The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-05-26
1895. BY Baeheller. johnson &

Copyright, 1895. by Bacheller. Johnson &
Bachelor.
Around the walls OF a certain old
church there stood many tomhs. and
these had been there so long that the
plaster with which their lids were fas-
tened down had dried and crumbled 50
that In most Of them there were long
cracks under their lids, and out OF these
the ghosts OF the people who had been
buried in the tomb were in the habit OF
escaping at night.
This had been going on for a long
time. and, at the period OF our story,
the tomhs were in such bad repair that
every night the body Of the church was
So filed with ghosts thar before day
light one OF the sacristans was Obliged
20 come into the church and sprinkle
holy water everywhere. This ~as done
to clear the church Of ghosts before the
first service began. and who does not
know that If ghost is sprinkiet with
holy water il shrivels up? This first
service was attended almost eNclu-
siveiy by printers on their way home
from their nightly labors on the jour
nails OF the town.
The tomb which had the largest
crack under its lid belonged 10 a bishop
who had died more than a hundred
years before. and who had a great Tepu-
tation for sanctity. so much so. in
deed. that people had been in the habit
Of picking little pieces OF plaster from
under the lid Of his tomb and carrying
them away as holy relies, 10 prevent
disease and accidents.
This tomb was more imposing than
the others. and stood upon a pedestal
so that the crack beneath its lid was
quite plain to view and remarks had
been made about having it repaired.
Very early one morning. before IL was
time for the first service, there came into
the church a poor mason. His wife had
recently recovered from a severe sick
ness, and he was DESTROYS or making an
Offering 10 the church. But having no
money 10 spare. he had determined thar
he would repair the bishops tomb, and
he consequently came 10 do this before
his regular hours OF work began.
All the ghosts were out OF their tombs
at the time. but they We're gathered i'll
the other end of the church, and the
mason did not see them. nor did they
not G. hLn; and he Immediately went 10
work. He had brought some plaster and
a trowel. and it was not long before the
crack under the lid of the tomb was en-
tirely filled up. and the plaster made as
smooth and neat as when the tomb was
new.
When his work was finished. the ma
son left the church by the little side door
Not ten minutes afterward the sacris-
tan came ia 10 sprinkle the church with
holy water. Instantly the ghosts began
to scatter right and left, and TO slip into
their tombs as quickly as possible. but
when the ghost of the good bishop
reached his tomb he found it impossible
TO get in. lie went around and around
it. but nowhere could he find the least
little chink by which he could enter. The
-4=fa HI oil he snF~
side of the church. scattering holy water.
and in great trepidation the bishops
ghost FASTENED from tomb to tomb. hop
ing TO find one which was unoccupied
into which he could slip before the
sprinkling began on that side OF the
church He soon came to one which
he thought might be unoccupied. but
he discovered to his CONSERVATION
that il was occupied by the ghost OF
young girl who had died of love.
Alas. alas!" exclaimed the bishops
ghost. 'How unlucky, Who would
have supposed this to be your tomb?"
at is not really my tomb said the
ghost of the young girl 1T is the
tomb of Sir Godfrey of the Marie, who
was killed in battle near two centuries
ago. | am told that il had been empty
for a long time, for his ghost has gone
to Castle Marie. Not long ago | came
into the church and finding this tomb
unoccupied, I settled here"
"Ah, me-" said the bishops ghost. 1.-THE
sacristan will soon he around here with
holy water. Could not you get out and
go TO your own tomb: where is that?"
ALIAS. good father" said the ghost OF
the young girl, II have no tomb; l was
buried plainly In the ground. and ! do
not know that | could find the place
again. But 1 have no right TO keep you
out OF this tomb. good father; It is as
much yours as Il is mine. so / will come
out and let you enter; truly, you are I'm
great danger. As for me. II doesn't mat
ter very much whether I am sprinkled
or not"
So the ghost OF the young girl slipped
out OF Sir Geoffrey's tomb, and the
bishops ghost slipped In. but not min
ute before the sacristan had reached the
place. The ghost of the young girl fitted
from one pillar 10 another until il came
near the door, and there it paused. think
ing what It should do next. Even IL IL
could find the grave from which II had
come, II did not want 20 go back TO such
a place; IL liked churches better.
Soon the printers began 10 come In 10
the early morning service. One OF them
was very sad. and there were tears In
his eyes. He was a young man. not