Norwich bulletin., 1912-01-20
ORIGINAL SOCIAL CORNER STORY
THE TALES OFLONG AGO
By Shut-in

When Robert Weatherbee was six years Id he travelled one hundred miles on old gray Bess' back, sitting behind his uncle Jack. The road lay across a rough, hilly country. And in those days the traveller was brave, indeed. who would travel the roads after nightfall.
 So, night having overtaken Robert and his uncle Jack, they stopped at a wayside tavern for the night.
 Well" said the tavern keeper, what will you have for supper?"
 Something good to eat and drink, said Jack.
 will you have some tea?'
 Tea of all things for you to ask me to take! No tea for me! Do you hear What with the taxation on tea and other stuff! No! Bring me some cider!"
 "Oh, give him what he wants-now hurry Up!"
 After eating supper they went into the big Tall, where two large fires were burning and looked very cheerful and comfortable. Around th4 fireplaces sat four men. I've of them greeted Un- cle Jack.
 The other two men were strangers in that part of the country. One was from London, with a strong CC ckney accent. The other was the new tax collector, sent from Boston.
 The two men who greeted Jack Brown were men who worked for the tavern keeper. Both were coarse, clownish fellows and kept casting ugly glances at the tax collector.
 All seemed glad to see a newcomer. The host passed around apples, nuts and cider; and soon the talk became more general.
 At last Robs eyes were closed and he was fast in the land of dreams. where apples, cider and nuts seemed to be dancing before his eyes. He tried hard to catch them when-crash! over he went on the floor. "All right, lad Nothing hurt!'
 It sounded like his uncle's voice, but it seemed to be miles away.
 Hes had too much cider" he heard a voice say. Someone else was talk ing, too.
 You say you saw your mothers ghost?'' was all he heard. for his uncle spoke up then. good and sharp:
 Hush! The laddie will hear you and he has just buried both father and mother"
 But Robert was wide awake now with a terrified look il his eyes. His uncle turned to his host and asked hir- for a light and requested to be showr where he was to sleep. Then, taking the poor frightened child in his arms he followed the landlord upstairs tC bed.
 The following morning they were up at sunrise, and took leave of theh friends of the night before.
 Sunset found them at Grandmothel Browns homestead. She cried ana kissed Rob and told him that she ant Uncle Jack would love him now. Aft. CT a few days Robert became more contented and loved his grandma ana Uncle Jack both dearly. The homestead stood in a clearing with woods on all sides. Near thu house was a small graveyard, with { few headstones to mark the resting place of those that were buried there In one end of the yard was a hollow tree in which an old hoot owl lived and he would spend his time at nigh l hooting.
 The country people in those day | were very superstitious-much nor 1 so than we of the twentieth century 1 They were fond of telling about see l ing hobgoblins and ghosts and evel of seeing an apparition of some dea 1 departed.
 Now, Grandmother Brown had al l old dame that lived with her and help ed with the work; and she was yer fond of talking about spirits she ha