The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1858-08-20

er. He replied that nothing could hire him
10 enter that house. He chad seen things
that-well, would find out when I got
there"
was considerably amused by the Doctors
manner and warmth, and beguiled my way
by fancying what had alarmed him, physi-
| clan, from his duty.
On my arrival found no person present
with the patient except Mrs. Green, who in
formed me that the spirits had been playing
such pranks that not soul, Dr. w. included,
could be induced to remain. The children
had been gone for some time. They were at
| her house.
found the patient very low, and with no
prospect of surviving the attack. He was,
however, quite free from pain, though very
weak.
Will was in the house noticed many
manifestations of the presence of that pow
er called spiritualsm. Chairs and tables
were moved and removed, bilets of wood
thrown upon the fire, and doors opened apd
shut without any apparent agency. heard
struggles and unaccountable noises, too, and
felt an unusual sensation, caused no doubt,
by the mysteries which surrounded and mock
ed me.
Noticing my manner the patient observ-
ed:
"It's nothing. You must get used to it,
Doctor"
81 should not he content unless could
explain them as well as become Indifferent to
them," replied.
This opened the way to n long conversa-
ton, during which | probed my patients
mind to the bottom, but without detecting
shadow of belief. Speaking Of his wife, he
said
"You heard Ellen promise to warn me of
my time to die"
81 did-but do you believe her!"
"No. II it is possible, she will keep her
word, in spite of heaven or hell. But it is
simply impossible. She promised to come
in body and speak to me. | shall accept no
other warning from her, save the literal
meaning of her words"
sand what then?"
allow much of her body is there left,
even now, Doctor? and she has not come yet
She promised to come from the grave. Can
she do il? No, no; il is all a humbug-a
delusion. Poor Elenl Thank God, Doctor,
the dovil which so haunted her life, and
stood between her soul and mine, cannot
reach her now"
"But If she should come? You may be
deceived"
"I cannot. Others must see her, too, and
hear her. shall believe no spectre, if there
are such things. Her body as it is, or will
be, let that speak i! it can!''
From tina. day up to the hour of his
death ! gss With ha h.a s!aii;cs. constantly, and
was daily introduced TO some new and start
ling phenomenon. The neighbors had learn
ed to shun the house, and even the vicinity,
as they would the plague; and strange stories
travelled from gossip to gossip, acquiring
more of the marvellous at every repetitIon.-
Nevertheless my practice increased.
On the morning of March 20, called ear.
iier than usual, During this visit the mani
festations of supernatural power were more
frequent wild and violent than ever before.
was informed that they had been exceed
ingy violent during the preceding night
Their character, too, had greatly changed
Beside the moving of all movable articles,
the tinklng of glasses, and the rattle Of tin
ware, there were frequent and startling
sounds, as of whispered conversation, sing
ing and subdued laughter--al perfect imita-
tions of the human voice, but too low to en-
able me 10 detect the words used, if words
they were. Still, however, none of these
unusual sounds had entered the sick room.
They followed the footsteps of Mrs. Green
like a demon echo, but paused on that room,
as if debarred by superior power from en-
terng there.
found Mr.. Hayden was worse and sink
ing very fast. He had passed bad night.
Doubtful whether he would survive to see
another morning, left him, promising to
call at evening and spend the night with
him, resolved, in my secret thoughts, to be
sin at the DEATH" If there was to be ghost
ly warning, meant to hear it, and, if posi-
BILE to solve the strange enigma.
The day had been exceedingly cold and
stormy, and the night had already set in,
dark and dismal with fierce gale and driv-
ing storm of rain and hail, when ! again
stood beside my patient. The moment
looked at him perceived unmistakable indi.
cations of the near approach of death upon
his features. lie was free from pain, his
mind perfectly clear; but his life was ebbing
away with every feeble breath, like the slow
burning out Of an exhausted lamp.
Meanwhile the storm arose TO a tempest,
and the gloom grew black MS death in the
tremendous gusts through the adjoining for
ests, rntting the icy branches Of the trees,
and came wailng and shreking through
every crack and Granny of the building.
Within there was yet wilder commotion.-
All that had been said or sung, written or
dreamed, Of ghostly vsitations, was then
and there enacted, There was the wringing
Of bells, moving Of furniture, crash of dish
es, whispers, howls, crying, laughter, whist
ling, heavy and light footsteps, and wild mu-
sic, rs If in very mockery of the Internal re-
gions. All these sounds grew wilder with
the rising gale, and toward midnight they
became almost insufferable.
As for us three-the patient, Mrs. Green
and myself-we were as silent as death IL.
self. Not word passed our lips after o.
clock. As for the state of our minds, God
only knows. Mine, in the wild whirl Of
thought and event which followed, forgot all
the past, save what have recalled and pen
ned, bit by bit, above. remember only |
looking for the final catastrophe, which grew |
rapily nearer, with constant endeavor to
concentrate all my faculties Of mind and |
sense upon the phenomenon which at least, |
had began to believe would herald the loss |
Of my patient
As Il grew closer upon IL o'clock, (for
upon the striking of that hour hand my
thoughts fixed themselves for the expected |
dcmons,ration,) nay agitation became so great
that Il was with extreme difficulty | could |
control myself.
Nearer and nearer grew the fatal moment |
for fatal I perceived il would be, to the pa.
tient, at lenst-and at last the seconds trem-
i :