The National tribune., 1882-05-06
AGHOSTIN A STATE-R00M.

L was always 9lodlly t'ihCu ny eAAoSS SA1OS'
stories, which Dir. Washington Irving and
Mr.. Dickens relate, with an uncle as hero.
There is a certain air of mystery enveloplng
an elderly uncle in knee-breeches, cooked
hat, and powdered hair, which give de-
lightful probability TO the tales of their en-
tertainirg supernatural visitors and under
going all kinds Of uncanny nocturnal ex-
periences. wish with all my heart that
this adventure, which ] am about to describe,
had happened to my uncle, because know
thereader would have been much more enter
tanned by it; besides, it is much pleasanter
to have ones uncle see ghost than to have
such an experience ones self
To be sure, on second thoughts, an uncle
is at the bottom Of this story, because l am
debating at this moment to my nephew,
who scribbles little for the magazines, and
who thinks ne can see in it material which
can be well worked up. But the fellow is
conceited and don't believe he will print
it as l tell it, and l don't believe, moreover,
that he viii make out of it anything worth
reading.
like to trace the relation between cause
and effect; and to begin, / think my ghost
arose indirectly from lobster salad.
"Oho!" cries out the experienced and
acute reader. II see. This fellow had a
bad dream"
beg your pardon; but allow me to say you
axe in error. think I have been enough
annoyed, not to say disguised, in my day,
by ghost stories, which, after describing the
most impossible apparitions, ended with
when he suddenly awoke and found
himself safe in his own room"
can safely promise that my story, how
ever stupid ii may be, viii not end with my
waking up. l woke up before l saw the
ghost I beg to point cut that L said that
my ghost rose jaairect{y from a lobster salad.
[ saw it-I like that word il used for a
ghost; there is something delightfully."- weird
ihaut tt saw it in state-room No. y, on
tie s- ar John Halifax, which runs on
IL ,.3 Sound in connection with one
o: to ..- E.rll and Boston lines. You do
/. . s..-...a ere ever was Sound steamer
" 80 81 g .lne? Neither do /; if did l
sh,L.a ci"ysa some other. get passes over
tbs .....:le I.4le now, IN consideration of the
quantity Of freight shipped to our house in
Boston, and, OF course, | am not going to
have the directors coming 10 ME and COM
planning that l have given their boats the
name OF being haunted. The John Halifax
was laid up some years ago, to be sure, but
1t might become necessary, for aught know,
10
The number Of the st2te-room, however, was
az, and it was pretty well aft; there can be
no manner of doubt about that.
| had been to New York on business and
was returning home. The month was May,
and the boat left at p. m. As like to be
punctual, reached the pier precisely at ten
minutes before five, with my bag in my hand,
having walked down from the Astor House.
l declined, with suavity, seven invitations
TO have my boots polished, and | bought
only one newspaper out Of the large editions
offered me- l got my ticket and the key
OF my state-rOom, which had been previously
engaged, without much delay. | put my
small bag In my state-room, and finding a
vacant seat on the after-promenade deck-if
that is what they call it; l am not nautical
mani sat down quietly TO read my paper
At the same time, [ kept my weather eye
open, to use a seafaring term, now that we
were fairly OFF, and found nobody on board
knew, which was with me rather an unusual
circumstance Next me, sat man with a
red face and rather a stupid look, whom /
took to be a bar-keeper in search of a situa-
ton. He used tobacco Extensively, and when
he volunteered some remark about the
weather, answered civilly indeed, but in
such way that he did. not attempt to con-
tinue the conversation.
There are few more inspiring sights than
the rivers and harbOr of New York on a
pleasant day, and l have no doubt that my
nephew will insert something of his own
here about "the small craft darting hither
and thither," and the majestic steamers
sailing out of their docks freighted with the
worlds merchandise" etc, ETC. If he does,
dare say it will all be very nice; but he can
not, if he tries, describe that quiet feeling of
contented interest which steals over man,
when being for the moment quite free from
every duty and care, he surveys such busy
scene All this is not much TO the purpose
since this day was not at all pleasant. 1t
was cloudy, and rain was threatened so
clearly that everything looked dull and
gloomy I should hardly have returned by
the boat, if / had not already engaged my
st&te-room; and the condition of the weather
was, perhaps, the reason why there were SO
few passengers on board.
Castle Garden, Governors Island, Brook
Ign, Williamsburg, Green Point, Blackwells
Island, Jone5's Wood, Wards Island, Hurl
Gate, in sight. went below TO supper /
had dined at two o'clock-I always dine at
two, in 1act-and, having taken some exer-
else since then | was rather hungry. All
the dishes which should have been hot had
been spread out on the table so long that
they had grown quite cold. They manage
things better nowadays; but then there
was a melancholy array Of black walters, red
paper flowers, frizzled butter, and nothing
good to eat. l ordered some lobster, how