246 A KiRKCoRMACK Ghost Story. 



A Kirkcormack Ghost Story. 



By Thomas Johnstone. 



The following unpublished extract from a MS. volume 

 entitled " Antiquarian Researches by Thomas Johnstone, a 

 native of Kirkcudbright," written in 1827, may not inappro- 

 priately follow Mrs Lebour's contribution. — Ed. 



" I will relate a story told me, when a boy, sometime 

 about the years 1788 or 1789, by old James Thompson, t^<^ 

 miller of Kirkcormack Mill and the farmer of Kirkcormack 

 farm, as the Church land of 33 acres was called. His father 

 and his grandfather were millers also here in their day. 

 James, at the time of the tale, might be about twenty years 

 old, a most worthy, pious man, and no doubt every word he 

 uttered he believed from his very soul, for as far as we can 

 judge human nature, the man was above deceit. He said 

 that one beautiful summer evening, the moon as clear as 

 day, he was watching or herding the fauld near the Church- 

 yeard, indeed so near that one part of the dyke formed the 

 north end of James' fauld, which was full of cattle at the 

 time. This worthy man was at the south end leaning on 

 the truff dyke, attended by his trusty dog, who was sitting on 

 the top close by his master's arm, whose eye was towards the 

 Churchyard at the moment, when to his consternation he 

 beheld the appearance of a tall man with a cocked hat, start 

 from the earth as it were, cross the fauld from one side to 

 the other, through the middle of the herd, without disturbing 

 them in the least, then walk down the west side, lay his hand, 

 seemingly, on the Churchyard wall and leap over ! The 

 miller declares he saw this as clear as if the sun had shone 

 on the earth, and felt no fear during the appearance of the 

 apparition, not until it had vanished from his sight did he 

 feel as if his hair was raising his bonnet from his head. Nor 

 did the Cattle show the least fear, or notice, all of whom 

 were lying down. But far otherwise was the dog, who was 

 terrified to death, and expressed by his bowlings the dreadful 

 terror which had seized his whole frame. He took refuge 

 among his master's feet, and, at last, in despair ran furiously 



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