Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1914-12-22
on such night as this?" cried the COB

on such night as this?" cried the COB
lin
Gabriel Grub, Gabriel Grubbr'
screamed wild chorus of voices that
seemed to fill the churchyard.
What have you got In that bother
said the goblin.
Hollands, sin" replied the sexton,
trembling more than ever, for he had
bought it OF the smugglers, and he
thought his ouestioner might be In the
excise department of the COLLINS.
WHO drinks Hollands alone and in
a churcbyard on such night as this?"
Gabriel Grubb, Gabriel Grnbbr t.x.
claimed the wild voices again.
''And who, then. is our lawful prize p
exclaimed the goblin.
The invisible chorus replied, Gabriel
Grubb. Gabriel Grubbp
The sexton gasped for breath.
What do you think of this, Ga
briel?" said the goblin.
"lts-it's very curious. sir; very Gu
rious. sir. and very pretty" replied the
sexton. half dead with fright "But |
think III go back and finish my work,
sir, il YOU please"
Work." said the goblin. "What
work."
''The grave, sir"
"Oh. the grave, eh? Who makes
graves at time when other men are
merry and takes a pleasure in itT'
Again the voices replied, Gabriel
Grubb, Gabriel Grubbr'
I'm afraid my friends want you.
Gabriel said the goblin.
Under favor, sir" replied the hor-
ror stricken sexton. 81 don't think
they can. They don't know me, sir.
| don't think the gentlemen have ever
seen me-
"Oh, yes. they have! We know the
nan who struck the boy in the envious
malice OF his heart because the boy
could be merry and he could not"
Here the goblin gave a loud, shrill
augh which the echoes returned twen-
yfold
IL am afraid | must leave you,
sir" said the sexton. making an effort
% move.
leave usr' said the goblin. "Ho no.
1or'
As the goblin laughed he suddenly
larted toward Gabriel. laid his hand
IN his collar and sank with him
through the earth. And when be had
lad time to fetch his breath he found
himself in what appeared to be large
tavern, surrounded on all sides bv COB
ms ugly and grim.
And now" said the king of the COB
ms. seated in the center of the room
III an elevated seat-his friend of the
.hurchyard-"s show the man of misery
md gloom a few of the pictures from
our great storehouses."
AS the goblin said this cloud rolled
gradually away and disclosed a small
md scantily furnished but neat apart
nent. Little children were gathered
'ound a bright fire. clinging to their
mothers gown or gamboling round her
hair. A frugal meal was spread upon
III
placed near the fire. Soon the father
entered. and the children ran to meet
lim AS he sat down to his meal the
mother sat by his side. and all seemed
happiness and comfort.
what do you think of thatr' said
he goblin
Gabriel murmuFed something about
is being very pretty.
"Sbow him some more" said the
goblin
Many time the cloud went and
anne. and many a lesson ii taught TO
Gabriel Grubb. He saw that men who
worked hard and earned their scanty
bread were cheerful and happy. And
10 came to the conclusion it was a
'ery respectable sort of world after
III. One by one the COLLINS faded from
lis sight. and as the last one disap-
)eared he sank to sleep
The day had broken when he awoke
md found himself lying on the fat
travestone. with the wicker bottle emp
by his side He got on his feet as
veil as he could and. brushing the
rost of his coat, turned his face to-
ward the town.
But he was an altered man. He had
earned lessons of gentleness and good
nature 10y his strange adventures in the
robins cavern Charles Dickens