Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 November 1882 — A Ghostly Purchase. [ARTICLE]

A Ghostly Purchase.

Mrs. Jones was down townmakiig some purchases, and among other thin js bought a luminous match safe, which could be seen in the gloom of the darkest night, the manufacturers announced. It represented a face with open eyes and mouth, and looked simply like a china mask in the broad light of day. Mrs. Jones took it home, hung it up on the wall at the foot of the bed and forgot all about it. That night Jones came home late; he had keen kept out on business by a customer who wanted his goods invoiced, and he had told Maria not to sit up for him. About midnight he came in, remarked with chattering teeth that it was turning cold, or he had the ague, turned down the light which had been loft burning for him, and tumbled into bed. The next moment he would have been snoring but he happened to open his eyes and he sat up in bed with one terrific whoop of “Good Lord!” “Are you saying your prayers, Jeptha?” asked Mrs. Jones sleepily; “you needn’t be so emphatic. Oh-h-h-h-h-h-h-h gr-a-c-ious g-o-o-d-ness! it’s a ghost!” she screamed as her eyes opened on the ghastly face at the foot of the bed. Never did two people make such time getting out of any place as they did in vacating that room. Then they sat down on the top of the stairs to consult as to the next course of procedure. “It was the ghost of my father,” said Jones, shaking life a leaf. “I recognized the features instantly. Oh, Maria, what can it mean? It must be some awful warning. I—l don’t feel well, Maria; I—l really don’t.” At this moment Bridget the valiant appeared. “Did I iver hear the loikes of this schramin’?” she exclaimed, as she explored her way with a kerosene lamp. “Phats got yees now?” They told Bridget as well as they could, and that female answered composedly : “The divil will fly away wid yees yet; if it's a ghoost me own two eyes wad like to see it,” and she marched into the bedroom, gave a vide yell, and came out in triumph with the illuminated match safe in her hand; Mrs. Jones laughed hysterically, but Jones was downright mad. “Women arejMjch fools,” he exclaimed savagely; “bought the thing herself and hung it up, and then took it for a ghost; I’m thankful I’m not a woman!” —Detroit Post.