SCHOOL ESSAYS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2830, 6 January 1925, Page 4

SCHOOL ESSAYS.

“A .CHRISTMAS GHOST.” By Vernon Moore. It was a typical English Christmas. The snow lay thick upon the ground, while the keen, frosty ait was full of the swirling white,Hakes. Tiny robins clung tenaciously to the leafless branches of flic trees, or hopped along in the snow, seeking eagerly for crumbs. Tn the old Manor House everything was bright and gay. Long pieces of mistletoe and holly festooned, the oaken walls, or dangled from the great, silver chandeliers, which had probably been put in when'ttfe house was built, in the reign of Charles I. Although the big hall was bright from the flames of numetpus candles, the long passages that wero hardly ever used, were dark and musty, and the suits of armour standing’on strong pedestals, looked like so many spectral figures. At about 8.30 p.m. a grey coach drew up at the Manor gate, and two sturdy boys alighted. Their manner and dress at once proclaimed them as having come from college. They were the Manor owner’s two young nephews and a rascally couple they looked. Twinkling blue eyes, under thick, dark lashes, looked out from a healthy tanned skin. Near the back of the Manor was a little room which was supposed to he haunted. One of the former owners had been mysteriously murdered in that room, and his spirit was supposed to “walk” there at certain times of the year. The walls of the room were of carved oak, while the thick tapestry lent a ghostly appearance to everything. The room was always avoided by the superstitious servants, but not .so with the two boys when they came. They examined it minutely and after much discussion and laughter departed. Late the next night, while Mary Ann, the cook, was traversing thepassage next to the haunted room, the ghostly figure of a knight in armour emerged from it. The figure shone with an unnatural light, while behind it, fastened to its legs, clanked two or three yards of rusty chain. “’Elp, Murder! What is it?” cried the cook, and dropping her tray, she lied in terror. The apparition followed, and in iis course, met the maid, who was of Cockney descent. “Aw. blimey, where did that thing ■ from?” *h« aried and followed cook’s example. After that the “ghost” was not seen again, hut needless In say the vo boys knew something about it. They had heard the story and seeing a suit of armour had dressed' in it, after painting it with luminous paint. That’s what frightened cook. The above is the best hoys’ essay, and annexes Air Jas. MeKnight’s prize.