The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-15

 hit any one less'n he had to.
 Well, gentlemen. as I was sayin'. ev- erything seemed to go long all tight that day, n I wasn't thlnkin' any more bout spooks when long bout 2 in the mornin', that bein' In the middle O the mates watch on deck, MT. Green come thumpin' on my stateroom door n hollerin' fer me to turn out.
 Whats up? says I.
 Ghost on deslk,' says he, 'wavin' of a razor, n crew in the riggin'.
 50 out I tumbles n goes on desk Smart northwestern blowin m we was well out toward Monhegan, wind abeam n everything drawin'. Wheel was in a bscket, so she hadn't luffed, n the mate standin' by the main riggin'. Half way up the fore riggin was the two men in his watch-the nigger n the Portugues.
 Where's the ghost? says l to MT. Green.
 "'Don't see him now says the mate, but mint ago he went forrard. walkin soft's a feather n a-wavin' of a razor.'
 "'say anything?' I asked.
 'Yes-said somethin' bout barbers,
 Where's Watkins? says l.
 "watkins7 Why he's turned in,' says the mate, this is his watch below
 "Let's see,' says l. n I went forrards n looked into the fo'-castle. There was watkins, a crazy coot f ever there was one standin, up to a little glass a-shavin of himself He had on white duck pants n & white shirt, n his face was all white with father. I grabbed him n yanked him out on deck n sung out for the fellers in the rIggin to come down. Here's your ghost, says I, come down n get a good look at him!
 'Turned out that Watkins couldn't sleep cause. sides bein' nervous feller, he had a tender face where some barber d shaved him the wrong way, n two days growth O beard itched him, so up he gets in the middle O his watch below n starts in to shave. Took his mug n went to the cooks galley 'midships to get hot water all the time cursin' the barber that had shaved him agin the grain That's how the watch on deck come to see the ghost. I told all hands that the only ghost board Q the Ocean Wave was my own private prop'ty. n he hadn't ben out O his bunk fer more six months. They looked kinder foolish n turned to. n didn't hear no more bout ghosts till four nights afterward, when I was to the wheel my self.
 ''we was pokin' long fin a thick fog, feelin' our way into Portsmouth, when l heerd a rumpus in the waist stuck the wheel in a becket n run forrards, n there was a pretty good imitation of ghost layin' crost the fore hatch n Rafferty, my fghtin Irishman a-poundin' him in good shape. Come to pull 'em apart, found the Speritalist Watkins, had been gettin' mother shave n had split some of his hot water onto the Irishman, who lit into him like thousand O bricks I heerd the Irishman sayin' as he thumped Watkins. Ye can scare the life outer the nager n the Portugee, ovalkin' round like a banshee in the night, but I'm the boy fer ye?
 Watkins didn't do no more shavin' after that till he got ashore, n he didn't ship with me agin. I went In the Ocean Wave six year n made a good thing out of her. No. didn't see no ghosts. 'cept- in Watkins"
 Just as Captain Babbidge concluded his narrative the door opened and large, red-faced man came in, accompanied by ship broker, who introduced him as Cap'n Bullock of the schooner Aurora. The master of the Aurora was soon made to feel at home, and presently the sub ject of haunted vessels was brought up.. "Oh. hellv exploded Capn Bullock "So that yarn got here as soon as I did? Well. when the owners of the schooner asked me to take her they told me righ' out flat that she had the name O bein' ha'nted, but I told them l didn't give cuss if she was-that I didn't take no stock in ghosts. anyway I wouldn't let no spook stand between me n my good vessl for any man. Sides, I found out in Philadelfy that her Cap'n want mur- dered by no Portugee while countin' his freight money In the cabin. Fust place. he hadn't got his freight money, n next place, he was killed in saloon fight by bein' hit with a beer glass. No, gentle men. they aint no sperrits board O the Aurora, 'ceptin' some one here wants to come board while I'm in port. He'll be welcome to all he can hold Q that"
 Cap'n Babbidge said that he'd like to look the Aurora over and would be down newt day.