The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-10-24
MISCELLANY.
From the American Review.
A G Fl o S 7 S 7 o r Y.
BY GEORGE W PECK.

any rate and | can't help halt believing i
them after all. Your father, Mary Horror
if he was here, or Mr.. William Day, if h
was alive, could tell of an awful thing W
once witnessed, which, if not a ghost, mus
have been something supernatural
DO tell US about it, aunt Sally said cous
in Fanny.
We were all sitting in great ring aroun'
uncle Roberts blazing hearth. Here wer
aunt Sarah, Mary Horton, Elise Parker
cousin Fanny, and the children on the 9th
er side uncle Robert, Martin Kennedy, th'
schoolmaster, and Daniel Ford, and StepheI
Ingalls,. the hired men, Tiger and | occupi
ed the chimney corner.
! must mention that uncle Robert is :
large farmer in one OF the old Puritan towns
in Plymouth county, and lives in the family
mansion, of which part was built by my
reat-great>grandfather, who came over il
the Mayfower.
TWAS dark stormy night without, and
the noise of the wind through the ancient
elms was terIible.
"Twas before we were married. continu-
ed aunt Sarah, speaking TO uncle, } when
couldn't have been more than 6iieen-but
must begin further back than that. Old
OCdCol dllSCll vi WHOSC
grandson died the year Fanny was born, had
an only daughter. Charity
'She married DR.. Garfield, said uncle, 'as
long ago as | can remember they've both
been dead these twenty years at least
'Yee,' said aunt, 'but she died before her
husband, after they had been married about
a year. The doctor was much The eldest,
and was a rough man in his ways: they said
he was none too kind 10 his vile while she
was alive. 1t was a match OF the Dcacon's
making, for Charity wanted 10 have had
Stephen Kent. who went off TO Genesee.
She was timid kind Of a girl indeed she
was brought upeo that she hardly knew
what it was 10 have her own way in her life
The old man made her turn off Kent, who
wasn't worth anything but a small larm,
and take Garfield, because he had prop
erty and was heir 10 old Mr.. Cobb, of Car
ver
'All the young people then, few years
older Than l. said the marriage was The cause
Of her death. From the very day il took
place she seemed TO fall into decline, and
in less than year she died Of consump-
lion.
i wasn't much acquainted with her, bur
Esther Mayhem, who had lived al our house,
took care Of her IN her last sickness and
when she died, as there was no one there
with Esther. our folks let me 60 over 10 keep
her company
Il know The house, said Stephen Ingalls,
ii is around on what they call the five mile
road.'
Col. Davenport owns the place now said
my uncle.
The house stands in from the road,' con-
inued aunt Sarah, 'and it looked dreary 10
me then because there were no trees near il,
except some white birch and sumach at the
loot Of the lane-nothing but high we'll
sweep, and few out-houses that hid them
selves behind, as ifthey were afraid OF being
seen. remember as plainly as though 'twere
yesterday, how gloomy il looked the day |
wen: TO see Esther. There was she, and old
granny Bolcum, who went away in the af-
iernoon, and William Day, then a young
man; he married Esther afierv ards, and
hey moved over TO The Vineyard. Garfield
had gone down 10 Boston in the worst Of his |
poor wife's sickness, and though word had
been sent, it took day to 60 and day TO
,ome, so that he could no more than get back |
n time for the funeral.
in the east room lay the body in the col
in, ready for the funeral, which was TO be
lext day. Dear me how distinctly recoI
eel The expression OF the face, when Esther
ook me in 10 see il so serene and peaceful
hat said il appeared as if the soul had gone
o heaven before death. But Esther, who
liked her very much, was all tears, and
aid she didn't know what TO think, for
hat Charity had never experienced reli-
,ioD.'
That evening, after granny Bolcum went
way, came your father, Mary, who was TO
it up with William Day. He must have
'een then about twenty-five, and os strong
md resolute man as there Was in the Old
Colony
He'd have been an actirc man if he had
lot gone INTO business said uncle Robert.
we sat by the kitchen fire. continued my
lunf, 'till about 10 o'clock, and then Esther
Ind went up stairs 10 bed. was soon a
leep and conscious Of nothing, tillsome time
n the night was awaked by Esther's sud-
ienly rising up and saying in astartled wins
'er. 'Whai's thatF
Il should have mentioned that the house
S one-story one, and the only chamber
hen finished was the one we occupied, direct
y over the east room.
'She spoke so quick and grasped my arm
10 tightly was awake in an instant, and
that she was frightened al
omc'hing she hadheard. held my breath,
md in moment we both heard a strange
ound, that seemed TO come from beneath
he floor. was frightened aImosto out of my
enses. Esther had more courage. slip
m your gown, Sally DEAR said she; don't
re scarea-(for was beginning 10 cry)-we
Will go down stairs dare say It's on
y William Day has fallen asleep and sno-
ing.'
'We hurried on our gowns as well as we
ould in the dark, and had hardly done SO
'efore there came another-a deep, low
,roaning, heavier than before.
Esther pulled me down stairs, and we
ushed into the kitchen where the watchers
we're sitting, both asleep. their supper I'M
ouched, and the fire light almost gone out.
grasped your fathers knees aud he started
o his feet; Esther shook William Day and
lang 10 him, crying, 70 William wake
vakep
e'What's the matter p said your father.
They were both awake in moment, and
s!ening. Presently the awful sound was a.
L a. 81, sflxy &c