Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-06-18
TERRIBLE NIGHT
OK, SPIRITUAL MANIFESTATIONS
BY MARY KYLE DALLAS.

/, subject OF spiritual manifestations, tabl
tippngs, trance-mediums, and SO on; f
, really, Il don mean to be irrevcrent thouc
1t may sound SOY my housework here.
shan t be obliged to come back to knock ii
whltc-wash off the kitchen walls, crack lool
lng-glasses, break the dishes. and ring ii
door-bcll unnecessarily likcI those naught
boys round the corner. | would much pr,
: fer to walk up and down in the church-varc
after the old-hshioncd way that our for,
fathers believed in-though the ghost car
are really very unbecoming; and if anv on
was to come along, | shouldn't like to be seeI
IN such very scanty skirt without hoop
Stlll, there is some romance about that line 0
conduct; and you could overset the tabl
without being ghost, you know.
As | said, was perfect unbeiever in al
such things; but, dear me listen only few
moments, and I'll show you how the veries
sceptlc may be convinced. 1t was while w,
were living at our little country-seat II
give you definite idea of my story, mus
begin by describing the house.
1t was double house, with two parlors or
one side OF the house, and dining-room and
Kitchen on the other. Above were four bed.
rooms, situated in the same way, but the floor
was enlarged by the addition of two little
Vim WIFI lle DdCk TOOlnh
on either side of the entry The little square
room had been fitted up as a bathroom but
as (being in the country the water had to
be carried up first, and then, if you put any
IN the bath-tub, it all leaked through and ran
into the kitchen pantry, of courscli was of
very little use, if any Therefore | made a
SORT OF store-room OF it, keeping some pots of
choice preserves intended for company use,
and various othcrithings not wanted every day
upon some swinging shelves had put there
lhat little room was the most secluded place
IN the whole building. You could hear moth
ing that occurred in any part of the house
"hile you were there, and might make as
much noise as you choose without being
heard. When the children were very NOISY,
used sometimes to shut them up there,
where they could romp to their hearts con-
tent without being an annoyance to any one.
My own room was perfect little bower,
with great creeping vine festooned about the
window, and such a lovely view of the bay
beyond But, dear me at this rate will
never finish my story.
Psalter having occasion to transact some
business in Boston, which he expected would
occupy him some two or three days, was
lett alone in the cottage-not alone, exactly,
for the children and Brother John, and the
Scotch girl had just hired, were with me.
But it was almost as lonesome.
Psaltcr had been gone two days, and
towards evening we were strolling round the
garden. looking at the flowers, while Jessie
got tea ready, when a sudden gust rose,
driving the dust along the high road in thick
clouds We all ran into tho house, and
the first step was to fasten all the Shutters
Jessie ran upstairs, and | went through the
lower floor.
:" Have you fastened all the windows, Jes-
sic?' ] said, as she returned.
Decd yes. ma am" answered Jessie,
"aud locked the doors OF all the empty rooms.
too; for ye knew not ono of them will stay
shut when the winds blawing, without We
lock them.
BY and by the gust ceased, and the rain
came pattcring down, and began to think
ottca.
"But where is John all this tlnc?"
asked, for | had quite forgotten him
ale is not abunc stairs, ma am said
Jessie, "lor looked there MY ain sci I'm
thinkin' he took his hat and went out an
hour agonc.'
Sure enough the. that was not on its accus-
toned hat-pcg. How foolish, thought, to
so out just as tea was ready No matter,
we mustsit down without him.
Tea-timc passed and night came on, and
still John did not return; | began to grow
fdg,ty.
Fanny and the Others pccred through the
wet pancs into the darkness aud watched for
him, until the clock struck nine, and still he
stayed. At length, ovcrpowered Lby sleep
they consented to so to bed; and taking my
work in my hand, went up stairs to tuck
them in snugly, and sat down, beside Ii tile
Fanny who slept with M. Rosy little dar-
ling, how beautiful she was with her sleepy.
violet eyes half closed and her golden hair
lying upon her dImpled shoulder ike moon,
light on a snow-driit.
Scotch Jessie was making some mullins
for breakfast in the kitchen, and through the
open door ! heard every word of the song
with which she beguiled her solitude 1t ran
thus -
Oh dnna ye ken how the laird of the land,
Fell meath the blow of his dark brither's dirk
And sleeps his last sleep meath the ground where
ye stand
Far from the shadow of chapel or kirk ?
And dinna ye ken how his brthcr went hame.
With lies on his lips to the laird's noble hail.
And won for his own his dead brithcrs fair dame
His name, and his gold and his castle and all
But the form still unsepulchred never may rest,
And the lorn soul came back to the castles gay
hail.
And when all seemed most canny, and lghtsome
and blest
Came step on the floor and blow on the wall
And never again did that poor spirit fly,
But wandered unseen through each chapel and
hall,
And when midnight's chime rang from the belfry
on high,
Came n step on the floor and a blow on the wall.
No joy could the soul of tho fratricide know
For 'pnid l.
On the floor came step-on the wall came blow
And he knew that the soul of his brither was
near.
Now cauldly he lies in the kirk yard near by,
And the halls of the castle desolats all
For still, when the midnight moon rises on high,
Comes astep on the floor and a blow on the wall
Good gracious just as the song died
AVA heard blow on my wall-positiyely
heavy solemn blow dull and muffled in
its sound.
For II moment was cold with terror but
the next | resumed my needle, and began to
hum Bonnie Annie Laurie to show that
| was not in the least alarmed. But, mercy
for all could do, the new quayers | intro
duced into that popular strain would have
driven its composer distracted if he could
have heard me. Another moment and
sprang dizzly to my feet; for again came
three more Of those horrible blows upon the
door of the little wardrobe of which | tolC
you.
Silence again, and them swear it-plain
ly as ever in my life, heard my own name
in Johns voice, coming, as it seemed, from
far, far away-solemn and plaintive-callinl
Emma Emma !"
Oh Heaven grant that such a horrt
never may fall upon my soul again as felt il
that dreadful moment. l never faint will
terror. In moments of alarm my hear
almost ceases to beat, and my lips grow coll
as death.
! stood there voiceless, motionless, an
incapable of uttering cry, had life depends