The Osceola times., 1885-03-07
jim MY BROWN
Ne. Tells . Story About Ghosts. ~.
tin and the Bnbv. -

~
tin and the Baby. -
The night before Christmas ~.
great fun at our house telling ,s.'.
stories. Mr.. Travers told about a. e.0s
full ghost that used to live in an % ~,
house where one of Mr., Travers' fr.ss Wv
lived. 1t was tall, thin womau.vsas. '
with her hair all down, and dressed :
a white nightgown. She used to o.'
iuto room in the middle of the n,.a.
with rope in her hand, and she vns,, a,
look all around until she found onas
place to hang herself, and tben 4,
would put the rope round her ns us
and hang just as il she was dead 'st ~
the man that saw her would faint awa u
and when he woke up in the morn;:,
she would be gone.
One night young man. who v...
book agent, and wasn't afraid of an.
thing, slept in the haunted house VIII
in the middle Of the night the ghost cam.
in, and looks around for a nail to bsns
herselfto. The young man said "Goof
evening. ma am. Going to hang your.
self, see. Let me help YOU" Sohs
helps the ghost put the rope around bs,
neck but instead of hanging her, i.
ties the rope to the bed-post so she cant
get away, and then he lights lamp and
reads to her out of book that he tell,
every respectable ghost ought to buy
The ghost stood it awhile. and tbs,
she begged and implored him to stou
so he kindly and aifectionately pointed
out to her that she had no right TO 90 And
hang herself in other peoples houses
and that il she'd promise never to do h
again he'd let her go, but If she didn't
he'd read the whole book to her, and 4
had mornamillion pages. Well, tho
ghost promised, and the young man lei
her go. only he kept the rope, and no.
body ever saw her again. Mr. Traven
SAYS he saw the rope himself, which
proves that the story is true.
went to bed pretty late that night
and woke up about twelve O'Clock
dreaming of ghosts. wasn't a Bit
frightened, though ! was little nerv.
Gus, Just as Sue is when she thinks she
hears burglars; but was afraid mother
might be frightened, so | thought |
would go into her room and tell her il
was all right, and nobody would hut
her.
NY littlest sister and the baby sleep
in the same room with mother. and the
first thing l saw was the baby hanging
from the head Of my sisters bed. ThiI
almost frightened me, for thought thu
baby had got up in the night and com
mitted suicide. So | called mother q
loud as ! could. and she sat right up
holding another baby in her arms
This made me sure that the baby hang
ing to the bed-post was q ghost, an,
then admit l was frightened. Afte
awhile found out that it was made o
rubber, with loud squeak in it, an
was meant for Christmas present.
The rubber baby was just about tn
size of real one, and | could hardl
tell it from our real baby, only it mad
less noise. Christmas morning We a
had our presents, and had a good tim
over them. My littlest sister woul
take her baby to church with her, onl
mother found it out, and bid it und,
her coat. where it squeaked every tin
mother kneeled down or stood up.
| Mr.. Martin came TO dinner Chris
mas-day, and spent the evening with II
He was very good-humored, an
brought me knife, and | forgave hi
everything. He was very pleasant
mother, and said he did so want to s,
the baby. After dinner we all wei
into the parlor, where it was rath,
dark, for one of the lamps didn't bur
very well till il was turned up. M
Martin dropped into big chair, an
sat very quiet, thinking. as he sal
only believe he was more than ha
asleep.
Mother had gone upstairs to see Il
baby, but presently she came dow
and said to Sue: where on earth
the baby it isn't in the nursery Susa
do you know anything about itP" M
Martin said, very politely: What
that? Baby missing? III find him f
you" And with that Mr.. Martin ge
up and turns around, and gives mo
dreadful yell. There was baby lyin
on the chair just as still rs il it WI
dead. Mr. Martin was sure that SOM
body had left our baby in the chair, an
that he had sat on it and smashed !
and of course he supposed he woul
have to be hung. and that father an
mother would be offended with hin
Then mother and Sue they shrieked 1
II a mouse was after them, and rushe
to pick the baby up, and found that
was the rubber baby. and that it WASH
hurt bit, except that the squeak WI
spoiled. just then the nurse brougi
the real baby in out of the kitchen, an
everybody was happy again.
That is, everybody but Mr.. Martin
He got angry, and said he knew it WI
one of that boys infamous tricks, an
he took his hat and went home; but