The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-11-25
The Awful Ghost.
WINTER AID LARGER THAN BEFORE REPORTED
BY TIE sEEGs.


by TIE SEEES.
Unless the police commissioners very
soon place on their payroll 4 member OF
the underworld there is likely to be more
expense and trouble made by the ghost
than what is now told. Last Friday eve
ming q gentleman living not far from Bas-
sett street, whose name, for convenience,
Is mentioned Us Smith, paid visit to his
sweetheart. IL is presumed that CONVEX
sation may have turned on the happenings
OF the dark side OF nature. and that mention
OF the spook now perambulating the thor
oughfares at night was incidentally made.
Whatever the topic OF conversation may
have been il was so absorbing that time
,lippcd away rapidly, and it was late when
Smith started for home. 1t is conicctured
that Smith recalled To mind a quotation
found in "Cotton Mather's Magnalil,"
which tells how "that evil angels do now
more appear than good ones" and how the
same recognized authority declared that
rds IN unwarrantable and a very dam
gerous thing for men to wish that they
might see angels and converse with them"
II was uaSt midnight when Smith started
for home. Just enough chilliness in the
AR to make a man feel gruesOme, who had
IUlltU Ills dtk OIL lilt anu ~ IL titAAi VI
a HANDY household and make him have the
cold creeps. The trees and fences cracked
In the midnight wind, and there were snap
pings and crackings in the air, with the oc-
ca.ional howl Of a dog more or less distant.
On going softly upstairs to his room, so a.
not to awaken the family, thereby doubt
less somewhat increasing the tension OF
his nerves. the gentleman, Tor convent
encc named as Smith. happened TO
look out Of his chamber window.
There was the ghost, broader than
high, and Of an altogether unearthly shape
and form. Ii was in pure white, and 1t had
an undulating, Oscillating movement, rs 1t
appeared TO advance toward the house and
then recede. The more Smith peered at the
ghost the more he felt that the time had
come for some kind OF prompt action. He
went on tiptoe to the gaITet-stairs and got
hold of his gun. With this at full cock
he crept softly down to the door open
inc into the backyard, and, taking aim
as well rs agitation would permit,
fred. The ghost appeared TO double
itself up, and then to spread out TO q
terrible length, and just at that moment 4
gust Of cold wind swept past the corner OF
the house. The shot had apparently had
no permanent effect. The gun was loaded
and fired again, with improved aim, but
the Ghost, assuming a more fantastic form
than it had before, simply appeared TO be
eleeiully dancing on air, in derision Of
mortal guns and mortal bullets. The gem
tleman. convinced that 10 exterminatc so
formidable a ghost man must act
with nerve and persistence, loaded and
fired his gun until its barrel felt
warm 10 the touch and peIspiration
stood upon his cold foreheard. After
some time spent in the fruitless exercise
Smith went TO bed and dreamed that while
he. Bernardo, and Marcellus were keeping
watch on the balcony Of castle in the land
Of nowhere he heard the growing OF cock.
with this he awakened. His senses had
not at this time deceived him, and from the
neighboring chicken-coop came the cheer
full assurance that morning had dawned
upon busy and beautiful world.
4 member OF the family had already
made the discovery that several yards OF
muslin. purchased the day before and left
on a cothesline all night to bleach, was as
full OF holes rs the family skinner, and
was ruined. On damage being assessed 1t
was found that 81 would be almost enough
10 replace the muslin.-Neic HareR Regis
ter