Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-02-26

tumbler. To pu. an end to the suspense
my wife proposed taking knife and cuttin
into the wood there; but had less impa
tient plan; namely, that she and | shoul
sit up with the table that night, as, frer
present symptoms, the bag would prubab !,
make its appearance before morning. Fo
myself, | was curious to see the first adven
of the thing-the first dazzle OF the chicl
as ii Clipped the she'll.
The idea struck my wife not unfavorab ly
She insisted that both Julia and Anna shoul
be OF the party, in order that the evidenc,
of their senses should disabuse their mind
OF all nurssry nonsense. For that spirit
should tick, aRt tha, spirits should take untt
themselves the form of bugs, was, to ny
wife, the most foolish of al foolish imagi.
nations. True, she could not account fol
the thing; but she had all confidence that d
could be, and would yet be. somehow ex-
planned, and that to her entire satisfaction.
Without knowing it herself, my wife was q
female Democritus. For my own part. my
present feelings were of mixed sort. In
a strange and not unpleasing way, gently
oscillated between Democritus and Cotton
Mather. But to my wife and daughters l as
sumed to be pure Democritus-a jeerer at
all tea-,able spirits whatever.
So, laying in a good supply of candles
and crackers, all four of US sat up with the
table, and at the same time sat round it
For while my wife and l carried on an
animated conversation. But my daughters
were silent Then my wife and | would
have had rubber of whist, but my daugh-
ters could not be prevailed upon to join
Sc we played whist with lwO dominies;
literally, my wife won the rubber, and,
fatigued with victory, put away the cards.
Half past eleven O'Clock. No sign of the
bug. The candles began to burn dim. My
wife was just in the act of snuffing them,
when sudden, violept, hollow, resounding
rumbling, humping was heard.
Julia and Anna sprang to their feet.
~All well!" cried voice from the street.
1t was the watchman, first ringing down
his hub on the pavement, and then follow
ing it up with this highly satisfactory ver-
bal ann ouncement.
"All we'll! Do you hear that, my girlsp'
said |, gayly.
Indeed it was astonishing how brave as
Bruce felt in company with three women,
and two OF them halt frightened out Of their
wits.
Irose for my pipe and took a philosophic
smoke.
Democritus forever, thought !.
In profound silence, sat smoking, when
lo!-pop! pop! pop!-right under the table.
a terrible popping
This time we all four sprang up, and my
pipe was broken.
Good heavens! what's that!"
"Spirits! spirits!'' cried Julia.
s'Oh, oh, oh!'' cried Anna.
"Shame," said my wife, "it's that new
bottled cider, in the celer, going off. | told
Biddy TO wire the bottles to-day"
shall here transcribe from memoranda
kept during par, cf the night. -------
aOue O'Clock. No sign Of the bug. Tick
ing continues. Wife getting sleepy.
1.-TWO O'Clock. No sign of the bug. Tick
ing intermittent. Wife fast asleep.
"Three o'clock. No sign of the bug
Ticking pretty steady. Julia and Anna
getting sleepy.
-Four O'Clock. No sign of the bug
Ticking regular. but not spirited. Wife,
Julia, and Anna, all fast asleep in their
chairs.
"Five O'Clock. No sign of the bug
Ticking faint. Myself feeling drowsy. The
rest still asleep"
So far the journal.
Rap! rap! rap!
A terrific, 2orteutous rapping against the
door.
Startled from our dreams, we started to
our feet.
Rap! rap! rap!
Julia and Anna shrieked.
covered in the corner.
"You fools." cried my wife, "it's the
baker with the bread"
Six O'Clock.
She went to throw back the shutters, but
ere it was done, cry came from Julia
There, half in and halt out of its crack,
there wriggled the bug, flashing in the
rooms general dimness, like fiery opal.
Had this bug had tiny sword by its side
"a Damascus sword-und tiny necklace
round its neck-a diamond necklace-and
a tiny gun in its claw-a brass gun-and a
tiny manuscript in his mouth-a Chaldee
manuscrip:-Julia and Anna could not have
stood more charmed
In truth, it was beautiful bug-a Jew
jewelers. bug--s bug like sparkle of
glorious sunset.
Julia aud Anna had never dreamed of
such a bug. To them, bug had been word
synonymous with hideousness. But this
was seraphical bug; or, rather, all it had
of the bug was the B, for it was beautiful
as butterfly.
Julia and Anna gazed and gazed. They
were no more larmed. They were delight-s
ed.
"But how got this strange, pretty crea-
ture into the tablet" cried Julia.
"Sprits can get anywhere" replied
Anna.
"Pshaw!" said my wife.
"Do you hear any more tlckIng!' said ].
They all applied their ears. but heard
nothing.
"Well, then, wife and daughters, now
that it is all over, this very morning will
go and make inquiries about it,"
"Oh, do, papa" cried Julia, ''do 60 and
consult Madame Pazzi, the conjuress."
"Better go and consult Professor John
son, the naturalist" said my wife.
"Bravo, Mrs. Democritus!" said |, "Pro-
fessor is the man.
By good fortune found the Professor il.
Informing him briefly of the incident, he
manifested cool. collected sort of interest,
and gravely accompanied me home. The
table was produced, the two openings point
ed out. the bug displayed, and the details of
the affair set forth; my wife and daughters
being present.
"And now. Professor" said /, "what do
you think OF it!'
Putting on his spec.acles, the learned
Professor looked hard at the table, and