The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1889-03-20
Written for the Register.
A NIGHT AT THE OLD GLEBE.
A GHOST STORY.

- - -
GHOST STORY.
Without doubt the happiest por-
ton of my life was spent when 1
lived down in Virginia many years
ago. in the little hamlet of
near famous battlefield, not far
from the beautiful azure range of
Blue Ridge mountains, and sur
rounded with other associations of
interest and notability. The region
wherein was my home had been
made historical by it's connection
with the annals of our country, and
had never entirely discarded it's
pristine manners and customs, which
had existed before the war of the
Revolution. A dreamy flavor OF
antiquity, and consequent apathy
possessed the land. Temporal mu-
taatur, non mores mutanturi
Such pleasant times as we boys
hadl In summer collecting birds
eggs, a youthful depravity 1 now
deplore; securing the whole region
around therefor, bathing and fish ing
in the secluded, shady depths of
Blue Hole and Beaver Dam, picnic
ing at the old mill in The Gap, and
at other suitable localities; in au-
tumn gathering chestnuts and chin
quapins for tireside accompani-
ments, hunting pheasants, squirrels
and turkeys on the mountain sides,
and in fact taking the pleasures of
all seasons of the year for our own.
Least of all must be forgot the happy
visits made to friends at their old
romantic residences in the country
Yelverton and Waverley, Barrimoor
and Edenbourne, Blantyre and Gale
mont, Kinloch, Avenel, Glen Welby.
All! me, nevermore will L darken
your hospitable doors, to be met and
welcomed by the loving and congen-
ial companions of my vanished
youthl
Being generally the sons of
wealthy men, care was naturally
taken that our education should not
be neglected. We all, or most of
us, expected to enter college, so
preparation for this was needful.
and our parents not wishing for us
to be at boarding school, sought to
devise some means by which we
could receive proper instruction,
and at the same time enjoy home
privileges. Finally they hit upon
this plan: About two miles from
town lived a gentleman named
Norcruf, who had formerly been
professor in Il prominent institution
of the State, but being left fine
property, had resigned his chair to
take charge of it. More by the ap-
peals of his friends than anything
else, he was at last persuaded to
take us in charge. Possibly he
liked to teach.
A short while before beginning
the first session we were surprised
to learn that Mr.. Norcruf had
changed his plans. At first he in
tended holding school in a room in
his own house, but now proposed
fitting up school-room in an old
building on another part of his es-
tate, and 1 am certain that no ex-
pected pupil of his favored this
change, for ever since we had been
able to understand about such things,
we had heard that the place was
haunted. The negroes-sure advo-
Gates of such matters-told strange,
thrilling stories of lights seen glim-
mering through the windows at the
dead hour of night, of strains of
mournful music waited to their ears
if they happened to pass by after
dark, and other events which did
not fail to have effect on our childish
imaginations, as was evident by
gaping mouths, and terror-stricken
countenances.
This place had been a veritable
Glebe in old colonial days, and SO
strongly had the house been built
that it was still fairly preserved,
and Norcruf informed us that on its
erection persons had come fifty miles
no small trip then-to view this
triumph of the builders art. There
was a quaint old tradition extant,
that on the first night of its oc-
cupancy grand housewarming had
been given by the parson, who be-
ing led to believe by too frequent
intercourse with the punch-bowl
(by no means an orthodox leader or
safe adviser) that on this occasion
he might transcend his usual spirit
ual powers, had solemnly called up
on Heaven to bear witness that the
same good company, in that identi-
cal chamber, at some future ami