Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-28

felt the need Of any protection. Ihey
were quite capable of taking care or
themselves-so they thought. But after
little while they changed their minds for
half an hour And it was during that
half an hour that their ghost came to
frighten them almost out Of their wits.
Now, as you have all read of ghosts.
and been told that there are no such
things. you will doubtless be entertained
to hear of Saly's and Tommy's ghost
that came to brighten them that morning
in the nursery.
WELL to begin with, Sally and Tommy
lived in big house at the outskirts or
town, and about their house were large
grounds. consisting of lawn, garden,
chicken park and COW lot Now, you may
ask what all that has to do with the
ghost Well, at least one thing I men
toned had something to do with furnish
ing the ghost; it was the COW lot.
Sounds funny. doesn't 1t? But wait and
you shall hear about it all.
x
After Sally and Tommy had tired Of
playing hide and seek. jacks. old bear
and as many other games as they knew
they sat down to look through their pic
ture books. One Of the books contained
fairy tales of vefy thrilling nature. and
Tommy refreshing his memory regarding
one of them by glancing through 1t. SAID:
do you know. Sally, don't believe there
are any fairies. 1t may sound FUNNY 10
you, who believe in them, to hear me
say So
"Oh. goodness. gracious, Tom! How can
you say you don't believe in fairies: Or
course, there are fairies. I'd hate to
think any other way" cried Sally, warm
ly.
And I'd hate to believe in fairies.
declared Tommy. why. it's as absurd to
believe in fairies as it is to believe In
ghosts
well, what proof have you that there
are no ghosts?" asked Sally, drawing q
bit closer to her brother as she said the
terrible word ghosts" There really
may be sure enough ghosts, so tar as We
know
Eyes. that's just like a girl" vowed
Tommy. "They love to believe in I'M
natural things. But l don't accept any
of those things. And long ago l began
to doubt about thcre being any santa
Claus
'Oh. Tom cried Sally. perfectly
shocked at her brothers last statement.
II think it perfectly wicked for you TO
talk about good old Santa Claus,
But just as Sally ceased speaking, and
while Tom was preparing in his mind
some clnching argument against Santa
Claus existence, there came the most UNI
earthly noise in the corner Of the room
or inside the wall it sOunded-that ever
mortal boy or girl heard. Both children
forgot the subject of conversation ana
looked at each other inquirinsly. The
noise ceased and Sally found tongue:
What was that Tom? Wasn't 1t hide
Gus? 1t frightened me. Where could 1t
have come from?''
"'Pon my word, ii was funny noise
said Tom, rising and going to the corner
whence the noise had proceeded III
sounded as if 1t came right out OF the
floor or the wall over here" he added.
And then the noise came again, strange
scraping. saving noise. as If inside the
very floor under Toms feet. Tom with
drew quickly and stood beside his sister.
Say, that's a strange thing! suppose IL
might be- Tom did not finish the
sentence He remembered what he iad
Just said about ghosts and fairies. Ihis
noise decidedly suggested the former.
DO YOU think 1t might be a-a-a-ghost!
WHISPERED Sally. alarm visible in her face.
Come. Tom. lets go downstairs
"Ah. I'm not afraid said Tom. trying
to be brave But he looked rather APP
prehensive and kept his eyes on the cor
ner from which the strange noises came.
Just now all was still and Tom could say
with better show of courage. "Oh, I'm not