Litchfield enquirer., 1857-04-02

thought there hardly ever was a young gentle woman so blessed as I

thought there hardly ever was young gentle woman so blessed as I.
 We went to the play. An, you know noth- ing of what play is, nowadays. You never saw John Kemble and Mir. Siddons. Though i'll dresses and shows, it was far inferior to the Hamlet you took me to see last week, my dear and though perfectly well remember being on the point of laughing when in the most sol emn scene, it became clearly evident. that the Ghost had been drinking. Strangely enough, no after events connected therewith-nothing subsequent ever drove from my mind the vivid impre ssion of this my first play.' Strange, aE so. that the play should have been Hamlet Do you think that Shakespeare believed in what people call ghosts ?
 could not say but I thought Mrs. MacAr- thurs ghost very long in coming.
 'Don't, dear--don't do any ything but laugh at it..
 She was yisibly affected, and it was not with out an effort that she proceeded in her story.
 l wish you to unders tand exactly my posi- tion that night--a young girl, her head full ci the enchantlnent of the stage-her heart ol something not less engrossng Mir. Everest had supped with us, leaving us both in the best of spirits indeed my father had gone to bed, laughing heartily at the remembrance of the antics of MT. Grimaldi, which had almost ob; liberated the Queen and Hamlet from his mem ory, on which the ridiculous always took a far stronger hold than the awful or sublime.
 was sitting-let me see--at the window, chatting with my maid Patty, who was brush ing the powder out of my hair. The wndow Was open half way, and looking ont on the Thames and the summer night being very warm and starry, made it almost Ike sitting out of doors. There was none of the awe giv- en by the solithas of a midnight closed when every sound is magnifed, and every shadow seem alive.
 r As said, we had been chatting and laugh ing for Patty and I were both very young and she had a sweetheart, too She, like e-e- ry oue else of the household was warm a,'- mirer of Mir. Everest. had just been scold- ing, in halfsmlling way at her praises of h.m, when St. Paul's great clock came booming over the silent river.
 "E!even,' counted Patty, Terrible late we be, Mistress Dorothy not like Bath Lours l reckon.'
 Mother will have been in bed an hour ago, said l, with little selfreproach at not having thought of her bcforc
 The next minute my maid and I both start ed up with simultaneous exclamation. 'DA you hear thatF
 Yes bat flying against the window
 But the lattices are open, Mistress Dorothy.
 So they were and there was no bird or living thing about; only the quiet snmmcr night, tlle river and the stars:
 I be certain sure I heard it. And think it was bit lke--somebody tapping
 Nonsense, Patty But it had struck me thus-though said it was bat. It was ex- acty like the sound of fingers against pane very soft, gentle fingers such as, in passing in- to her fower-garden, my mother used often to tap outside tie schoolroom easement at home.
 ''1 wonder, d'd father hear anything. It. the bird, you know, Patty-might have flown at his window too.'
 'Oh, Mistress Dorothy ? Patty would not be deceived. gave her the brush to finish my hair, but her hand trembled too much. ] shut the window and we both sat down. facing it.
 At that minute, distinct, clear, and unns- takable, like person giving a summons in pas; sing by, we heard once more, the tapping OH the pane. But nothing was seen not single shadow came between us aud the open air, the bright starlight.
 Startled l was, and awed, but was not frightened. The sound gave me inexplicable delight. But hardly had time to recognize my feelings, still less to analyse ther:, when g loud cry came from my fathers room.
 Dolly-Dolly
 Now my mother and had both ono maine but he alwats gave her the old-fashioned pet name,-I was invariably Dorothy. Still did not pause to think, but ran to llls locked door, and answered.
 It was long time before he took any ho tice, though heard him talking to himself and moaning. He was subject to bad dreams, es pecay before his attacks of gout. So my first alarm ligbtened l stood listening, kuock ing at intervals, until at last he replied. F.What do'ee want, child ? 'Is anything the matter, father? 'Nothing: Go to thy bed, Dorothy.'
 Did you not call :? Do yon want any ono?
 Not thee. o Dolly, my poor Dolly, and he seemed almost sobbing, Why did let thee leave me r
 | Father, you are not going to be i'll It is not the gout, is it ? (for that was the time when he wanted my mother most and ill, deed, when he was wholly manageable by any one but her.
 Go away. Get te thy bed, girl j. den't want 'ee'
 thought he was angry with me for having been in some sort the cause of our delay, and retired very miserable. Patty and l sat up a good while longer. discussing the dreary pros pect of my fathers havirg a fit of gout here ill London lodgings, with only us to nurse him, and my mother away. Our alarm was so great that we quite forgot tine curious circam- stance which had first attracted us, till Patty spoke up from her bed on the Hoor hope master beant going to be very i'll, and that-you know-came for a warning. Do you think it was bird Mistress Dorothy ? Very likely, Patty. Now let us go to sleep :.
 But did not, for all night heard my