West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1903-12-17
BROTHER GhRDDER.


There was feeling in the air as
the regular proceedings of the Lime
Kiln club drew to a close that its
president had something on his
mind, and more than one members
face wore anxious look as Brother
Gardener slowly arose and said.
II desiah to express few re-
marks on sartin subjeck. 1t has
come to my knowledge dat sartin
members of dis club am trubbled
wild SEEM ghosts an hcarin' strange
noises, have bin told dat Shindig
Watkins has received three distinct
warnin's SO fur dis year, an dat
kurnel Cabiff can't sleep o. nights
from hearin' a death tick in de wall
at de head of his bed. Also, dat
Giveadam Jones am all broke up
by hear:n' whispers at midnight, an
dat Elder Toots wakes up most
ebery night an sees spook wild
fiery eyes glarin' at him ober dc
foot of de bed.
al has further learned dat Brud-
der Standoff Jackson heard clock
strike thirteen times de odder night,
an he was so affected dat he could
not 60 to work next day. He be-
lieved twas sign of sudden
death in his family. / am told dat
Brudder 9Sawed-Of White saw de
new moon ober his left shoulder de
odder night, an he dun felt so poky
obcr 1t dat he had to soak his feet
an 60 to bed. / learn dat Brudder
Waydown Bebee saw three white
horses clus together on de street de
odder day. an he at once run fur
home wild all his might to see if de
baby WASN'T dead of collie.
''only last night l was informed
dat Kurnel Kyann Johnsing, sec-
ond vice president OF dis club, sot
ali night bekase de family tea kettle
sounded warnin' soon after sup
per- 1t seems 10 me, from what
have heard doorin' de last fo' weeks,
dat nine-tenths of de members OF
dis club am nightly 'spectin' to see
ghosts walkin' bou deir bedrooms.
al is now 90 years old, an rec
kon has had as much experiences
wild ghosts an SIGH as any of yo'.
will admit dat 1 used to believe
in 'em, an dat for many years was
trubbled in my mind fur fear /
would m eet one in de dark an be
speerited away. OAR was a time
when / would have bet my mewl
ag'in a peck of beans dat ghosts
was playin' base ball under my bed
ebery night of de year. lay dar'
an heard warnin's an death ticks
an whispered voices, an l riz up
in de mawin' feelin' dat ! was not
long fur dis sinful world. / has bin
sittin' up alone at night arter de
old woman had gone to bed, an
has felt de presence of ghosts TIL de
cold shibbers chased deirselves up
my back an make me gasped fur
breath. On the occashun | met up
wild spook in dc back yard, an
got SIGH scare dat il took three
doctors to bring me to an save my
life. Fur year arter dey did save
it | couldn't be left alone in de
house widout two candles burnin'
an three dogs to watch ober me.
81 went frew all have said, my
friends, an heap mo- an den
sot down to hgger. / fggered fur
days an days, an | used up a heap
O. paper an brain power, but fn-
ally struck it at last. De result OF
my hggerln' was about as follers:
"Wheneber yo' am six weeks
behind on yo'r house rent yo' may
expect to see spook lookin' at yo'
ober de footbo'd of de bed. He's
dar' to inquar' when yo' am gwine
to settle up.
eff 700 has bin shooiin' craps
an lost de So de old woman has
saved up to buy pair of shoes,
yon hear ghostly footsteps all ober
de cabin fur three nj ghts running.
YoIl also hear from de old woman
seberal times day fur a much
longer time.
eff | had bin sorter walkinI
around doorin' de day, an had dis.
kibered hencoop which promised
to pan out we'll de fust dark night,
should listen mighty hard when
got to bed. II ] heard death.
tick in de wall should take it to
mean dat III better let dem "a
chickens alone, bekase DER was a
springgOn jess inside de doah OF
der coop. If didn't hear de
death-lick reckon I'D chance Il,
though I'd go powerful slow an feel
all around in de dark for dat gun.
eff white man Gums along IN
de mawnin' an offers you dollar
for days work and you stick for