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
pecuniary loss that he shrank from con-
Well, reckon well hab to Law de
ghosts someway, he said, with sickly
smile, which did not impose upon sharp
eyed Mrs. Potter, who was watching
him intently.
"fn promise to eat all the ghosts"
said Alexander, laughing scornf1lly. az
declare, if mother don't really believe in
EN-, shaking and trembling there. No
9ody-no educated person, mean--be- |
ieves in such things nowadays. I'm
villin' to face an army of 'em. only
six 'em to spar my mustache, laugh |
ng and caressing sparse assemblage of |
lairs on his upper hp.
Hush up, you wicked, sinful boyr'
'roaned his mother. DE sperits may
e listenin' to your mockin' words. D |
1iss Potter, is you gwine,. you and Mary
ane, too? III come ODER and see you
o-morrow, eff I'm spared to see anoder
un."
Mrs. Potter shook hands with her
ityingly, murmured, Heben purtect
our several times, gazed up at the ia
Il joist with a groan and a shudder, and
1as gone.
The husband and wife looked at each
Their, and 'Lizabeth poured the doleful
lie into Joe's ears, who listened in dead
lence. The ghostly legends seemed to
liect even the scoffer Alexander, for
hen his mother told him to go to bed
an inner room, the valorous youth
ositively refused. So the whole family
It by the fire, almost overcome by sleep
nd WEAKNESS, but yet afraid to close
leir eyes.
Late in the night bang, bang, bang!
lme to the back Kitchen door, and sim
taneously there were shutting noises
lard in the loft overhead, accompanied
7 groans.
Too terrified to scream, Elizabeth
utched Joe tightly around the neck.
Sing Rock OBJ Ages" she gasped.
Maybe it'll drive 'em away.
Poor Joe's quavering voice rose faint :
in the first line, and when hooking /;
ugh was heard overhead, and the bang. !,
ng! commenced again on the back
'or. Crash went one of the kitchen :
ndows, and then came the noise of 5
oxen crockery. :
I'm gwine to see bout it," Joe spoke J
J. trying to summon up his departed 3
urage. "De ghostesses is maxim a !
lash OBJ our crockery, and can't STAY \
let and hear dat. l amt got money to T
lste dat way" !,
20, don't go, Joe,' sobbed 'Lizabeth, .
nging to him. Let Alexander 60 and 3
AZ the box in here. You're a husbind :,
d be fader oh family alexander was II
only child, and you sha'n't 'spose 81
ur life.'