Blue hen's chicken. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1848-1854, 1851-01-17
SELECT TALES.
The Ghost that Appeared
to Mrs. Warton.


-iree 7y mother wfs&a zirt. fs7'i'- s-------.
began TO steal through the town where she lived
about something having gone amss with old
: Mrs. Warrior; for, if Mrs. Warlon was not
known by all The towns people, she was known
and respected by so many, that it was really
no ttlhe when she was seen to have the con-
uacied brow, aud the pinched look about the
noselhat people have when they are in alarm,
or living life OF deep anxiety. Nobody could
make out. what was the matter. II asked, she
said she was well. Her sons were understood
20 be perfectly respectable, aud sufficiently
prosperous and there could be no doubt about
the health, and the dutiiuness, and the cheer
fulness 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 Tor comfort. What
could Il be that made her suddenly so silent
ssd gavet Her daughter was just the same
as ever, except that she was anxious about the
change in her mother. 1t was observed by one
or two that the Clergyman had nothing to say
wheu the subject was spoken Of in his hearing
He rolled aud nodded his head, and he glanced
at the ceiling and then stuck his chin deep in
TO his shirt irill; but those were things that
he was always doing, and they might mean
nothing. When inquired Of about his opinion
of Mrs. Warton'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 win
ming manner that charmed young and old that,
as far as he knew, Mrs. Wartons external af'
fairs 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 the temper of her
mind did not entite her to peace within, he
did not know who could hope for it. Some
body whispered tnat il would be dreadful il a
shocking mortal disease should be seizing
upon her; whereupon he, Mr.. Gurney, observed
that he thought he should have known if any
such thing was to be apprehended. As far as
a fit OF Indigestion went, he believed she sul
fered occasionally but she did not herself ad-
init even that Or. Robinson, who was present
said that Mrs. Warion's friends might be quit,
easy about her health. She was not troubled
with indigestion, nor with any other complaint
People could only go on to ask one anothe
what could be the matter. One rtwo agreed
that Mr.. Quincy had made very skillfg APPS
were, in which he WIS much assisted by hli
curious customary gestures; but that he hat
never said that he did not know Of any trouble
being onaMrs. Warton's mind.
Soon after this, like mysterious change ap
peared to come over the daughter; but no dis
asiers could be discovered TO have happened
No disease, no money losses, no family ana
ieties were heard OF; and, by degrees, both tn
ladies recovered nearly their former cheerful
ness and ease of manner er,-nearly, but not al
together. They appeared somewhat subdued
in sountenance aud bearing and they keE
solemn silence when some subjects were talt
ed OF, which often turn up by the Christina
freside. 1t was years before the matter wa
explained. Ny mother was married by thi
time, and removed from her smoky native tow
to a much brighter city in the South. 81
used to tell us as we grew up, the story
Mrs. Warton. and what she endured; and "
could, if we had not been ashamed, have goI
on TO saysas if we had still been little chill
rem, tell US again. When we were going
20 the North 10 visit our grandparents, IL WI
all very well 10 tell us of coal Wagons tn
we should see running without horses, on lrt
rails laid down in the roads and of The ke'
men rowing their keel-boats in the river, al
all at once kicking up their right legs behlI
them, when they give the long pull and OF =
glass houses n Inc town with fire coming o
Of the high chimneys; and of the ever burni'
mounds near the mouth Of the coal-pits, whe
blue and yelew flames leaped about all n
throughout the whole year round. II