The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-08
old EDMUND'S GHOST STORY.
The Terrible Effect Il Produced On the Mind
Of a YODlgStGr who Heard It.
Written for THE SUNDAY CALL.

When l was very small boy at my home
in the Valley of Virginia, 'befoh de wah,"
l often enjoyed rare treat in occasionally
visiting THE quarters" as the negro cabins
were called, and listening to the wonderful
folk lore of the aged servants. Old Edmund
remember particularly as rich in Informal
ton of the past. His age no one knew. He
was tradition, and his knowledge of
events legendary The War of the Revo-
luton and the incidents connected with
Tarlton'S raids he was familiar with, and
described them with viyidness bordering
upon the realistic. He could give picture
OIL the poor Hesslans working under the
lash, as the ancient Hebrews under
Pharaoh's task-masters, in building Sara
toga, the country seat Of John Y. Page
now owned by his descendants. One even
ing Edmund came IN from work tired and
thirsty, and said TO me: "PIl tell you ghost
story tonight if you'll get me a DRAM
This put to work all my youthful wits. for
what can be contemplated with such pleas
ure by the young as first-claSs ghost story ?
bly, father was very strict as to indulgence
Ill ardent spirits, and | knew that if caught
III the attempt to provide the consideration
for the story direful would be the conse-
queDceS. The strong liquor, always kept in
barrels, was in the cellar. The apples were
there kept also. Under the DreteXt of
wanting some apples l obtained from my
mother the Key, and, concealing tin. cup,
proceeded to obtain for Edmund the dram
upon delivery of which l was to hear the
wonderful story. l succeeded, and having
quaffed the half-pint | brought, my mar
rator commenced the most weird and
wonderful tale that mortal ears ever
heard. The headless horseman of Sleepy
Hollow was not to be compared 10 the
blood-cnrdllng incidents and oriental ex-
trayagance OF Edmund's tale. [ went to
bed with lighted candle, every shadow |
conceived to be horrible .ogre and every
sound supernatural. My dreams were dread
full. for before me stood his ghosts and COB
ms III hldeouS aspect, with blazing eyes and
CHASTITY ivory teeth raspmg as if sharpening
Tor feast. The next morning was hog
Killing. and every preparation, as in the
log pile having been built and filled
in with rock, which, when heated
by the porcine funeral pyre, were thrown
into hogshead of water which served to
loosen the hair, when at the boiling point
This is great event in the life
of boy. and as it is considered mark of
honor to apply the first touch to the ''hog
Kiln, great vigilance is displayed in
achieving 1t. So the next morning after Ed
mund's story, and after a restless night,
arose at 3 O'Clock and noiselessly dressed to
elude any sleeping rival, stole quietly out
OF the house. candle il hand, and was pro-
ceedInG through the yard toward the place
OF execution, the auto da fe of the porkers.
When DeIore me arose white object. II
gradually grew larger and larger, and then
crested its back. Across my mind. with
electric quickness, flashed old Edmund's
horrible story, and before me stood veri-
table ghost. My hair stood on end. 1
dropped the candle and screamed. In a
moment all the house was astir and hasten
Ing to my rescue. l stood petrified with
fear. The ghost slowly retired. The serv-
ants came with broomS and sticks, and eau
tlously pursuing tile phantom, they got near
enough for Identification. when a roar of
laughter broke the silence, and the exelama-
ton greeted my ear which almost paralyzed
me with modification: why, it's old NelPs
calf!' r q