Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1895-01-03

| part vi 'he sea view GROUNDS, out tneN
took every safe opportunity to annoy
the Yankee, who, as they thought, was
so anxious to kill them. Among othel
lltllesplteful things they made as much
noise as possible in passing the place in
the evening, singing, shouting, and
even dancing on the smooth road. This
they carried to such an extent that a,
| length the electrician said:
"This damp nigh; air is not whole
some for those negroes, Thomas. |
think they had better be at home before
dark, and if you will assist with the
stereopticon this evening we will take
measures to have the road clear in the
future before the night dews begin tC
| fall"
Thomas was very willing to assist,
and before dark that evening the two
electricians were snugly ensconced
among the branches OF a great almond
tree near the road, whence they could
see all who passed without being seen
themselves. There were many passers-
by, but the operators waited till it was
/ quite dark, and then until q large and
noisy party approached. When they
were fairly past the gate, they saw a
sight that froze the blood i'm their veins.
First there was flash of light by the
roadside, and then a flat rock burst into
blaze. From the flame there rose a
cloud of smoke, and in the smoke there
instantly appeared the form of a gal
lows, and from it man hanging, sway
ing in the breeze The black cap was
drawn over his face, and his arms and
legs were pinioned.
The negroes set up piercing shrek
and turned and fled. Before they were
so feet away the smoke, the gallows,
and the man had disappeared, but the
darkies did not stop till they reached a
distant corner, where was a road which
would take them home by a rounda-
bout way.
Presently another party of negroes
came along, singing, shouting, and
chattering. Again the flash, the burn
ing rock, and the smoke. But this time
instead of the gallows, there appeared
the spectre of a drunken man, holding
in one hand decanter and in the other
an empty glass. Quick as thought, the
decanter is raised the glass is filled,
and the bacchanal lifts it to his lips.
But as he does SO the glass bursts into
flame, and fire pours from the mans
mouth. Again a chorus of shrieks, a
stampede, and the spectre fades away.
After little time a third party APP
preached. Once more flash, a flame.
andr<cloud of smoke. And in the
smoke appeared terrible monster,
shaped like huge shark, but walking
on six legs his side covered with lumi-
nous scales, his long tail forked, and
his great red mouth opening wide and
clanking shut again, showing his rows
of horrible teeth. More shrieks, of
course, more running, and then silence
and darkness.
81 think, Thomas, that will do for
this evening"" said the electrician; "by
tomorrow our ghosts will be walking
all over the island, and our colored
friends will be spared the consequent
ces of breathing this unwholesome
night air."
Such wonders as these could not con-
tinue long without attracting the atten-
ton of the whole island whites as well
as blacks. A rumor reached the Gov
eminent House that celebrated cleo
trician from ''the Statesn was winter
ing at Sea View, and when the Cover
nor heard of the Sea View ghosts and
miracles, he was not slow in putting
this and that together and ascribing
them to their true cause. When he
learned that the electrician was no other
than the distinguished William II.
Brown, he threw ceremony to the winds
and drove out to Sea View one evening
to call. Fortunately the bell handle
was no longer connected with the dy-
namo.
While the Governor was examining
the workshop of the great electrician,
the latter remarked:
81 have prepared little surprise for
my neighbors, which intended to give
them tomorrow evening; but as your
-EXcellency is here, and as everything
can be made ready in few minutes, l
can just as well let them have it to-
night, ifyou can wait"
The Governor was only too happy to
wait, and the electrician and his assist
ant hurriedly made their preparations.
When all was ready they retired to the
detached kitchen in distant corner of
the yard, Mrs. Brown, the Governor,
and the two electricians, fastening
themselves in, and leaving the house in
total darkness.
"This will be the last electrical mira
Gle at Sea View" the electrician said,
"for | must stop playing, and settle
down to work. But this will be at
least lively one, and in a few minutes
the grounds will probably be full of peo-
pie. Perhaps your Excellency will do
me the honor to open the entertain
ment by pressing that key"
The Governor touched the key indi-
Gated, and instantly there blazed up a
bright yellow light, apparently issuing
from the roof of the house. The cleo