The Penn's Grove record., 1882-03-04
The Ghost-R Raiser.

Uncle Beagley, who commenced his
commercial career very early In the
present century as a bagman, will tel
stories. Among them, he tells his
"Single Ghost" story so often, that
am heartily tired oft. In self defense,
therefore, I publish the tale in order
that when next the good, kind old
gentleman offers to bore us with it,
everybody can say they know 1t. ]
remember every word of 1t.
One fine autumn evening about
forty years ago ] was travelling on
horseback from Shrewsbury to
Chester. i felt tolerably tired, and
was beginning to look out for some
snug way-side Inn, where ! might
pass the night, when a sudden and
violent thunder storm came on. My
horse, terrified by the lightning,
fairly took the bride between his
teeth and started off with me at a full
gallop through lanes and ross roads,
until at length l managed to pull him
up just near the door of a neat-look-
ing country inn.
"Well," thought /, there was wit
in your madness, old boy, since II
brought us to this comfortable refuge"
And alighting, / gave him in charge
to the stout farmers boy who acted rs
hostler. The inn kitchen, which was
also the guest room, vas large, neat
and comfortable, very like the pleas
ant hostelry described by Izaak Wal
ton. There were several travellers
already in the room-probably like
myself, driven there for shelter-and
they were all warming themselves by
the blazing fire while waiting tor sup
per. I Joined the party. Presently,
being summoned by the hostess, we
all sat down, twelve in number to a
smoking repast of bacon and eggs.
corned beef and carrots, and stewed
hare.
The conversation naturally turned
on the mishaps caused by the storm,
of which all seemed to have had their
share. One had been thrown off his
horse, another, driving a gig, had been
upset into a muddy dixie all had got
a thorough wetting, and agreed unani.
mously that it was dreadful weather
"a regular witches Sabbath!
Witches and ghosts prefer for their
Sabbath a fine moonlight TO- such
weather as this ~
These words were uttered in q sol
emn tone, and with a strange empha'
sis, by n of the company. He was
q tall, dark-looking man, and I had
set him down as a travelling merchant
or pedlar. My next neighbor was q
gay, well looking, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
young man, who, bursting into a peal
of laughter said:
You must know the manners and
customs of ghosts very well, to be able
to tell that they dislike getting wei
or muddy"
The first speaker, giving him a dark
fierce look, said:
young man, speak not 30 lightly OF
things above your comprehension"
"Doyou mean to imply that there
are such things as ghOsts?"
perhaps there are, If you had the
courage to look at them"
The young man stood up, flushed
with anger. But presently resumine
his seat, he said, calmly"
"That taunt should cost you dear Il
1t were not such a foolish one."
"a foolish one!" exclaimed the
merchant, throwing on the table Q
heavy leathern purse. "There are
fifty guinsas. / am content to LOSE
them if before an hour Is ended / d,
not succeed in showing you, who ars
so obstinatsly prejudiced the form o
any of deceased friends and il, after
you have recognized him, you allow
him to kiss your lips"
We all looked at each other, but M
young neIghbor, still in the sam
mocking manner, replied:
"You will do that, will your"
Eyes," said the other II will stalk
these fifty guineas OF condition tina
you pay a similar SUN II you lose"
After a short silence the young mai
said, gsyly:
Fifty gulneas, my wolthy sorcere
are more than a poor college sizar eve
possessed but here are five, which, !
you are satisfied, l shall be most will
ing to wager"
The other took up mis- purse, sayin
In u contemptuous tone:
"Yoang gentleman you wish I
draw back ?h
AZ draw back !" exclaimed TIA
student. "Wsll, If I had the lift
guineas, you should see whether
wished to draw back"
Here" said I, ''are four guinea
which I stake on your wager"
No sooner had / made this propos.
ton, than the rest Of the company, 81