The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-12-06
THE NATIONAL ERA: WASHINGTON, D. c. DECEMBER g. 1855

When order was restored, the lady apologized
TO the company for the interruption, and ex
planned, by assuring us that she felt something
press her toe, which she thought was the Devil
But our interview was at an end, for the spirits
declined having anything more to do with the
crowd.
The details ofthese extraordinary exhibition
are too well known to need a repetition here
and, besides, have nothing whatever to do with
the true ghost story | sat down to write. Suf
flee it to say, that we separated fully convinced
of several things. For my part, believe in
ghosts; | believe in the little Foxes and be-
lieve in all spiritual manifestations. With this
confession of creed, my readers can perceive
with what genuine earnestness proceed to tell
them this true story of a ghostly kind.
During the vacation in the summer of -,
found my husband prepared to quit the dusty,
musty courts, for the country, just as my ply
stefan had prescribed daily exercise for me on
horseback, as the proper restorative to health.
Very well; the country was just the place for
such exercise; but difficulty met us at the
outset. The prescription had been followed by
the purchase Of beautiful white horse-the
most spirited, affectionate creature in the world
To leave Coney behind, cooped up in dull
city stable, while we were enjoying the country
air, was not to be thought of. We first pro-
posed having him brought by road, whilst we
ratified to our retreat on the rail. But happy
thought struck me. Why not go ourselves on
horseback? The proposition was at once ac-
cepted, and in few days, equipped in accord
ance with comfort, and some little Of the pic
turesque, we were gallantly pacing along the
highways and by-ways, In a manner that would
have made glad the heart of James. He would
have begun Immediately three volume novel,
with "Two equestrians might have been SEEM"
And We were seen; for, riding into little vii
lage that had been heated into silent sleepiness,
we suddenly came, as we turned into the yard
of a hotel, upon Charles A, ESQ.,, who rub
bed his eyes, and looked as much astonished as
if Don Quixote had stalked in upon his vision.
| wish | had the space to follow the windings
of that pleasant way, which led from the hot,
dusty city, to our country home. How we kept
by the banks Of the fair Miami, and saw it, now
sleeping likewise, with a solitary crane stalk
ing like a shadow above its CLASSY surface, or
brawling along shadows, or roaring over mill
dams; while all the while old trees leaned over
as if to see themselves reflected in the waves
below; or how we found wayside inns toned
down by leaves, where fresh milk, cool from the
spring, with the whtest of bread, were given us
for food while downy beds, where the whisper
ing foliage brushed against the window, or pat
terng rain was heard upon the root, received
US for the night. But space and time will not
admit of such digressions, for this chapter is
devoted to veritable ghost story, and as such
must be written.
We had left the unshaded town of Lebanon
Lebanon without its cedars-far to our right
and were seeking anxiously for some by-way, or
path even, that would lead us from the hot and
dusty pike, when scene presented ITSELF so
peculiar, we had to pause for a better view.
We were upon a gentle eminence, looking into
a little valley, not unlike thousand others to
be encountered on our route, except in one par
ticular, and that was its dreary silence. What
gave it this air of desolation, was very appar-
emit. To our right, on an elevation, stood red
house, with windows closed, roof broken in, and
corn growing close upon the door-sill With
the exception of this melancholy evidence of
tesertion, not another trace of humanity was
in sight, and this old house gave out such
lreary, blank expression of hopeless decay,
that it affected the entire scene, and made the
landscape cherries thing.
" 1t is very singular" said d., that in this
crowded land house so well built should be
deserted"
So we pondered, for no one was near to re-
spond, and our speculations terminated by
on my part to dismount, and look
closer at the ruin. A ruin in our new, busy
and, is sufficient of itself to attract attention.
We tied our horses to the old decaying fence,
and, threading the rows of rustlng corn, were
soon within the porch of the old house. Its
roof was open, like a hOneycomb and the
loose planks, warped by sun and rain, ratified
noisily beneath our feet. The door opened to
DIS efforts, creaking on its hinges, and scra-
ping the floor. The interior startled us vet
more. The room we entered was furnished
the rough cane chairs stood about the floor as
if pushed out of place but few moments pre-
vious, yet covered with mould and cobwebs.
The corner cupboard, with one door fallen, dis
played its usual contents of cups, plates, and
saucers, while in the opposite corner the old
fashioned clock stared in silence at us, it's hand
pointing mutely to the hour of one. In various
places on the floor, damp stains showed where
the rains of summer and the SHOWS of winter
had dripped through the broken ceiling; while
as we gazed with mute wonder in the dim
light for upon the broken windows the sun.
cracked shutters were closed, } winds, with damp,
musty odors, wandered about u.s.
We assembled the stairs-rough originally,
they seemed now to demonstrate at further use,
as we mounted. The first room to our right
startled us exceedingly. 1t seemed to have
been built in imitation of ships cabin-the
ceiling being low, heavily timbered, and slo-
ping; while the light came in at three narrow
windows, piercing wall, which leaned out
wardly, like the stern of bark To aid the
delusion, \ hammock was swung from the raft
ers, while a sea-chest occupied one corner. An
old table, with two chairs, ended our inventory
of the furniture Of this singular apartment.
n Efta1 tho Id IF the obaSt ~ G.. Al.
terror huge rat jumped through hole, and
disappeared. This was the only living thing
that greeted us. From this chest / took an
old worn volume of manuscript, written in a
hard, angular hand. The other rooms, though
not so strangely constructed, were in keeping
with this, exhibiting the same evidences Of
sudden desertion and subsequent decay.
"Some great evil" exclaimed, has fallen
on this house. Perhaps the scene of a fearful
murder"
More likely" answered D., "a fell dis.
ease, which has frightened the living from the
place"
These words, uttered seriously in the lonely
place, made me glad once more to find our.
selves on the sunny pike. Riding over the
next hill, we came, Unexpectedly, upon little
habitation, giving undoubted evidences of a live
occupation. Chickens cackled busily about
the door, a dog barked as we approached, while
an old horse in the adjoining pasture lifted his
sober head, and approaching the fence, eyed
us with curiosity. d. proposed inquiring here
for solution of the mystery we had Just left
1t was about our luncheon time, and, asking
for milk and bread for ourselves, and corn for
our horses, We entered the cabin. An old
woman received us kindly; and whilst we were
discussing the humble but excellent fare, gave
us readily the history of the deserted house.
Some fifteen years before the time we had
the good fortune to hear the strange tale, there
came into the neighborhood a sea-faring man
who called himself Thomas Earle. He was
not over forty.fye wears of ACE inclined n