New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-02-09


plain remain mystery, for even attcr We nave as
cribed the phenomenon to spiritual powers, We are
still in the dark Ida not know why the grass grows
and am satisfied to let itreaain mystery in The
hands Of the AlWise and Ait-Good Being, WHO |
g doeth all things well. z 3s555s54 si. i-.Jzf
In the course Of my dealings with the dead, have
had my share Of observation and experience Of the
supernatural and mysterious i could tell many Fl
story Of terrible signs Of mysterious forewarn-
ings Of . spectral vistations z but am free to say
do not believe even those which came within my 4
own immediate knowledge. 1t IS true, I cannot ex-
plain some very strange phenomena, yet that is no
reason why should believe that water viii run up
hil-that the Founder Of natural laws should break
them Himself for the sake of letting some ignoraus
know that one Of his first cousins will die when his
time comes. SAY some ignoramns, for have never
found really intelligent person who would credit the
ghost stories Of the past or the present. +
The incident am about to relate Is certainty Of E
thrilling character and my friend over the way who
is firm believer in the modern spiritual manifesto
tions, is perfectly there be explanation for
it he is satisfied that have held converse with
being of The other world The reader may judge for
himself. 5s$F 3ts3
q Twenty years ago, when lived in -- street, j
had nelghbor, who was somewhat my senior N
years, and with whom was upon the most intimate
terms. He was a ionrneynan mason, and very
clever, honest, and industrious man. His name was
Roger Williams, and he claimed kin with his name
sake the illustnous advocate Of intellectual liberty.
and the founder of Rhode Island He was a mild,
harmless man, with too little energy ever to accom-
plish any great thing. The only uncharitable act
heard of his doing was the dsoWnng OF hi5 own
brother, though in my opinion there was sufficient |
cause for it. For twenty-five years he had not spoken
to him. or permitted him to come into his presence
He would not own that Eli Williams was his brother
which was certainly not in accordance with the gentle
and forgiYing spirit of Christianity.
When they were young men, their father had lost
the little property he had accumulated and was left
withouta penny in the world. Rodger proposed to
his brother Eli that they should jointly pay the rent
of the house he had occupied, and provide him with
thoY n living colnf0rtah1y this
what suited the old man best. He had lived in the
house SO long that he had become strongly attached
to it, and so had the old lady they both loved the
place, and both would have been glad to end their
DAYS there. But Eli refused, declaring it would cost
too much. High words ensued, and they were hope
lessy alienated. Roger, who was then young and
tive, resolved to take the whole burden upon himself
and by the most resolute economy and by working at
various odd jobs out of hours, he kept the old folks
comfortable till his mother died ; then as there was
no one to take care of him. his father consented to
live with him, and continued to be o member OF his
family to his death. %$d
Years after, Eli attempted to bring about recon
ciliaton but Rodger told him that the man who could
count his money against the comfort and happiness
of his old father and mother, was no brother OF his
he did mt know him. Though Eli lived III the city,
| they never met again 55s23sS &5t sS5s3&5Sa VI
After the death Of his father, Roger had saved up
sum Of money, amounting to some two thousand aIp
dollars with which he intended to buy the house he
lived in. He had collected the money together, and
deposited it in the bank, in anticipation Of the pur
chase. But he could not agree upon the price. at
once with the owner, and while the negotiation was
pending he was taken sick with the typhus fever.
watched with him several times during his sick
4 ness. He was prepossessed with the idea that he
should never recover and think this thought had an
unfayorahle effect upon him. His Imagination conn
teracted all the remedies that were used, and his pre-
!: dicton was fulfilled he died. even after the physi
clan had given every encoura that he woult
recover 4a s5s I'll; ID @
= In the course Of our intimacy, he expressed a de
sire that should administer upon his little pfopert
i after his death. Though my occupation left me bu
little time to attend to other matters, could not
a fuse the request of dying man. buried him, an
then took ont letters of administration upon his pro
perty. The sickness, and the funeral expenses Of th
deceased, had exhausted the widows ready money
and she applied to me for a supply. There was n,
resources but the sum in the bank, which had beer
!, appropriated to the purchase of the house. drew
check for the amount the widow required, and pre-
sented myself at the bank, armed with the prope
vouches of my authority. al&-
"M Williams has no funds here" replied the tel
ter. s-.. ~. ...,.'-,.&,
, % You are mistaken said I.
