The ‘him’ was the new teacher in the one room schoolhouse in Pumpkin Hollow. The teacher’s name was Mr. Peabody, but to most of the boys at the school he was just Peabody, or ‘Peabrain’, if they felt brave. Peabody had taken over the school after the untimely death of Miss Curry, who was much loved by the southern Indiana school children who attended the Pumpkin Hollow School. It was late September 1879 when Peabody took over the reins at the school. He was from ‘out east’ and had felt the need to show the students who was in control as he had began the school year. Unfortunately the students didn’t appreciate his efforts.

“What kind a lesson ya got in mind, Ben?” asked Franklin as the boys talked during lunch one day.

“You know the story about the Will-O’-The-Wisp that is suppose to chase people out along Murrey Road?” returned Benjamin.

“Shoot! Ever’body ‘round here knows about that!”

“Yeah! My gran’pa says he seen it!” added Carl.

“Well Peabody is stayin’ out at ol’ man Anderson’s place,” explained Ben, “so he has ta take that road to get home every night! I think I need to give Peabrain somethin’ to think about on his ride home tonight!”

“Yeah, he’s always here after dark everyday workin’ on stuff!” responded Franklin.

So, as the rest of the students filed out at the end of the school day, Ben took his time, so he would be the last to leave. “Where is it your stayin’, Mr. Peabody?” Ben asked as he was passing by the teacher’s desk, heading for the door.

“What’s that, Benjamin?” responded Mr. Peabody, looking up from his papers. “Oh, out with Mr. and Mrs. Anderson.”

“So you gots ta go out Murrey Road? Pshaw! I wouldn’t go that way after dark!” mentioned Ben, acting like he was heading to the door.

“I have to go that way, Benjamin, not gots ta. Besides, what’s wrong with Murrey Road?”

“Oh, people ‘round here knows all about it! There’s bad things happen to people out there!”

“What kind of things? What are you talking about?”

“Not sure I even wanna talk ‘bout it, gives me the creeps!” Ben was egging him on.

“Well, I’m sure it’s just a folk tale. Where along the road is this ‘bad stuff’ supposed to be? I’ve been traveling that road every day now. I haven’t seen a thing.” responded Mr. Peabody.

“’Bout two miles out, there where the road dips down into that crick bed, where the woods is so dark.”

“I know that creek crossing. What is supposed to happen there?”

“It’s the Will-O’-The-Wisp! A big punkin head, bright as fire! It chases folks! Burns ‘em up if’n he gits ya!”

“Hogwash!” exclaimed Mr. Peabody. “That’s a bunch of bunk!”

“No Sir!” returned Ben. “Ever’one ‘round here knows ‘bout it! Jus’ ask ‘em!”

“Be gone with your spook tales, Master Benjamin!” was the teachers response as he waved Ben out the door and returned to his papers.

The air was particularly cool and damp that evening as Mr. Peabody made his way by horseback towards home, down Murrey Road. “Bright as fire! Chases people!” The words kept ringing though his head. “Hogwash!” he thought in return.

A hoot owl called out from behind him, causing him to nearly jump out of his saddle. “Pull yourself together here!” he thought to himself. “Don’t let some hayseed spook story go to your head now!”

It wasn’t long before horse and rider were heading into that downhill wooded stretch of road where the Will-O’-The-Wisp was supposed to be laying in wait for the lone traveler. Peabody turned up his coat collar as the chills started up and down his back. What was that? Did something just move over there? A fog was rising from the creek bed as his horse carefully picked its way through the creek rocks. Just then Peabody noticed an orange glow reflecting in the trickle of water below.

“What the…” he mumbled as he turned to look behind him. The sight of that big, bright, orange glowing face behind him caused a scream to leave his mouth before he even thought to react. “Oh, my soul! Noo!” he screamed. His horse reared up on its hind legs in fright. Peabody let out a final scream as he fell from the horse’s back. Falling head first, he landed in a heap on the rocks below. The blow to his head killed him instantly.

Mr. Peabody’s spooked horse ran for home, away from the ghastly scene. As the creek water became stained with crimson, the bright orange full Harvest moon shone right down the road, through the trees, lighting the area. The man-in-the-moon seemed to have a particularly evil grin on his face that night.