Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-12-29
A CHRISTMAS GHOST.
4 TRUE STORY.

\ TRUE STORY.
On the banks Of the picatonic river,
near the pretty little mining village of
Linden, in the busy state Of Wisconsin,
stands an Old log hut that once bore the
distinction of being haunted. Each
Christmas eve at midnight a rather mid
die aged woman had been seen wander
ing about the house, from one room to
another, bearing a child in her arms.
Before ! go any farther let me tell you
who | am. My name is Chas. Hoskins.
My parents died when | was so young
that ! remember very little of them. |
was left 10 the care of my mothers
brother, uncle David Schrciner. His
wife died soon after, leaving him a little
daughter to care for. Laura, as she was
called, after her mother, being only three
years younger than myself, we became
playmates and as we grew TO man and
womanhoed, being always together, is it
a wonder that we became lovers?
My uncle, however, was opposed TO Il
union, az We were cousins.
II was the Christmas Of 1877 that this
ghost was seen for the first time al the
old log house on the banks Of the Plea
tCnlC, which, by the way, was occupied
by my aunt nurse, "Old Hannah at
the time of laura's birth and was where
Laura spent the first lhG.c years OF her
life.
Not wishing 10 marry, without her
fathers consent, Laura and ! determined
TO wait aud remain true TO each other,
hoping that something. we knew rot
what, would turn up" TO Join us.
II was this that took me to Dakota.
where ! arrived in August, 1877. For
three weary years | eXiled myself, rcCeiv.
ing, at short intervals, letters from Laura
and Uncle Dave.
Laura's letters were always full Of love
and the thought that she would remain
true" TO me even unto death gave m,
courage.
During these three years, at Christina
eve this ghost was seen.
Laura had written me Of this each tim
and this year, 1880, l determined TO re
turn and investigate. ! had Away
lOnged TO see a real ghost, and this wa
100 good an opportunity to be missed.
| did not inform Laura Of my intended
return, as | wished to give her a surprise
Arriving in Linden on Christmas eve,
fingered in town until late in the evening
and, after purchasing some presents fol
the folks at home, | started, on foot, fol
my unclc's house.
] was walking quite briskly along as
came to the old hut, which stood near tn,
road. Just as | approached the gate
was startled by the sudden appearance OF
the form of a human being but a few
rods in advance of me. | stopped, spell
bound. Gradually it drew nearer, and al
it came it developed into the form of
woman. When within a few feet of mt
it stopped, looked at me a moment, ant
passed ON, through the cid gate and up t
the house. Quickening my pace l came
up to the figure just as it reached tht
door, which was closed, and, to my sur
prise, instead Of stopping to open it, i
t went right through. 1t took but a Sigh
touch Of my fingers OF the latch to opeI
the door, however, and / went on in
: closed the door and looked around fol
, the object of my search-the woman
g | discovered her just acrsss the room
7 was by her side in a moment, and by thu
light of my dark lantern, which / had Ii
D before starting from town and nov
brought into use, | discovered a large
iron ring close to nay feet and, graspin,
. it, | raised a small door and found a PAL
IF stairs leading to a cellar below, which
a my escort Immediately began to descend
I motioning me to follow.
!. Reaching the bottom she led the way
. to a corner and, pointing to the ground
babe me, by motions, to dig, disappear
ing when she had done SO.
My curiosity being aroused by thii
time l looked about for something will
which | might dig, but could discove,
nothing save a small piece Of board, evi
IDENTIFY a half of a barrel stave. Seizin,
> this | put it into use and in a few min
utes had unearthed a small wooden DO,
which was badly decayed. Hastily re
moving the top a most CHASTITY spectacl
met my gaze. There lay the skeleton o
Q a small child and by its side a Toll O
parchment addressed as | noticed upo,
: examination, TO my uncle. ! placed thi
F., in my pocket, thinking had best leav
it for him to examine first, and ~returnin
r the box to its place left the place an,
= started for my unc!e's house.
( Arriving at the house all was dark
every body bad retired, but there was We
&. a light in the man.of- ali-work's house,
T few rods distance. Gong there | pro
cured him a light and the KEYS and TO
{ gether we slipped into the kitchen an
then TO the dining room, where the tabl
s was all set ready for breakfast, AM
r placed the parchment under my uncle
g plate together with a note stating wher,
s and how I found ii and where | was.
This done we went back 10 "Pete's'
house and went to bed.
The next morning about 8 o'clock as
sat by the stOv quietly smoking m,
cigar the door suddenly opened and Laur,
rushed into the room and was in my arm
in a twinkling. / was not aware of m,
%uncle's presence until he spoke, so ab
Z sorbed was !, Gas you know lovers are
, not having met for several years.
Charles" said he, did you read thi
2 narchmentf