Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1889-01-09

IuOuSulluLy duOhe LIS loAh o0hooAhs
locks, "buU they say hits full er
haunts. An old Frenchman was killed
thar onct and hid under the floor.
Folks lows his sperit walks thar o.
nights yit, and L can't say how ye
moight find things. The cabins thar,
eff ye've er mind ter try hit, and eff
you're afeerd 1 will stay by the camp
fire IN front er hit, with your nlggers.
1 low the old 'oman III git erlong well
enough without me at home tonight"
THANK you," sad auntie, in a re-
lieved voice; "drive On Josh, We'll try
it,"
We found the building "a tumble
down affair" sure enough-a rough
pile of poles, destitute of fire place
and with a loose, creaking floor. But
we were thankful even for a leaky
roof.
The "native'' camped with the ser.
wants, although could perceive my
aunt would readily have dispensed
with his services. But he helped the
negroes about the trunks, and nailed a
bench for US to sit upon, as we were In
want of chairs. Hetty cooked a nice
supper; and chicken. ham, and biscuit
were partaken of with a relish. after
our weary days journey. a few
crumbs fell on to the floor, and chicken
bones were thrown down with them.
We were not particularly neat in that
old cabin. The "native" received his
portion gladly, and ate by the camp
fire with great apparent gusto. We
had one of the carriage lamps brought
in, and amused ourselves with reading
until 10 O'Clock. Then we barred the
door as best we could on the inside
and retired.
1t was l O'Clock when my aunt wa
aroused by soft footsteps stealing ovel
the floor. She instantly awoKs me.
''Do you hear that?" she said in
, whisper. sit must be the French
mans ghost"
| listened Dreathlessly. The nois
could be distinctly heard-a soft. pat
terlng step-sometime5 approaching
. our rcnsttress bed, sometimes wanderin
away from it. Once or twice 1t pulle
at the bed covering, then fell bac
|, with humping sound.
j What was to be donep The carriag
L lamp sat on the bench at the other en-
!: of the room; we could not reach
l without traversing the length of th
o floor, and who would attempt that
It with those mysterious, ghostly foot
L steps on the creaking planks? Th
: servants were sound asleep; not spar
II remained of the campfire, for the rai
: had eXtinguished the last ember.
was pouring down in torrents. 70
le can imagine how weird and dreadfl
y was the situation. We lay and listene
], and trembled through what seemed a
7: age TO me. Finally something crawle
IL over rs, and a rough, shaggy SOM
+" thing like a mans beard brushed n
l. aunt's face. She uttered nervor
Id shrek and threw herself on to Il
). floor. 1 followed in less time than
l. takes to write it. We both rushe
,u from the horrible place out into Il
Is driving rain.
:. The negroes came at our first ca
AT but 1t WAS long time before the sleol
at headed 'snatlve'' could be aroused. /
'd was snoIing audibly in a dry pla
as under the wagon. tie came forth
Sd last rubbing his eyes. Il tole ye ho
as 1t wud be, ;" he said, ''thet internal he
is haunted fu- shore" When we l
AT turned TO the house, armed with 1al
u ing torches, and followed by our b;
ce falnting, scared negroes, nothing W
ea to be found in the CABIN. We sat
ed the rest of the night, and at eal
n dawn left the cabin and the mouldt
,e- ing bones of the Frenchman behind I
cS Auntie declared that she was nervol
it- and wanted to get as far from I
II ghostly spot as possible.
ne 1t was not until some days after, ,th
go Sambo aired his opinions upon the ST
ny iect.
he Dat ghostis, dat Harmed you so d
"n night, Mistls, was muffin ZEN de rou
er, worle, but dat yaller mans tame coo
eht hit crawlei through de floor at
'aS chicken bones an sich like, an fout
nd v'ud sleep on your bed, an keep
ar. ob de RAIN
at II knows better dan dat,"
vas claimed IIetty. who had all the sup
-le- stition OF her race. ''Ef dat want
)ye ghost what scared Miss July and NJ
Kitty, I'd ike ter know what hit VI
Pshawl Sambo, you don't know a
erbout hit.'
Perhaps Sambo was right, but a
da. Julia and have never forgotten
ge, Haunted Cabin.
and