Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Nev. County, Ark.) 1885-1???, 1891-04-30
SALTPETRE CAVE.

oHL E. M JHfE.
Yes, there are some people with
so much imagination that, when they
see a ghost, they take it in the dark
ness to be white horse, painted
post or garment fluttering in the
wind"
1t was a winter night. around
the log fire at the back of the coun-
try store, near a ferry ON a certain
southern river, sat the proprietor
and his usual company of loafers.
But the original remark above
quoted was made by a stranger
among them. a man who only a few
minutes before had alighted from his
horse at the store door He might
have been taken for horse trader,
sewing machine agent or a fruit-tree
vendor. There was nothing about
his dress or manner to indicate the
business he followed. \ pair of
boots drawn over the bottom of his
trousers, 4 buttoned-up macintosh,
which reached his ankles, and a
slouch hat, pulled down over the
eyes, constituted his visible apparel.
His hair and close.cut mou5tache
were Of sandy color, and his steel
gray eyes were steady aud uncom-
municative. His singular remark
was made in consequence of the
store-keepcr's 5 rather exciting state
ment "that neighbors t'other side OF
the river were right sharp stirred up
bout hants which had been seen by
more II one party lately, in the old
Bagland graveyard, iist over on the
bluff" And thereafter came gen
eral and bood-cardlirg & narration of
ghost stories, strange "reminiscences.
and a discussion of the supernatural
on earth, in which the stranger CON
tended for the belief IN ghosts with
the carnostness of an enthusiast or
man with motive.
Meaawhic. these sat in the door
way one 50 humble and frendlcss
that, unpretentious as was the COM
panv around the fireside, he held
himself unworthy of their companion
ship-a lad in his teens, the son of a
blind widow and the sole support OF
his mother and some children young
er than himself However, his diff
(idence alone did not prevent him
from joining in the conversation of
his botters on This OCCASION; at this
time he was too much absorbed in
his own thoughts to heed the excit-
ing talk. The way was in trouble.
He was used to the burden of power
" which "crushes into dumb
despair" 50 many southern tenants.
But lately a light had dawned on the
boys life, and tonight he felt that
the light might fade, He was big
hearted youth, therefore, he could
love; he was a lonely boy, therefore
he craved affection; but tonight he
felt that there was danger of losing
his sweetheart, and so he sat in the
doorway, his hands clasped around
his knees, and gazed sorrowfully up
at the distant stars.
] said it was q winter night. /
should have said 1t was the night be-
fore Christmas eve. That day the
boy had heard for the first time in
his life Of a Christmas tree. The
new teacher Of the public school had
arranged to have one up at the school
house the following night. SONS
other boys, carrying eyergreens for
decorating purposes, had passed the
widows cabin that afternoon, and
told this boy OF the Christmas tree,
and Of tow every lass who had lad
die would receive nice present
from the tree, and they had asked
him what he was going to put on it
for Mary. He had listened silently
to their talk, and to the question put
to him, had simply answered, y
don't know" But he secretly knew
he could put on it nothing. He had
no money, and il he could find work
for a day (Which was Improbable at
this season when all work is suspend