The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-07-03
For the Sunday Bulletin;
WAS 1T A GHOSTs

Il
You want a ghost story do your Said
grandmother as she sit with her knitting on
the broad old. fashioned veranda in the soft
twilight of summer evening, with the
children gathered around her, each clam
moring for ghost story. Eyes real,
true, ghost story grandmama DEAR" chimed
in little Nell, while Johnny's eyes grew
larger and he crepta little nearer to mama
as he whispered, Eyes ghost story" Well
my dears am as you all know opposed to
telling children ghost stories, as a general
rule, because, there are so many told that
have not a shadow of truth in them and
brighten nervous children almost out Of
their wits; however, if your mother does
not object | will make an exception to my
rule for this occasion and tell you what
Nell would cal "real ghost story"
In order that you may understand my
story | must tell you when was young
woman not even older than your young
lady sister Lizzie is now, was left widow
with little six-weeks old baby, in my
arms; having then been wife two years.
My husband died with some terrible fever,
stricken down in one short week, in the
full pride and vigor of young manhood.
He had been delirious during most of his
illness; but an hour before he died con-
seriousness returned; he recognized me, and
told me that God had called him up higher,
and he must cave me; gave me full direc-
ton what he wished me to do in regard to
his business, and then drawing my tear
stained face close to his own, on which the
great seal Of death was already set, he
whispered But above. all things, else Liz
zie, never part with the baby, keep him al
ways with you if he lives until he becomes
man.
promised that all his wishes should be
carried out to the best Of my ability, and
most emphaticaly did vow never to give
my boy up to anothers keeping while /
lived. Then, with his head resting on my
bosom, he calmly fell into the sleep OF
death. After his burial, continued to
live in the little home he had left me,
where I had known so many happy hours,
as we'll as the saddest of my life. There |
lived alone with my servants and little son,
William, until the latter had reached his
fifth year. Then my hand was again sought
in marriage, and with the full approval OF
my friends, | the second time became a
wife, and was to remove with my husband
to his home in distant and new country.
II was then that my friends prevailed
upon me to break the promise made to my
boys father and allow myself for the first
time in his life to be separated from my
child. 1t was long time before | would
consent to leaving him with my friends
even temporarily, but finally yielding to the
arguments of others, and thinking it would
be better for the child than taking HIM to
a new wild country. gave reluctant con
sent.
+ will pass over my fearful parting with
him and our long journey in wagons ovel
rough roads to our new home. Just in tn,
dusk of the evening one week from tn,
day wG-had started we arrived. My new
home was built of hewn logs, had fou
rooms, and was consided quite pretentiou
in those primitive times. 1t was situated
in beautiful and fertile country, but wa'
/ at least three miles from our nearest neigh
9 Dor and eight miles from our little town.
v Twill never forget how lonely felt OF
a the first evening OF our arrival, and how
insisted that two of the negro girls, which
. had brought with me, should sleep on thu
. floor in my my room much to my husbands
4 amusement.
: II was eleven o'clock when we retired fol
the night, and being greatly fatigued witt
}, our long days journey, in spite of our new
Q surrounding, we soon fell asleep. AS the
clock was striking twelve, I was awaken, as
4 by breath Of ice passing over my face,
sprang up in bed in alright, and before
had time to collect my senses, or rcmem
Der where was, the most agonzing groar
, | ever heard tell on my car, coming ap
parcntly from beside the Fireplace, which
: was IN the room. Before my husband, who
Q was by this time aroused, had time to in
0 quire what was the matter, the groan wa
repeated, this time startling, the Negro
!, Girls, who fed to my bed with screams o
3 terror.