The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1852-10-20

ASC0dH. El0 "cbb iiI'o q Vi "oOo' oiAN
ILLS. AT some seven or eight miles from Lei
cester, he drew near solittry farm house, with
in the ancient limits o. the fores. Charnwood-
Il was certainly a lone place amid The woodlands
and vi autumn fields. Evening was dropping
down; and as The shade OF night fell on the scene
the wind tossed more rushingly the houghs of
The thick trees, and roared down the rocky val
ley, John Basford went up to the faih house,
however as if tha, was the object of his journey,
and woman opening at his knock, ne soon
disappeared within.
Now our old friand was q perfect stranger
here, he had never been here before, had no ac-
qIsiutance nor acual business With The iuhab-
.ant<, though any one watching hi. progress
iitner would have been qui'e satisfied that he
was not wandering without an object. But he
merely stated that he was somewhat faiigued
to res, awhile. In such u place such n eqiesi
is readily, and even gladly granted.
There was cheerful fire burning on brigh',
clean hearth. the kettle was singing on the
hon for tea, and the contrast Of the in door COM
fort was sensib'y heightened b. the Wild gloom
withou.. The farmers wife who had adm tied
The stranger, soon went out, and called her hus-
band from The old yard. He was Plaiu hearty
sor, Of man; gave our o.d friend hearty
shake Of the hand. sat down. and began to cor
verse. little ii ne seemed to establish friend
ly interest between the stranger and the farmer
and his wife John Basford asked whether they
would allow him to smoke his pipe, which was
not only readily accorded, but the farmer J1ined
him. They smoked and talked alternately of
the country and town, Leicester being the far
rner's market, and as familiar TO him as his own
neighborhood He soon come 10 know, ioc,
who his guest was and expressed much pleasure
IN the vi>i'. Tea was carried into the parlor
and thither they all adjourned, for now the furm-
ing men were coming into the kitchen where
they sat for The evening.
Tea over the two gentleman ngnin had a pipe
and in conversation wandered over multitude
Of things and people known to both.
But the night was come down pitch dark.
Wild and windy and old John Basford had 10 re-
turn t, Leicester.
40 Lei.estsF exclaimed at once man and
wife, '.lo Leicester" No such ing. He
must stay where he wus, where could he be bel
ter?
John Rasford confessed that il was true he
had great pleasure in conversing with Them but
then wac it no: an unwarrnn,able liberty TO come
into ST rangers house and nuke them thus free
Not in the least" the farmer replied she
freer the betterp
The matter was thus settled, and the evening
wore on, but in the course of The evening, the
guest whose simple manner, strong sense. and
deeply pious feeling. had made most favorable
impression on his entertainers hinted that he had
heard some strange rumors regarding this house
and that in truth had been the cause which had
that n particular chamber in this house was
haunted: and he had for long time felt grow
ing desire 10 pass night in II. lie now begs-
ed iha. this favor night be granted him.
As he had opened this subject, an evident
cloud, and something Of an unpleasant, surprise,
had fallen on the counienances of both man and
wife. 1t dsepened as he proceeded, the farmer
had withdrawn bis pipe from his mouth. and lui J
it on the table, and The woman had risen and
looked uneasily al the guest The moment he
uttered The wish TO sleep iu the haunted room,
both exclaimed in the same instant against IT,
..No never" they exclaimed; ''never on any
Rod v,oada firm resolve
on that poin', which nothing would induce them
TO break through.
The guest expressed himself disappointed, but
did. not press the matter further al that m"men'.
He conten,ed himself with t1rning conversation
quietly upon this subject. and after while found
tho farmer and lis wife confirm to him every
t ing he had heard Once more. he expressed
his regret that he could not CRAFTY the curiosity
which had brought | i'm SO far; and before the
ine for reti ing arrived, again ventured to eS-
press how much whit he had now heard had In
creased bis previous desire TO pass night III
that room He did profess to believe himself in
vulnerable to fears Of such kind, but was curl
Gus t, convince himself of The actual existence
of spiritual agency Of this character.
The farmer and hi, wi e steadily retused,-
They declared that others who had come with
the srm me wish had been allowed to crafty it,
had suffered such terrors as had made their al
Ter lives miserable. The last of these WIS q
clergyman, who received such fright lhut hr
sprung from his bed at midnight, had descended,
gone into the Stable, and sudjing his horse, had
rid len AWAY at full speed. These things had
caused them to refuse, and that firmly any fresh
experiment of the kind
The spirit vii alton was described to be gen
orally this. Al midnight the stranger sleeping
in that room would hear The latch OF the door
rasied and would in the dark perceive light
step enter and, with . sleal'hy trend cross the