Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-31

kindeln. II the skin does not becoma-
thoroughly red. It lis a sign that the
love of the couple is weak and twaver-
ing. On this day also the children pa
mitted to beat up the grown-up peo-
pie. for which escapades they receive
fruit and kletzen.
The feature of these witchlike times
which is as interesting as any other. T.,
the custom of the country folk to gath
err about the family hearth and recourt
we'll known tales of ghost or goblin.
One of the best liked stories is that
the specter barber, who for many year
haunted castle in little town OF
johannesburg. Through his practice
of shaving. from the shoulders up. any
mortal who happened to come within
his power finally drove every one away
from the place.
4 young stranger happening in the
town and not finding room in the tay-
ern. sought out one of the empty bed
rooms in the castle, which was just a.
the owner had left it. Unaware of the
character of the place, he prepared 20
spend the night in it The barber, ac-
cording to his wont. appeared at mid
night and shaved the man most thor
oughly. Just as he was about TO de-
part. with shaving tools nicely put away
in bag, the young man thought he
sensed an unexpressed wish. and mo-,
tioning the barber to the seat which,
he had just vacated. he proceeded II
shave him as he himself had been
shaved.
AS soon as he had finished the ghost
found power of speech and thanked the
young man fervently, explaining that
such service was all that was necessary
to liberate him from an age-old
penance. which had compelled him to
stay in the castle and shave every man
who came within it's walls. As for the
stranger, he was acclaimed the savior.
of the town. and generously rewarded
by the owner of the seat. who imme-
diately resumed possession.
Another tale is that of the GOLFERS
family. A young merchant on his way
TO distant seaport, laden with valu-
ables. lost his way and was taken into
the humble cot of forester for the
night. The evening merriment was at
its height, when gentle tap was
heard at the door. and an uncanny little
man in black stealthily entered takinL
his seat in the circle about the fire.
Although he appeared to be well
known to the family, the conversation
Immediately subsidized, and the rest Of
the evening was passed in constraint
He joined in the family prayers, but
just as he was about to lift the latch
of the door to go out into the night ne
shot back into the room and glared
wildly and ferociously upon the family
group.
In the middle of the night, the young
merchant reused from his slumber BY
some one walking about his room, saw
the little man sitting upon the saddle
bags which contained his valua bles. and
when he asked him what he wanted the
creature replied that he wished to show
him hidden treasure in the forest
Thinking that in this way he mig
easily increase his riches, the merchant
sprang out of bed. and prepared to go
out with his strange guide.
When he looked toward the man. how
ever. he saw not the covering person
of the evening, but an apparition. I'm
moderately tall and thin. with a scarlet
mantle thrown over his shoulder and
his belt brIstling with wea oons Not
daring to disobey the commands which
now came from such a frightful per-
sonality. the young man FASTENED out
into the depth of the forest.
Finally the specter halted. and point
ing TO spot told the young man to
dig. He himself joined in. and wher-
ever his bony fingers touched the earth
PHOSPHORUS and ill-smelling vapor
arose.
At last they reached some copper
urns. which. as soon as they struck the
air, crumbled into dust. The search
continued for some time with equally
fruitless results in each spot where
they dug.
At last the goblin declared that his
comrade had discovered the wealth and
surreptitiously hidden it. As he voicei
his accusation his wrath grew create
and greater. flames shot out from his
ears and nostrils, and, striking his
bony hands against the trunks of trees.
he made a noise like summer thunder
The young merchant was beginning to
give himself up for lost. when a dis
tant cock crowed. and with groaa and
loud lamentation the specter faded into
air.
Upon returning to the Golfers home
and relating the experience the mer-
chant was told that the ferocIous form
had been the habitual guise of the
ghost of the place who haunted buried
treasure, but that by piety and con-
slant prayers he and his family had
succeeded in getting the specter to as
sumo the gentle aspect in which he had
been seen early in the evening. The
knowledge of treasure in the house had
excited his cupidity and caused him to
take his old form.
Several years later the merchant
a gain had occasion to stay with the
collier, but this time the only evidence
of the little man was the soft tinkle
of bells and a gentle radiance which /
played about the room for while and
then departed