Arizona republican., 1891-02-22
AUNTIES GHOST STORY.

1t was a cold autumn night. The wind was bowling without, but inside the great, old fashioned kitchen where we children sat, gathered around the crackling fire, everything was cozy and warm. Aunt Jane had siyen us a basket of nuts, and we were having great fun cracking them.
 We had come tospend few days with Aunt Jane, who lived in fine old farm house some miles away from the village Now, auntie had DO children of her own, and so she was always glad when we nieces and nephews came like young army to take possession of the old house, as she was very kind to US and told us many famous stories
 But, as said, the wind was having a clustering time of 1t without, and we were laughing merrily within. and crack. ing our nuts, when all of a sudden we heard piercing scream Of course we all screamed too, dropped our nuts, and sat quite still in fright. Now, Auntie Jane, who is very sensible, and not at all timid, only looked up from her sew ing and listened In another minute there came another scream, even louder than the first "Oh, auntiew we cried, in a frightened chorus, tits Robbie D Robbie, who was only years old, and not big enough to sit up with us, had been put to bed up stairs half an hour before. Don't be such silly little geeser' said auntie, calmly folding her work. m go up and sec what is the matter with the child" So auntie put down her basket, took a lamp in her hand and left the room, while we all followed and stood huddle,i together at tho foot of the stairs.
 Presently auntie appeared with tremb- ling Robbie in her aruis, and told us all to go back into the kitchen.
 Auntie took her place by the fire, and we all sat down again. "Now, Robbie" said Aunt Jane, quietly, "sit up and tell them what was the matter, and why you screamed and frightened everybody, and what you saw" Hut Master Robbie didn't want to sit up; he kicked his little fat legs about and clung close to auntie, hiding his face in her gown.
 Come along, sir" said auntie firmly, and then she sat Robbie up in her lap, but he put his finger in his mouth and blinked at the fire, and finally began to howl dismally.
 There, there" said auntie more gen tly and betting him. Be brave little man. Now tell us, what did you think you saw?"
 A little pause, then from out the folds of auntie's gown came smothered "Dhostr from Robbie.
 "So," said auntie, "you thought you saw ghostr'
 Fought saw dhost," was the muf- fed echo.
 "Very well, ," said auntie. ''Now what did you really see when, ! came in with the lamp and made you take your head out from under the blanket? Pet ticoatT asked auntie, bending down.
 "Petticoat hanging in to,ner."
 "Ah," said auntie, "you thought you saw a ghost, and what you really did see was white petticoat Hanging up in the corner. Is that ii:?
 "Es, rse been bad boy today, and Henny told me when l WIS bad boy l would see dhost landing up in torner, and fought pettitoat was D dhost."
 Auntie looked very sternly at Henry.
 Henry" she said, 'have you really been putting such nonsense into this silly little boys headF"
 "Oh, just for fun," said Henry, though he looked little ashamed. "It's a line way to keep him good"
 Let me tell you, Henry that great deal of harm and great deal of suffer ing have come from just this thought. less habit of frightening little children in order to keep them good,
 "And so am going to tal you . story