The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1884-01-24


ana around the village gables The f.
stars which glimmer bssveeu The heav
clouds look pale aui shiveripg, bat u
village wirdo~s are red with light. aud
Is evident that al event 81 20 small impoi
tance 10 81 hand. Lanterns slesm alon
the msia street, footsteps echo on ID
ground, fcr there is only the slighies
\ tsp4aktirg ~ sncw ov~r 10 sough hul
bio. But lanterns I'D isab3psa1 Sid
iosate ~ sillAss ssors a pov. ~!
every svsaiak ,hs ssiIor and brnsf -
even tie squire. tie afistocraey. " vel I
the hnmhler portion o. the town. congrs
gate TO discuss the weather. the crops, th
news. and y relate thrilling stories Of ad
ventures "A sea
Iouigli cosyefsaiion is unusually brisl
and iriercssisg The parson himself !
there. and coudescends TO joke little will
the coxy group at the back Of the glowini
stove, while waiting for his purchases 4
be weighed aud tied mp in separate brow
paper parcels. and, 10 spite Of himself
waits moment TO hear the denouemcn
Of thrilling ghost story, told with the as
surance that IT is solemn fact. by browI
old sailor. who shakes his gold ear ringi
as be proceeds in his recital, with grsa
deal Of nervous energy.
Nov, this is as true a. j set in thii
cheer, gentlemen" announces grayely,
at the end Of nearly every sentence.
And though be is not sitting at all, but
leaning his stalwart lenght over -four
barrel, no one seems to doubt. The squire
looks as grayely interested as the boys.
The parson smiles. but il is noticeable that
the smile effects only one side Of his
mouth. and is as lacking in amusement as
il the open mouth OF the man who is wait
ing for the iofcsps Of the dentist in the
Of the toothache medicine
which adorns the smoky wall. The teller
seems to be us awe-stricken himself as hiS
hearers Tl,s effect Of the tale Il bsightened
by the dead silence OF the place, the dim
ness Of the lamplight the weird shadows
In the corners, and meandering wreatbs OF
smoke which curl up toward the dingy
raitets overhead, and encirclc the head Of
The old story teller, giving him the look
Of an enchsnter or genii Of old working
over the fire.
Outside there is the troubled voice OF
The sea, the wailing Of the wind. The
story ended, long drawn breath goss
around the circle. The parson gives ut.
lerance TO nervous little laugh, then, sud
lonly becoming alive to his dignity and
bis duty, speaks against the folly ofsuper-
,tition, with which be declsrss the whole
own to be alive.
wall, ,ta'n't no wonder. parson, when
ghosts Is seen walkin' these here streets on
lark nights, spoke up another old fish,
'rman. II see John Norton's ghost last
light as plain as | see you this blessed
minute. ] went down to my boat house
here to the landin' about o'clock, an
,omin' back, jes ez ! waz against them
civ tall pine. trees afore you git to my
rouse, there he was standin' an lookin
ne in the face. The moon shons right on.
o his features, an lor! there want no
nore mistakin' EN- than mistakin my
orothsr's. | didn't say nothin', I was SO
linder took back, not belieyin' in ghosts
fore, an he turned into tho woods road
hat leads to the old Norton place. He
moved spry enufl, but twan't like walkin'
ae kinder glided off like q shadder n
lis coat looked sorter thin an white
'Wall, now, il | ha'n't dashed" ex.
'laimod jolly looking farmer, rubbing
lis stubby chin, excitedly. "My wife's
lister declared to Moses that they'd seed
he same feller last night, walkin' past the
house about twilight. but since that
,piritualist woman has been here in the
iillsge. they've been seein an hearin'
II sorts o things an didn't no account
II their ghosts. no more'n nothin' at all
"Who was John Norton?T inquired the
,arson who was new coinei.
"A sea captain, who got wrecked some
light years ago, and as promisin young
nan as we ever raised in the town" said
,ho squire, si,wly II was his first voyage
Is captain, aud those who were saved say
hat be stood by the ship until the very
asst minute He was found frozen to
ieaih on tho wreck after the storm was
,ysr by vessel which was bound for Bos-
on. John was known by the Captain Of
his vessel. and be bfough the body into
,ort with him. aud IL was sent on here
nj buried
Then there's no doubt but what the
nan Was really dead, said the parscn.
Sailors have sometimes the faculty OF
omipg TO life again, you know; that is,
& added. with due seriousness there are
slse reports Of their death. How many !
ailors have come back to Yarmouth, safe
I'd sound. who have been reported as
Never but one since I've been old
nough to remember" said an old man,
tho had hitherto been silent. "fhat wuz
.nke Higgins. an he'd done bissslf an
be town both favor II he bad aided !
Is than kind O. chsps What do turn up, |
Of siarIin' good feliers IKE John. John.
. vas drctfui loss"
"oh, there's 20 possibility Of Johns
cling alive, said tho squire, nervously.
] sas him buried myself. poor fellow.
Il sas sngagdto my daughter, Elsie,
I'd sbs. poor sid, has dons nothing bot
,surn ier bin all these years Iobiected
, tho match At tint but before he went
way Oh LIS last voyage ] became fully |
1--we to h's good qualities He was
rave manly fellow.