The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1827-06-28


fuld as well as a solid shape, to content any
lover of good things; but should have beer
satisfied with biscu. and slice Of bacon
had not these luxures offered themselves &c
my hand.
For the first week Of my residence in the
Marvel. no signs of supernatural visitera
were given, although once or twice fancied
heard footsteps, or something like them,
traversing between decks; but then was
satisfied, that if any feet caused these sounds
they could not be the feet of ghosts, who
walk not, but glide along without noise, and
| always convinced myself that it was noth-
ing real, whenever my fancy startled my
ears. Besides, always took such care to
fasten down the matches and the companion
door, that | was certain no one could get
down below, without giving ME sufficient
notice of his intentions. The middle of the
second week arrived, and found me laughing
at the fears of others, and free from any Of
my own, when one night was awakened By
a strange sensation, as if cold hand lay up
on my face; and as my consciousness in-
creased, ] was almost certain felt it dis
tnctly withdrawn; fancied, too, that I
heard faint gliding sound rustic across the
state room, and die away beyond the bulk
head that formed the end of 1t, and strain-
ed my eyes in that direction, through the
intense darkness, to try if / could distinguish
any object my belief was that somebody had
entered the ship, and laid his hand on my
face, in search of plunder, not knowing that
any one slept OH board; but turning out and
examining the door. found it fastened ON
the inside, as had lett it; and On going out
into the cabin, found every thing was in it.
place; for | struck light On purpose to be
certain.
During the interval of week, / was dig.
turbec from my sleep three times in sim.
liar manner. and always without further
elucidation of the cause. Once thought I
heard kind Of tittering whisper uttered, as
the cold hand passed across my face, but (
could distinguish no words, and yainly en-
deavorcd to grasp any thing which might
be near, by extending my hands round a.
bout my bed. | attempted to account for
the annoyance, by supposing msuse or a
rat had paid me visit, for there were sey-
eral holes by which they could enter, altho'
there was nothing in the state room to tempt
their appetites. Still there was something
in the application of the touch, net like the
patting of rats paws, for though the feet
of those vernin are very cold, thcy are but
small, and could not have conveyed the SEM
sation Of broad heavy hand laid over my
eyes. which was the feeling experienced,
Besides, | more than once perceived the
Withdrawing of the strange limb, and, from
several little circumstances, deduced that
the whole arm was placed on my pillow, and
suddenly snatched away. Without being
snperstitious. naturally began to grow Gu.
rious, as well as somewhat uneasy, about
this nocturnal visitation, and cndeavored to
keep awake for two or three hours after re-
tring to bed, in hopes of gaining some clue
to the mystery ! could not we'll doubt that
it was something real, but | could ascribe
no cause for its reality, and / was averse to
suppose the hand of the suicide mates ghost
was pressed upon my face, especially as it
was too heavy for spirit to be lawfully pos
sessed Of While ] continued awake,
burned light, which extinguished when
about to resign my senses to forgetfulness
for fear of accident; and l was never dis
turbed while kept watch, although main.
tained it long past the hour of the visit, but.
as soon as was asleep. which was imme
diately after put out the candle, the cold,
chilly touch weighed for moment on nv
eyelids, and glanced off when awoke, fol-
lowed by the same deadened rustling sound.
and the half whispered tittering.
At length being resolved neither to give
way to the insidious suggestions of supersti-
tion, which occasionally crept into my mind,
nor to endure the repeated breaking of my
rest, the only comfort at that time enjoy
ed, conceived several plans for the detec-
ton Of the intruder, and the first ! put in
practice was this:
In order to render myself watchful,
spent the whole of one afternoon in trying to
sleep, and by means Of darkenIng the cabin.
did sleep for several hours. AT bedtime,
placed candle in dark lanthorp, which
concealed by my bedside, so that not one
ray of light emanated from it; and | turned
in, determined to lie awake all night. How
ever, in spite of my resolution. dropped in
% doze little before midnight, so strong is
he force of habit, as we'll as of the body as
If the mind. ! did not, however, sleep an
soundly as if had not rcposed in the oven
ng and was aroused by an indistict sound,
which came from some part of the ship
;lose to the cabin. Those who have set up
ate. and slept in their chair, and awoke sudk
ienly in the dead of the night, may have oc
:asiunally experienced a confused, depress-
ID. half supersttious state OF ideas, upon
:rst breaking from their slumber, and find,
np themselves left in the dark by their cx-
pended lamp--cold, cheeless, and scarcely
conscious eftheir exact situation Such were
nv feelings upon being disturbed from mv
leep, heightened By various attendant cir-
such as the expected visit of
,host: and the beating of the rising tide at
he sides of the ship, which rocked and