Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-02-19

the nerves, and gave rise to hallucinations
resolved TO put Cotton Mather permanent
| ly aside. That done, had no fear of any
return of the ticking. Indeed, | began t.
think that what seemed the ticking in the
room, was nothing but a sort of buzzlng in
my ear.
As is her wont, my wife having preceded
me in rising, made deliberate and agree
able toilet. Aware that most disorders oi
the mind have their origin in the state OF
the body, made vigorous use of the flesh
brush, and bathed my head with New Eng
land rum, specific once recommended to
me Tor buzzing in the ear. Wrapped in my
dressing gown, with cravat nicely, adjusted
and finger nails neatly trimmed, compla-
Gently descended to the little cedar-parlor
to breakfast =
What was my afnazement to find my wife
on her knees, rummaging about the carpet
nigh the little appie-uee table, on which
the morning meal was laid, while my daugh-
ters, Julia and Anna, were running about
the apartment distracted :
"Oh, papa, papa!" cried Julia, hurrying
up to NEIL knew it would be SO. The
table, the tab!en'
"SPirits. spirits." cried Anna. standing
far ava! from it, with pointed finger.
"Silence.!" cried my wife. GLOW can I
hear it, if you make such noise! Be still.
Come here, husband; was this the ticking
you spoke of! Why don't you move. Was
this il? Here, kneel down and listen to it.
Tick, tick, tick!-don't you hear il now!"
81 do, do,' cried /, while my daughters
besought US both to come away from the
spot.
Tick, tick, tick!
Right from under the snowy cloth, and
the cheerful Urn, and the smoking milk
toast, the unaccountable lie ticking Was heard
"Ain'l there a fire in the next room,
Julia" said /, "let US breakfast there, my
dear,' turning to my wife-"let us go-leave
the tabe-tell Biddy to remove the things
And so saying was moving towards the
do1r in high self possession, when my wife
interrupted me.
"Beiore quit this room,I will'see into this
ticking" she said with energy at is some
thing that can be found out, depend upon if.
don't believe IN spirits, especially at break
fas-time. Biddy. Biddy! Here, carry these
things Tack to the Kitchen" handing the
urn. Then, sweeping off The clota, the lit
tie table lay bare TO he eye
"lt's the table, The lable" cried Julia.
''NoIsense," .aii my wife. "Who ever
heard of ticking table! It's on the floor.
Blddy! Julia! Anna! move everything out
of the room-lablc and all. Where is the
tack hammerS!"
"Heavens, mamma-you are not going to
take up the c4rpe:l" screamed Julia.
"tlere's the hammers, marm," laid Bddy, !
a !vancng trcmblingly.
'Ha d them 10 me, them" cried my wife;
for poor Bidty was, at long gundistanre,
ho ding them ou as If her mistress had the
plague. +
"Now. husband, do you take up that side
ofsthe carpet, and | viii this'' Down sonI
te2knses shssss1eH droppod:s :swhffe follow
ed suit
The carpet removed, and the ear applied
to the naked floor, not the Slightest tickling
could be heard
"The tnble--afer all, it is the table,"
cried nv wife. "Bddy, bring il back"
"Oh no, ma-m, not l, please, marm." sob
bed Biddy.
"Foolish creature Husband, do yeu
bring it,"
"hy DEAR said I. "we have plenty of
other tables; why be so particular!'
"Where is that table cried my wife, con-
temptuously, regardless of my gentle remon-
strsnce.
"ln the wood-house; marm. I put it |
away as far as ever could, marm" sobbed
Biddy.
"Shal: go to the wood house for it, or
will you!" said nv wife, addressing me in
frightful, business like manner.
Immediately darted out of the door, and
found the little apple-tree table, upside down.
in one Of my chip-bins. l hurriedy return
ed with 1t, and once more my wife examined
it atteDtively. Tick, tick. tick! Yes, it was
the table.
PLEASE, marm," said Biddy, now enter
ing the room. with hat and shawl-"please,
marin, will you pay me my wages!"
"Take your hat s.ld shalw off Directly" |
said NV wife; "set this table again"
"Set it," roared |, in passion, "set it, or
I'll go for the police"
"Heavens! heavens!" cried my daughters. |
in one breath, "What will become of US!
-Sp pirits! Spirits!''
"Wiil you set the tablet" cried 1, advan.
cling upon B,ddv.
81 will. will--yes. marm-yes, master
| will. Spiri's!--Holy Varginl''
"Now. husband" said nv wife, 81 am
convinced that. whatever it is that causes
this ticking, neither the ticking nor the |
.abl' can hurt Us; for we are all good Chris. |
tians, hope. | am determined to find out
the cause of 1t, too, which time and patti |
ence will bring to light. shall breakfast
on no other table but this, SO long as we live
in this house. So. ist down, now that ali
things are ready again, and let US quietly
breakfast. Ny dears," turning to Julia and
An a, ''go TO your room, and return COM
p se]. Let me have no more of this childish
mes"
Upon occasion my wife was mistress in
her house.
CONCLUDED NEXT WEEK