Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1915-11-17

Ou Teaculu6 nome, we IOunQ a new
Elizabeth. Soon after her
birth, in April, 1921, father moved
back to Pittsburg, and lived on Sixth
street, opposite Trinity church, on
property belonging to my maternal
grandfather. There was no church
there at that time, but thickly PEG.
pied graveyard, which adjoined that
of the First Presbyterian church, on
the corner Of Sixth and Wood. These
were above the level of the street,
and were protected by a worm-fence
that ran along the top of a green bank
on which we played and gathered
flowers.
Grandmother took me sometimes to
walk in these graveyards at night,
and there talked to me about God
and heaven and the angels. I was
sufficiently interested in these, but es-
pecially longed to see the ghosts, and
often went to look for them. We had
a bachelor uncle who delighted in tell
ing US tales of the supernatural, and
he peopled these graveyards with
ghosts, in which l believed, as i'm.
plicitly as in the Revelations made to
John on the Isle of Patmos, which
were my favorite literature.
When the congregation concluded
to abandon the Round Church, -
which stood on the triangle between
Liberty, Wood and Sixth streets, and
began to dig for foundation for Trim
ity, where it now stands, there was
great dissertation of graves. One day
a thrill of excitement and stream of
talk ran through the neighborhood,
about Mrs. Cooper, whose body had
been buried three years, and was
found in a wonderful state of preser-
walton when the coffin was laid open
by the diggers. It was left that the
friends might remove it., and that
night I felt would be the time for
ghosts. So went over alone, and
while I crouched by the open grave
peering in, cloud passed, and the
moon poured down a food of light, by
which I could see the quiet sleeper,
with folded hands, taking her last
long rest.
It was inexpressibly grand, solemn
and sad. There were no gaslights, no
paved street near, no one stirring.
Earth was far away and heaven near
at hand, but no ghost. came, and l
went home disappointed. Afterwards
had a still more disheartening ad.
venture.
l had gone an errand to cousin Al.
exander's, on Fifth street, stayed late,
and coming home, found Wood street
deserted. The moon shone brightly
but on the graveyard side were heavy
shadows, except in the open space
0nn0cSfn kl,o
other side, and there was the office
Of the Democratic paper, and over the
door the motto, "Our country, right
or wrong" This had long appeared
to be an uncanny spot, owing to the
wickedness of this sentiment, and
was thinking of the possibility of see
ing Aud Nick guarding his property
when my attention. was attracted tc
a tall, white figure in the bright moon
light, outside the graveyard fence.
l stopped an instant, in great sur
prise, and listened for footsteps, but
no sound accompanied the motion. Il
did not walk, but glided, and must
have risen out Of the ground, for on
ly a moment before there was nothing
visible. l clasped my hands in mute
wonder, but my ghost was getting
away, and to make it's acquaintance
must hurry. Crossing the street raj
after and gained on it. It passed in
to the shadow of the engine house
on across Sixth street, into the moon
light, then into the shadow, before
overlook it, when 10! it was a morta
woman, barefoot, in dress which
was probably a faded print. Mos
prints faded then, and this was white
long and scant, making very ghost
ly robe, while on her head she cal
ried a bundle tied up in sheet. Sh'
had, of course, come out of Virgin al
|,ley, where many laundresses lived
and had just passed out Of the shad
ow when saw her. We exchange,
salutations, and went home to lii
and brood over the unreliable natur
of ghosts.
was trying to get into a prope
frame Of mimi for saying my prayers
but L doubt if they were said tina
night, as we were soon aroused b
the cries Of fire. Henry Clay was be
ing burned, in efigy, on the corner Q
Sixth and Wood streets, to show some
body's disapproval of his course il
the election of John Quincy Adams
The Democratic editor, Mcfarland
was tried and found guilty of the o.
Tense, and took revenge in ridiculin
his opponents. Charles Glenn, a fuss
old gentleman, member of our church
was an important witness for tn
prosecution, and in the long, rhymin
account published by the defendant
he was thus remembered:
Then in came Glenn, that man {
peace,
And swore to facts as sleek as grease
BY all his Uncle Alexis geese,
Mcfarland burnt the tar-barrel.'
It was before this time that Lafa,
cite revisited Pittsburg, and peopl
went wild to do him honor. Th
schools paraded for his inspection, an
ours was ranged along the paveme1
In front of the First Presbyteria
church, the boys next the curb, tn
| girls next the fence, all in holiday
tire, and wearing blue badges. I'll
distinguished visitor passed up b
tween them, leaning on the arm ,
another gentleman; bowling and smi
ing as he went. When he came 1
where stood, he stepped aside, lai
his hand on my head, turned UP m
face and spoke to me.
I was too happy to know what
said, and in all the years since tn,
J day, that hand has lain on my bro
| as a conservation.
(To be continued.)
Il Social in Dist. No. rs.