Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-06-07

guarus Ofthe ! over were doubled; and Col.
S. -, the keeper Of the regalia. was quar-
tered there with his family. Towards twi-
light one evening, and before dark. he. his
wife. son, and daue hier were sitting listening
to the senrinels, who were singing and an.
swering ne another, on tie beats above and
below. The evening was su try. and the door
stood alar when something suddenly rolled
IN nthrough the open space Col. -, at
first thought it VAS cloud of smoke. but it
assumed the shape OF pyramid of dark thick
gray, with something working towards itscen
tire. Mrs Saw form. Miss s. felt
an indescrihable sensation of chill and terror
The son sat AT the window, staring at the ter
rifed and agitattd party; but saw nothing -
Mrs. s. threw her head down upon her
arms on the table and screamed. The Colonel
took chair, and hurled it at the phantom.
through which it passed. The cloud seemed
10 him to revolvc round The room. and then
disappear as il came, through the door He
had scarcely risen from his chair to fellow.
when he heard loud shrek, and heavy fall
at the bottom of the stairs. He stopped 10
listen, and in few minutes the guard came
up and challenged the poor sentry, who had
been so lately singing. but who now lay at the
entrance In swoon. The sergeant shook
HIM rudely, declared he was asleep at his post,
and put him under arrest. The next day the
soldier aas brought to court martial. when
Col. s. appeared on his behalf. to testify
that he could not have been asleep. for that lie
had been singing, and the Colonel's family had
been listening to him len minutes before
The man declared that while walking towards
the stair entrance. dreadful figure had issued
from the doorway, which he took at first for
an escaped bear its hind legs. 1t past him.
and scowled npon him with a human iace,
and the expression of demon disappearing
over the Barlican. He was So rishtened that
lie became gddy, and knew no more. His
story, Of course. was not creJitedby his judges;
bnt he was believed to have had an attack OF
vertigo. and was acquitted and released on
Col. SIS evidence
That evening Col s. went to congratu-
late the man, but he was changed that he
did not know him. From a glow of rude
health in his handsome face, he had become
the color of bad paste. Colonel s. said TO
him:
"Why do yon look SO detected my lad!-
think have done a great favor in getting
you of, and would advise you in future to
continue your habit of singing"
Colonel" replied the sentry, "you have
saved my character and thank you; as for
anything else it little signifies. From the mo-
ment saw that internal Demon felt was a
dead man.
He never recovered his spirits, and died
. next day. fortv-cght hours after he had seen
the spectre. Col. S had conversed with
the sergeant about it. ho quietly replied:
1T was bad job, but he was only recui,,
and must get used to it. like the rest
"What! said Col. s., shave you heard
Of others seeing the samel"
"Oh yes" answered the sergeant, "there
are many queer, ccountable things seen
here. assure you, and many of our rercuits
faint time or two; but they get used to it and
j, don't hurt them"
Mrs s. never got used to il. She re
mained in state of dciection for six weeks,
and then died"
Col S-was long recovering from the i'm.
pression, aud was reluctant to speak ofit bu,
he said, he would never deny the thing he had
seen.
What explanation sir David Brewster has
given OF this singular apparition. the present
writer does not happen to know. We quote
ii for its strangeness, and leave the reader to
make of it what he can. We proceed with
a serious instance Of mental absence
Lessing. the German philosopher, beng re-
ma, kably absent, knocked at his own door one
evening. when the servant looking out of the
window. and not recognizing him. said:
The professor is not at home!"
"Oh very well - replies Lessing. compos-
edlv aIAing away; IL shall call another time. Z"
There is an anecdo'e of successful GOODNESS,
of earlier date which will serve to accompany
the foregoing:
Charles II, after his restoration, appears.
according to custom, to have neglected his most
faithful adherent, Lord ST. Adams. who, nev-
ertheess was frequen,er of the court One
day, when gentleman had requested an in
terview Of his majesty. TO ask for a valuable
Office then vacant, the king, in jest. desired the
Earl Of St. Albans to personate him, which
he did before the whole court: but. after hear
ing the strangers petition, with an air of dig
ni6ed authority, he said that the Office was, BY
no means, too great for SO deserving subject.
"But." added the Earl, gravely. Il have al.
ready conferred it upon my faithful adherent,
Lord St. Albans, who constantly followed my
flthers fortunes and my own, having never
before received any reward"
The king was so amused by this ready Jest,
that he instantly confirmed the gift to his elev-
en- representatives.
But we have yet cooler thing. Though
somewhat different character) than either Of
the preceding to bring forward. and which,
If true, is really one of the Strangest incidents
that could happen in a mans experience.
Barlhe. writer of French comedies, hear
ing that his intimate friend Colardesu, was on
the point of death, Instantly fastened to the
sick mans chamber, and finding him still in
condition to listen, addressed him thus:
"My dear friend. am in despair ut seeing
you in this extremity, but have still one favor
to ask of you; it is that you will hear me read
my 'Homme Personnel
"Consider." replied the dying man. "that
have only few hours to live"
Alas! yes; and this is the very reason that
makes me SO desrous of knowing what you
think ofmy play"
His unhappy friend heard him to the end.
without saying a word. and then, in faint
voice, observed. that there was yet one strik-
ing feature wanted to complete the character,
which he had been designing.
VACANCY FOR DocToR.-Greiner, the In
dian Agen, in New Mexico. wrote home on
the 3lst Of March, that he knew of an opening
for an enterprising Physician. A Vacancy
had happened and he told how. One Of the