Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1890-07-08
l.Tmnossiblsln cried qilberl Crofton.

tluo1luAotH lAllelA NAQAtQls
= Dear Grandmother, You5haye been dream-
Ing, socthed Miuny, creeping up to her side,
and drawing her down Into tho old arin-chair
beside the hearth. ,e ,s-se easa lS
Dreaming shrieSod the old woman. u
waBas wide awake as am at thia moment. I
had been over to see Mrs. Mulr'a sick ehild, aud
it was close . ten when got back Ana tl5
minute Icrossed the threshold. 1 had that queer
feeling OF soma one being in the room creep Ill
over mo. And there sure enough, in the chat,-
opposite, whore he used to cit thirty good year
ago, was your great-graHdfather Maple, with
his old cue-wig aud his suit OF butternut brown
and the very green apectaeles he 9sed 70 wear
for bis weak eyss. And he took bis pIpo out
of his month and looked at me Just as yonr
grandfather Maple has looked at ME 4 thous-
and, thousand timed. And eays /. 'Roubed 8
that CUP And says he; Yes, Lois, It ls.,-
Aud Gays I. oh, Reuben. what brings you bach.
@ this ,Worlda' Aud says hes TO wipe out tho
steins of n wicked world And says I: Are
you happy, Reuben?' And says he. yes, aud
that's the reason want others to bo aud
then began to tremtle all over aud says L.
rs It anything can do, Reubeng' And says
he; There's no moro offending nor giving Of
fsnce IN the other world, Lois, and job Cgof-
tons souland niino arc at variance no longer
Says he; Let thero DO peace, Lois, aud let the
young man Gilbert be your grandchlId'a h6s-
band And then he knocked the bowl OF his
pipe on the edge OF the audiron, hs Iiyo seen
him do Il so ofteni aud be. got up, and le.
walked out Of the room, Just for all the world
like living creature. I've often heard a.
ghosts can go through a keyhole, but your
grandfather Naples ghost opened tho door and
forgot to shut 1t after him, iuto the bargain.-.-
So, when reused up euough to know what
was going on around me- the floor was coYored
with snow, that had drlfted in, and the candle
was blown out.".,r
On, erAnuuOS HgFI 10 I,',iy'lr this wa
reall' cried Minny, with startIed eyes.
'Didn't see It with my own eyes, ani hear
it with my own ears7" demanded old 1lrs.
Maple "It's your grandfather's ghostl Aud
might have known that II he wanted to ap-
pear, he could, for he had obstinacy enough
for anything, rest his soulI You may marry
Gilbert Crofton II you want to tomorrow, ,Aiiii-
nyl Aud perhaps your grandiather's ghost
win be easy then !"
So the young people were happily married,
aud Gilbert came to live at the farm. md man
aged all the old ladys aEalrsfor her. And sbs
lived TO be hundred years old before eho
closed those keen, blue eyes Of hers upou the
mattsrs Of this mortal world.
Butoac day. 10 turning over the rcllcs ofthn
roomy o'd garnet, ulnny came aefoss sed
elhiest elamped with brass, audfaintly odoioda
q lesendpF and rose-leages. sho opened Il.
aoh, Gilbert look herel 6hs cried, .nry
eat-graadfather'a best suit laid up 10 leaui.
phor-gum and swerl herbsl Why do yoy bup-
pose that grandmother Maple has kept tEse
doat know, am sure paid dlbert
with q nliaoiesioss twiukle in his eyas. nPor-
liarA for the younger generations % mteqneg-
ade iotg
Minny spraRg TO her fset suddeu lirhb
eecned 70 illumue her whole tace,
~ MATTER i9ea lAigsrs. nag fint
l' tiie 9exi &iang, your Btandistbufa glsct,
Wili neycr haunt the house agnln.n
sud il never did, The lesiasF