Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1829-08-07
From the EdgeiicM Carolinian. July Ill
THE EDGEFIEID GHOST

the public, rs having been carefully compiled by
a gentleman of piety and of strong and well cul-
,vated mind. We are not disposed to believe that
u breach has been made in the laws of nature
without amy useful purpose but we have not vet
heard any satisfactory explanation of the circum.
stapccs upon rational principles
MEssRs EpIroRs, As public curiosity has been
greatly excited and many tales or less true,
tave gone out, concerning mysterious Il inv-
ssIble being, that has been heard at Mr. Isaac
Eurnctt's in this District for some time il seems
proper that the public should be in possession of
the facts relative TO this extraordinary circum.
stance. The voice WAS first heard in October last,
initiating various noises such as that fthe spin
ming wheel reels, ducks, hens, &c 1t was first
heard by Mr.. Burnett, about twenty yards from
the house, which led him TO suppose it one of his
neighbours children, hiding in the weeds and try
ing to frightcn his children. 1t was afterwards
heard i'm the loft of the house, and MIR. ID. sup
oSing it to be bird sent boy up to drive it out
Int nothing could be 1t thus continued to
'rpicX the minds of the family for some time
=. Il at length one of the children said he be-
Loved that the thing could talk e began asking it
questions, which it answered by whistlihg pretty
much Ikea parrot. This circumstance getting out,
many persons came to hear it Mr.. John Shepher
lpioas and worthy citizen who lives in the neigh
Lorhood conversed with it in presence of u num-
Der OF witnesses To ascertain the extent Of its
knowledge, he asked it various questions about
most persons in the neighborhOod and their cir
cumstances which it answered correctly; it told
his name and the number of chdren he had; also,
thenamcs of most of the persons present. He ask
what it came there for il replied because it had
other place to GO 1t asked lift came to do
' ,c family any harm; it said not loved the
ally. twas then asked finally if it loved Jesus
christ, to which it made no reply, nor answered
i'iy more questions which Mr. Shepherd asked.
The evening after it answered others, but would
not answer him. For the first three months it
was heard only once month; but afterwards
tt,tIT hNtt. hal
Doth in the day and at night but more frequently
IN the day; search has been repeatedly made by
the family and others, but nothing found from
which the voice could proceed There is no place
OF concealmcnt about the house 1t is small
house with but one room, a loft of boards across
q the iost, and piazza one side. The house is
:rt underpined, so that you from end
\ the other underneath. For some time tho voice
'rn2nred generally toprocced from the further
nd 0fthe house. opposite the fire place and In the
gphr ratt or loft. IL any one except the children
would 40 TO that end of the house, while il was
t.'';'Ng, or if any one would steal round ever so
soity 10 thatend on the outside of the house when
il was dark and whilst others talked to it, il
would instantly stop, and when they returned it
wnuld commence again. This experiment was
trtsl one evening when n number OF persons were
tlc1n so that both tho house x piazza were full.
Some one from the piazza without the knowledge
those in the house, who talking to it went
round the outside to if they could discover
any one, when it instantly stopped. 1t has been
Known to whistle almost any tune, either sacred
or profane, which any one would tell 1T. MIR and
Mrs. Burnett appear to be simple hearted,u pright
AMI amiabie persons, serious in their dispositions
ana as tar from encouraging any trick about them
ID n'akG sport one No one in the ncighbor-
hood, who knows them, believes that they know
any hing about the matter. They have evident
= "2cn much disturbed and alarmed on account
oft, but having so far experienced no harm from
It, tAey have resolutely maintained their ground
- .anifestsa great Partially for little daughter
OF The family, who is about II years ofage. This
50 alarms her that she generally gets sick when
ever she talks to it, and she has been known to
Quit the house precipitatcly when she has heard
.Lolone in the house. Not long since however, she
quoted toit passage of Sc: ;,,ture, whicha pions
friend pointed out and advised her to mcnorise for
that purpose, { l Tim. /. XIV. and it babe hert to
hold her Jaw, but she PERSISTED i'll quoting the
passage until it hushed and has not spoken to her
since. Since so many persons went to hear it, i,
has become very shy and is seldom heard when
many persons are about, when any person is IN
Tho house except the smaller children. They
have never been able to a5cctan who. or what 1t
-, the oh jeCt of its visit. 1t has told its name
repeatedly, but cannot be understood. 1t will
notanswer serious religious questions. When
asked whether 1T was man or woman, 1t said it
was the foolshest question il ever heard, and
appeared to laugh
TIE Rev. Mr.. Hodges visited the family sew.
erat times and held meetings, at their request
,'lthout hearing any thing. However, on the
18th OF May, Mr.. III. being in the neighborhood
and calling at the house of Mr.. N; Mrs. N. in
'ormed MIR. IL. she had Just been to Mr. Bur
Its and heard the voice-Mr. III. imme-
d.asoly rode over in company with MIR. John
GIepherd Mr.. S. went up to The house first
got the children in the house to talk to it, and
alter 1T commenced upon n signal given, Mr.. III
went up to the house and seated himself in the
'naIza. A little boy eight or nine years of age
stood Just inside of the door to ask any questions
winch were suggested to him by the company
IT inflated various noises in whistle, such as
The growing of the cock, clucking of hen, noise
o. pattidge, &c. and answered a variety of sim
nc questions. There were but few answers
th.t Mr.. II. could understand, but when inter
rIrtcd by the family who were more accustom-
ed &, hear it, he could then trace out some re-
lance. Some words however, were pro-
Go need very plain, such as kitten, yes, no,
roo quill, &c, The family say, that it gener-
..,y spoke much more distinctly, and could be
I.sh better understood than this occasion
Mr. Shepherd says the same. 1t was understood
However, to say st knew Mr.. H., pronounced his
name tolcrably distinct, said it rot acquainted
"l'l him there, and that it did not like him. |
Nlsn Mr.. II. spoke and said, g / have come to
crfve YOU away" it was understood to reply, |
" Do j. you dare" During the conversation
with i, which lasted about an hour, no person
was present except Mr.. Burnett's wife, Mr.
IlpEcrd and Mr.. Hodges with the small chill
"ran The oldest was the little girl above men,
sd, who was in the yard with tue little chill
t-c1. No one was i'll the inside of the house ex-
rnrt' the little boy who asked the questions |
ihc reason why he was put there to ask ques-
lions Was, because for time it had ceased
10 peak 20 any but the children. There was al
so Z. the kitchen, about twenty PAGES distant,
2 r"gro woman and an idiot girl spinning and
waWing, who could not have heard what passed
IN ne house. The two older sons were absent,
CORK in the farm. Mr. s. and Mr. H. after
The r0nversation ended, examined the house and
ouri nothing. During the time Of the conver-
ea'u1 i was asked TO sing song--it said it did
~. snow any Mr.. Hodges whistlcd a sacred
'sr~. i1t IL said that wouldn't do IL then