The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1889-02-28
BILL ARP.
But it Proved to be Hunohbaok miller.
atlanta Cofsststatto7s.

The Sunday school lesson was about the
demons who we're cast out of the man and
went into the swine, and the swine ran
down into the sea and perished. a man
gets tangled up awfnlly in trying to ex.
plain such things to the children, for it is
all a mystery and it is hard to find a man
who has any cleaf convictions npon the
subject. Of course ne don't believe in
splits OF ghosts as regular thing, but
almost everybody has got some wonderful
story to tell about somethidg that was
almost ghost ifnot quite. We are all
so fond Of the marvellous that we had
rather believe in ghosts than not, but l
don't know ofa we'll authenticated case
ofa spirit having been seen by anybody
in our day, or even in the past eighteen
hundred years. T believe that good
spirits have sometimes commu nicated
with flesh and blood, but the power of
evil spirits 10 do so was cut of when
revelation Was made complete and the
Christian era began. Of one thing am
certain: I have never seen ghost, nor
has my spirit made itself known to me.
Several times in my youth 1 came very
near seeing a ghost. Que night I was
riding along in the pale moonlight and as
I came near a country graveyard and was
looking out for white things saw coming
towards ME slowly man in white clothes
and with no head upon hfs ahouldere--
not sign of a head. His shoulders were
broad and square and had splendid
place for neck and head, but they we're
notthere. IfIhad not been going towards
home I think I should have turned and
got away with alacrity, but I stood my
ground, and, with my heart humping in
my breast, waited to seq the ghost come
on. MY horse trembled and snorted, but
I held him to the spot as I gazed upon
the apparition. Just at the most critical
moment the moon came from behind g
cloud and the ghost spoke to me and
said, "Don't be skeered, sonny, I'm no.
body but old Tom, the miller.''. And
sure enough it was old Tom, the old
hunchback miller going home from the
mill with a sack of -four across his shoul.
ders and his head bent forward 80 that it
did not show above the sack. If I had
not stood my ground I should have be-
lieved to this day that saw a ghost
My mother was little dubius about
ghosts and haunted houses, but my father
was solid as rock against the whole
concern. Napoleon said that all men
we're towards by night. I don't believe
that but all women are. Mrs. Arp is
very brave now, but the time was when
she used to hunch me with her elbow
away in the dead of night and whisper,
"What's that William7 Don't you hear
that noise9 Wake up please" But it
was men she was afraid of-not me, but
some other man. In later years she is
not afraid ofanything except snakes and
rats. My children won't go upstairs at
night by themselves. They go two OF a
time to keep the boogers off ofeach other.
Of course this wears off as they grow
older, and the best way is to let it wear
of. You can't force it, and 1t is cruel to
try. There is no worse agony to child
than to be alone in the dark.
Superstition is Just as natural to the
human race as the fear of God or the love
of children or any other emotion. We
know that away back in the ages there
we're spirits and wizards and witches and
demons. The witch of Endor called up
the spirit of samuel. A dead man was
let down in the tomb Of Elisha, and as
soon as his corpse touched the bones OF
.
the prophet it came to life and stood up
on his feet. The fate of Belshazzar was
written upon the wall with the fingers o1
spirit. Legions of evil spirits took pos
session of men in the days of the apostle
I reckon they were little fellows that just
had the power to aggravate man and
make him maniac. And on one occa'
sion where they were driven out of hin
each one straddled hog without saddle
or bride, and away they ran down into
the sea. They are bound to go init
something, and if they can't get man o.
woman they will take hog or mule
or mad dog. The old philosophers sale
the air was full of spirits-little devils
impecunious imps, who are hungry fol
mischief and keep society in stew ant
foment slander and backbiting and env.
and jealousy.
They even venture into the church, ant
will dance around the choir and go'to tn
sewing society, and are sure to kick up
row wherever they go. Hudebras says
the devil has pulpit at the back end o
every church. Ireckon that is the reason
why so many people love to sit bacl
there. I wish some gifted artist would
draw picture of the inside of fashion.
able church with shadowy pulpit OF
the rear and the devil with his forket
tail sitting up there watching and wink
ing at his part of the flock and whisper
ing devilment in their ears. Old satal
is power in this land of liberty. 81
can quote Scriptures TO suit his purposes
His impudence is amazing. he dared t
tempt the Saviour and offered him th
whole world for his allegiance. He con
tended with Michael, the arch angel, 70
the possession of the body of Moses.
wonder what the old rascal wanted wit
it. But I suppose he claims the cart
and wants everything in it just like hi
human followers. He went to Jobs par
ty without any invitation and said h
was just walking about and though b
/ -,,11 all H. "a do;nn thot 1nt