The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-16
a Ranted Hant.

Black Nanny. dear soul, believed devoutedly
in ''hsnts" says Hdrper's Young People but
Billy, whom she had nursed and brought up TO
IL years old, laughed such things quite TO scoTD.
He was a mischievous fellow, and though he
loved Black Nanny dearly. thought it great
( un to scare her out of her wits
she was very fond Of going to might meetin'."
The path ran tn ough the pasture at one edge
Of which lay an old graveyard and there Billy
determined to give her glorious fright. It
took all dag TO make the ghost which was that
night to confront her. For the head Billy cut
he meant 10 place couple of lighted candles.
The gourd topped a pole, with cross arms
tackled on, from which drapery of white
window curtains fell long and full Billy him
self would be sheltered in their folds, and by
raising the pole above his head, could make the
specter at least ten feet high.
How nanny aud the rest would run cry
out, at the sight Of il He could hardly fix things
properly in place for thinking OF it when he had
got upon the hill side, fifty yards from the path.
AS for Tom aud black Charley who sat under a
near brier-bush ready to touch off bit OF red
fire, they were simply helpless with laughing.
1t was O'Clock, pitch-dark and cloudy, when
the meeting.goe came in view. struggling
procession of men and women, with here and
there lantern feebly blinking In the line. 4 8
1t came well abreast Of him. Billy uncovered
the flaming gourd head, pushed it up, up. to the
full hight, giving out, as he did il, screech-
owls cry.
Tom and black Charley were TO answer it
with the fash of red-fire. Instead came a
smothered exclamation, "Lordy l dons lost
dem matches!M
Before cropping fingers could find them, there
came patter OF sharp swift footballs behind.
Something took Billy hard in the knees, sent
him and the gaost sprawling, Tom and black
Charley scuttling away as fast as their legs
could carry them.
Billy heard the black boy crying out: run,
TawIny, run! Dey is hants l knowed nit all de
time An de sho 'nough liant done got Billy"
Indeed, he half believed it, for no sooner did
knocked fiat by this mysterious sonnet hing that
seemed to his excited fancy to be veritabIe
giant. And it had certainly come from among
the graves. He had stood with his back to
them, facing down hill If only he could reach
the bottom of it, where by this time Black
Nanny ought to be, unless, indeed. she had
seen and been frighted away by his struggle
with this demon of the dark! Again he got TO
his knees. to be again knocked fiat with a re-
sounding thwack.
Stretching himself full length, Billy began to
roll down hill faster than ever ne had done in
his life, too spent and breathless to call aioId,
but only vowin2 If he escaped alive henceforth
to let nants reign supreme IN the pasture.
Fast as he rolled his assailant kept up with
him, gliding his descent with more thwacks and
pushes. Nor did. they stop until Mammy's
lantern light fell full in Billy's eyes. Mammy's
voica cried out:
OF yere amt Squire Elam's ole flShtiu' ram
done broke in our paster an mos kilt some.
body! Wy, it's Billy! Lord love yer, honey
huccame we los in de dark out yere? Sposen
dem hants had er got alter We Std er do ole
ram?''
Il most wish they had" Billy said, getting
up slowly and hanging his head.