The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-03-20
NEW cAsKET..

at was when l had Just left school that l
accompanied my intimate friend, Miss Man
nering, on visit to her mother, at Ashly.
Mrs. Mannering was widow, blessed with
an ample fortune and great animal spirits,
who laughed-and ate-and talked--played
the kind hostess-and delighted in seeing
every body happy about her; who thanked
God she had mot a nerve in her body and
hoped she should die as she had lived-'com-
fortably.' The house was crowded with COM
pany; and Mrs. M. made an apology for
being obligated to consign me, as my bed
chamber, the Cedar Room II was large,
fine, old wainscotted with cedar
land, from there being door at each end OF
it, which led to different parts OF the house,
had, on high-days and holydays, been used as
an anti-chamber. There were no old pic
tures-no Gothic furniture-no tapestry
to predispose the imagination to superstitious
feelings, or to foster in the mind melancholy
forebodings.
The windows were sashed--the fireplace
good, but neither Gothic nor over-large- and
the room itself, though Of unusual dimensions,
had the appearance ofaniquity, unaccompa-
MED by any thing sombre. We had been
dancing, and went to bed in high spirits. 1t
was between two and three in the morning,
when awoke with a start, and saw distinctly
a female figure passing through my room. i
inquired, without fear, who was there. There
was no answer. The figure proceeded slowly
EDWARDS, and disappeared at the door. 1t
struck me as being singular but knowing the
house to be filled with company, and that the
greater part were strangers to the endless la
byrnth Of staircase and anti-room which over.
run the mansion, | concluded some needless
guest had mistaken my chamber---or that one
ofthe servants, forgetting the circumstances of
its being inhabited, had literally put it to its
old use---a passage-room. AT all events,
thought |, it will be cleared up at breakfast;
and without feeling any alarm, or attaching
any Importance to the incident, struck the
hour by my watch and fell asleep. The next
morning was somewhat startled by finding
both the doors locked on the inside and by
recollectng with what care / had turned the
key on the preceding evening. The break
fast-bell, however, disturbed the train of my
nominations / hurried hastily down stairs,
and thought no more on the subject. In the
course of conversation, my kind hostess, in
quired how / had sleptl Very soundly,' said
l, except that was rather surprised by some
one who, no doubt, by mistake, passed through
my room at two this morning. Mrs. Man
nering looked earnestly at me---seemed on
the point of asking me question.--checked
herself, and turned away.
"The next night went to bed earlier, and,
at nearly the same hour, the figure appeared.
But there was no doubt now upon my mind.
1t was a spirit! On this occasion ! saw the
face. Its pale CONFERENCE.-The large, me-
lancholy, black eyes-its step noiseless, as It
glided over the oaken floor, gave me sensa-
ton that can never forget. Terrified as |
was, fixed my eyes on it. II stood before
me--then slowly receded; when it reached
the middle ofthe room, stopped-and while
looked at il, vanished into air. own il at
fected me strangely. Sleep for the remainder
of the night was impossible, And though !
endeavored to fortify my mind, by recollecting
all had heard and read against the theory
to persuade myself that it was illusion, and
that should see no more Of it'll half deter
mined to conclude my visit at once, or, at all
events, to change my room immediately
Morning came---bright sunny morning land
the racc-bal Of the morrow, and the dread Of
the ridicule which would follow my determi-
nation, overpowered my resolution. was
silent, and---I stayed.
"The third night came. | confess, rs the
evening drew in, shuddered at the idea Of GO
inc to bed. made excuses---I talked over
the events Of the night---I played---I sung---l
frittered away minute after minute---and so
well did my stratagem succeed, that two, the
dreaded hour, was past long ere entered my