The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-04-11
A CURIOUS STORY.
Philadelphia News.l

fer. Ohio, conversing with an old resident of that city on various topics relating to the past history of the place, when he inquired:
 Did you ever hear the story of Jacob Hamburger, the haunted Cofiin-makeT !"
 "Never. Is it out of the ordinary?"
 "Yes. It is curious story, and hes itate about telling it for fear people will think am trying to humbug them with ghost story"
 SI'll accept it as the gospel"
 "As have already remarked it is a strange story and had the effect of mak- ing me believe in supernatural manifesto tions-you will, no doubt, call it super sution. was a we'll grown boy when the things occurred which am about to relate and they made such vivid im- preston on my mind that they are as fresh in my recollection as they were over half century ago.
 Jacob Hamburger was of Pennsyl- vania Dutch stock and came here from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, three-quarters of century ago. When first knew him this city was village with less than thousand population. He was cabinet maker, and made the rough and sub stantial furniture in vogue among the pioneers whose sons have since been congressman, governors, senators, cabi- net ministers and generals
 "He was frugal and industrious, and left some property behind him. In addi- ton to making furniture he made, when occasion demanded it, cofi IS for the peo- pie of all this region. There were no hearses and splendid undertaking estab- lishments in those days. The dead were placed in plain homemade coffins and carried to the little graveyards in farm wagons, or by hand when the distance was not too great, except in rare instances, when there was a little more show and ostentation, and an old-tashioned car riage was used in place of the modern hearse.
 People would come from a distance to Humbarger's shop with the dimen sions of coffin, and wait until it was finished, and then take 1t home in a va. gon or on horseback, as the case might be.
 "One night, or rather one morning, an hour or two before daylight, Hamburger, arose, and leaving his wife in bed, pro- ceeded to his shop, and lighting tallow candle set to work. When Mrs. Hum- barger awoke at the usual hour she was surprised to hear Jacob hammering away in his shop, and supposing that he had some job that must be finished early in the day, set about preparing breakfast, and when the meal was ready she called her husband.
 "'VAll, Chacob, " for you go to york so gwick the day p inquired Frau Hum- barger.
 "Vy. Katharine, did you not hear dot man who comes of der coffin by three o'clock?'
 "' Men, nien, Chacob, you make fool ish of me-
 "I not make foolish, Katharine dot man come ofthrce o'clock on der door an say must has dot coffin often o'clock, and he git me the measure on dot york bench, und go of york und haf him now half mate
 Katharine was incredulous and Jacob was firm in his asseverations. Certain it was that he had the coffin we'll under way and by ten o'clock it was finished, and Jacob was waitisg for his customer while he smoked pipe.
 1CtWSCA tCh 0h0 CACVCh V SAONA O gentleman appeared at the shop door, and Hamburger greeted him with
 "'You vas leetle Jade, my frent.'
 "' Not. very late, considering that l have ridden from near Somerset since half past seven.'
 "'Vy for did you go back home after you wake me up?
 "'I didn't. have just got to town.'
 But you come of mine door last hide und called me oud of mine bed to make dis coffin
 "Oh, no, my friend, but it looks as though it would suit my purpose. Let me measure it.
 "The stranger measured it, and it was just the size of ceffin he had been sent to procure, and he asked Hamburger if he could have it to take back immedi- ately.
 "' Dot was your coffin anyway, since you order him und leaf dear measure promptly responded MT Hamburger. "The price of the coffi was agreed upon it was paid for, and the farmer took it away in his wagon. Jacob related the circumstance to his wife, who said mis- chievously:
 "' told you, Chacob dot no one yoke you up of der hide. You have been haunted.'
 Hamburger, however insisted that he had been called out of his house during the night and that he had readily recog- mixed the man who subsequently got the coffin and pretended that he had not ordered it.
 "Ot course, the story soon circulated throughout the village, and the gossips added to it. A month later Humbarger had another nocturnal visit, and child's coffin was ordered, to be finished in the afternoon. Later in the day farmer, liv- ing few miles west of the town called oc Hamburger to secure his services, one of his children having died.
 |" Oh, yes know dot. You come of der hide und told me, and mark dc size on dis vork-bench.'
 @The farmer protested otherwise, but as the coffin was of the exact measure ment desired, he took it home. Then MT, Hamburger began to have an inde-