He drew ont all he had deposited" f"2
. z" When 2" ~ 8tl1 zIs 80 Erp
The teller referred to the books, and gave me the
date; it was about three weeks Is before hs death .
u "Who presented the check?" asked.
"He presented it himself" 'S'@ ~
Il "Wi you let me see the check?" 1-
I was very much surprised by this intelligence. 1t
seemed to ME that, if he had Withdrawn his funds he
would have informed me of the fact, especially as he
toned the subject however, in any way, and as the
case stood, 1 had no information in regard to the
money, and was sure that the widow believed it to
be in the bank.
The check was shown me the signature was in the
stiff clanped and somewhat singular handwriting OF
Mr. Williams, and II could not doubt its genuineness
1t did not occur to me that there was anything out of
the way, and Immediately called upon Mrs. Williams
to obtain further information. 5EI
It was possible that he had again deposited the
ey in some other bank, but the widow knew nothing
about it. Her husband, who was in the habit Of con
yersng freely with her about his business affairs, had
never mentioned his intention of changing hedeposit
to another bank. examined all the papers with care
for any memorandum that would furnish clue to the
money, hut could find nothing.
Mrs. Williams was astounded at the discovery She
, was sure her husband would not have touched the
money without informing her; and it was certainly
very strange that while he said much to during
his sickness, about his business he had never alluded
to matter of SO much importance as this
My next step was to visit all the banks in the city
in search Of the lost deposit 1t was fruitless task
could OBTAIN clue to it. The widow was in the
deepest DISTRESS the money was all she had to de-
pend upon for the rest of her lifetime she was sure
it lost and could say nothing to assure her that
it might yet be found But advanced her q sum
sufficient to supply her present wants: For my own
part, did not know what to make of it. The whole
affair wassnvoved in! mystery. If the deceased had
been man Of dssonte habits, the deficit could have
been explained but he nothing of the kind, and
venture to say, he never spent penny in bar.
room or lost one in a gambling hell. !,
sat in my room one evening, two or three days
after my application at the bank, trying to think
what had become of the two thousand dollars. MY
wife had gone out to spend the evening, and wa:
thinking Of going after her, when the doorbe rang
" Is Mr. Mortal at home ~ said voice at the door
1t sounded strangely familiar to me, and yet die
| not at once recognize it.
S (" He is; that is my name. Will you walk I'M"
e He bowed, and followed me into my little parlor
" Take q chair, SIR and seated him near the fire
A He removed his hat, revealing head on which tn
Y SHOWS of many winters had Lain their whiteness.
/ was sure knew the person, but my lamp burne
dmly, and could not yet identify his features. H
turned down his coatcolar, and had as good Yey
of him as the faint light in the room would permit. y
! | started back, more in wonder and astonishmen
than in terror, for, have before intimated al
not easily frightened. 'a@ @sfz'i 2@'@ :.
1t was Roger Williams, the mason X gj". a
y OF ceaaase, could not positively swear it was he
:. and that had seen him die myself, had pu
him ill., offin, had placed him in the tomb, ha,
lockedup his remains in TINT dark receptacle of NOR
taty was calculated stagger my belief even TIL
n evidence of my own sense.
a But there was his bald head, there was his Ions
aquiline nose, there were his features in whole am
in detail 1t was his voice had heard in the entry
Y it was his gait, his manner, his motion. ~
It "Who are you, sir?n asked, in anazement.
: ] am Roger Wiliams.'
Impossible!" sl
"a az did not come to hold IN argtnlent'w with you !
he continued, coldy, and though it was his voice.
81 sounded strangely hollow T., .l I-. -Itl =