“The old gentleman, it seems, had been on a three days’ journey to a ministers’ meeting, and was now returning home, and as he was travelling in the same direction in which I wished to go, he said it would give him great pleasure if I would take a seat in his gig, in case my heaviest trunks could be sent on by stage.  This the good-natured landlord very willingly consented to attend to.  The trunks were to be sent to the care of the old clergyman, who was to ship me for my destined port, and send my trunks on after me.”

“You may be sure I did not hesitate about accepting the old clergyman’s offer, for after jolting along with rough men, over rough roads, as I had done for many days, I anticipated with much pleasure a ride of two or three days in a gig, with the kind, pleasant old gentleman.  And now comes the ghost story.”

“As we were riding along through this thinly settled part of Western Virginia, I noticed occasionally large, dark, barn-like looking buildings, with the wooden shutters tightly closed.  After passing two or three of these buildings, I at length asked my companion for what purpose they were used.”

“‘Why, those,’ said he, ’are our churches.  I had forgotten how entirely unacquainted you were with this part of the country, or I should have pointed them out to you.’”

“‘Is it possible,’ I exclaimed, ’that you worship in those dreary, dark-looking places!  I must go inside of one of them on the first opportunity.’”

“Soon after I spoke, as we were ascending a hill, some part of the harness gave way, and we were obliged to alight from the gig, while the old gentleman endeavored to repair the injury.”

“‘How long will it take you, sir,’ said I, ‘to set this matter right?’”

“‘Oh, some time—­perhaps a quarter of an hour,’ he answered.”

“‘And cannot I help you?’ I asked.  ’I believe I can do almost anything I undertake to do.’”

“‘Oh, no, no,’ he answered; ’you had better not undertake to mend a harness, or you will be obliged, after this, to say that you have failed in one thing; besides, I can do this very well alone.’”

“’I have a great mind to take hold and mend it, just to show you that my boast was not an idle one,’ said I; ’but if you are determined to scorn my offered assistance, I will run back, and take a survey of the interior of the old church we passed a few moments since.’”

“‘You will not see much,’ the old clergyman called out after me; ’for, as you see, the wooden shutters are kept closed during the week, and it is almost total darkness inside.’”