Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-12-19
s SELECT TALE.
The Ghost that appeared to Mrs.
Wharton.
BY CHARLES DICKENS.

f" BY CHARLES DICKENS.
When my mother was girl, some rnmors
Segan to steal through the town where she liv-
ed, about something having gone amiss with
old Mrs. Wharton; Sor, if Mrs. Wharton was
not known by all the townspeople, she was
known and respected by so many, that it was
really no trife when she was seen to have the
contracted brow, and wItS a pinched look about
the nose, that people have when they are in
alarm, or kving life of deep anxiety. No
BODY could make out what was the matter. If
asked, she said she was well. Her sons were
understood to be perfectly respectable, and suf-
fcien,ly prosperous; and there could be no
doubt about the health, and the dutifulness, and
fhe ebeerfulness of the unmarried daughter who
lived with her. The old lady lived in house
which was her own property; and her income,
though not large, was enough for comfort
What could II be that made her suddenly so
silent and grave, Her daughter was just the
same as ever. except that she was anxious
about the change in her mother 1t was OBJ
served by one or two that the clergyman had
natissng to say when the subject was spoken of
en- his hearing He rolled and nodded his
head, and he glanced at the ceiling, and then
stuck his chin deep into his shirt frili bat
those were things that he was always doing,
and they might mean nothing When inquired
of about his opinion of Mrs. Whauon's looks
and spirits, he shifted his weight from one foot
to the other, as he stood before the fire with
his hands behind him, and said, with the sweet
voice and winning manner that charmed yonng
and old, that, as far as he knew, Mrs. Whar-
toms external affairs were all right; and as
for peace of mind, he knew of no one who
more deserved it. If the course of her life and
she temper Of her mind did not entiile her TO
peace within, he did not know who could hope
for it. Somebody whispered that it would be
dreadful if a shocking mortal disease should be
seizing upon her; whereupon, he, Mr.. Cur
ney, observed that he thought he should have
known if any such thing was to be apprehend
ed. As far as fit of indigestion went he-be-
leved she suffered occasionally; but she did
was present, said that Mrs. Wharions friends
might be quite easy about her health. She
was not troubled with indigestion, nor with any
oihe- complaint. People could only go on to
ask one another what could be the matter
One or two agreed that Mr.. Gurney had made
yery skilful answers, in which he was much
assisted by his curious customary gestures -
but that he had never said that he did not know
of any trouble being on Mrs. Wharton's
mind.
Soon after this, like mysterious change ap-
peared to come over the daughter; but no dis
asters could be discovered 10 have happened.-
No disease, no money losses, TO family ankle
ties were heard of and, by degrees, both the
ladies recovered nearly their former cheerful
ness and ease of manner, but not altogether -
They appeared somewhat snbdued, in connte
nance and bearing and they kept solemn 81
ience when some subjects were talked of,
which often turn up by the Christmas freside.
NY mother was married by that time, and re-
moved from hel smoky native town, to much
brighter city in the south. She used to tell us
as we grew up, the story of Mrs. Wharton,
and what she endured; and we could, if we
had not been ashamed, have gone on to say, as
if we had still been little children, tell US
again
When we were going north TO visit oar
grandparents, it was all very well to tell US of
IL. h.
cut horses on iron rails laid down in the roads !
and of the keelmen rowing their keel-boats in
the river, and all at once kicking up their right
legs behind them, when they gave the long
pull; and of the glass-houses in the town with
fire coming out of the tall chimneys; and of the
ever-burning mounds near the mouths of the
coal-pits, where blue and yellow flames leaped
about all night, throughout the whole year
round. 1t was all very well to think of seeing
these things; but we thought much more Of
walking past old Mrs. Wharton's house, and
perhaps inducing Mr.. Gurney to tell MS, in his
way, the story we had so often heard mother
tell in hers.
The story was this.
One midsummer morning, Mrs. Wharton wa.
so absent at breakfast, that her daughter found
all attempts at conversation to be in vain. So
she quietly filled the coffee-pot, which her
mother had forgotten TO do, and in the middle
of the forenoon ordered dinner, which she
found her mother had alse forgotten. They
had Just such a breakfasting three times more
during the next fortnight. Then on Miss
Wharton crossing the hall, shemet her mother
in bonnet and shawl, about to go out, SO early
as half past nine. Thecircumstance would no,
have boen remarked, but for the mothers con-
fused and abashed way Of accounting for going
out. She could not be gone long She had
only little call to make, and SO on The cal
was on Mr.. Gurney. He had hardly done
breakfast when he was told that Mrs. Wharton
wished to speak with him alone.
When he entered the study Mrs. Wharton
seemed to be as unready with her words as HIM
self; and when he shook hands with her, he
observed that her hand was cold. She said she
was well, however. Then came apause, dur
ing which the good pastor was shifting from
one foot to the other, on the hearth rug, with
his hands behind, though there was nothing in
the crate but shavings. Mrs. Wharton, mean
time, was pntting her veil up and down, and
h., oloves ON and of. At last, with con-