Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1853-05-05
UndeniabIe Apparn,ion.

At town in the west Of England was held
a club of twenty-four people which was held
once week to drink punch smoke tobacco and
talk politics. Like Beuben's academy at Ant
werp each member had his peculiar chair and
the Presidents was more exalted than the rest.
One Of the members had been in a diving state
for some time; of course his chair while he was
absent renamed vacant.
The club being met on their usual night
enquiries were naturally made after their asso-
ciate. As he lived in the adjoining house,
particular friend went himself to inquire for
for him and returned with dismal tidings that
he could not possibly survive the night This
threw a general gloom on the company and all
efforts to turn the conversation from the sad
subject before them, were Intellectual.
About midnight (the time by long prescrip-
ton appropriated for the walking of spectres }
the door opened and the form in white, of the
dying or rather of the dead man, walked into
the room, and took his seat on the accustomed
chair, where he remarked in silence, Was he
gazed at, The apparation continued sufi-
cient time in the chair to assure all present of
the reality of the vision At length he arose
and stalked towards the door which he opened
as if living went out and then shut the do.r
after hin.
After long pause some one at last had the
resolution to say =
IF only one of us had seen this he would
mott have believed, but it is impossible that so
many persons can be deceived"
The company by degrees recovered their
speech and the whole conversation, as may be
imagined was upon the dreadful object which
had engaged their attention. They broke up
and went home. In the morning enquiry was
made for their sick friend it was answered
by an account of his death which happened
nearly at the time of his appearing in The club.
There could be but little doubt before, but
now nothing could be more certain than the
reality of the apparation which had been seen
by so many persons together.
1t is needless to say that such a story spread
over the country and found credit even from
the infdels for in this case all reason was
superhuous when opposed to a plain fact as
serted by three and twenty witnesses. To as
sert the doctrine of the fixed law of nature was
ridiculous when there were so many people of
credit to prove that they might be un6xed.
One ol the club was an apothecary. In the
course of his practice he was called to an old
woman whose profession was attending sick
persons. She told him that she could leave the
world with quiet conscience but for one thing
which lay on her mind.
"Doyou remember Mr.-whose ghost has
been so much talked about? was his nurse.
The night he died left the room for some
thing l wanted; am sure had not been alb
sent long but on my return l found the BED
without my patient. He was delirious and
feared he had thrown himselfo out ofthe window.
was SO frightened that | had no power to
stir: but after some time to my great astonish-
ment he entered the room shivering and his
teeth chattering and he lay down on his bed
and died. Considering myself as the cause of
his death kept this a secret for fear of what
might be done to me. Though could contra
dict all the story of the ghost, dared not do
it. / knew by what had happened, that it was
he himself who had been in the club room, per
haps recolecting that it was the night of NEE
ting, but l hope God and the poor gentlemens
friends will forgive me, and | shall die con-
tented"