Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1859-04-07

ical sat of boarders, she laid the matter
before us. stating candidly everything she
had heard respecting the ghostly qualities
of the establishment to which she wished
to remove US. With the exception of one
or two timid persons--a sea captain and a
returned Californian, who Immediately
gave notice that they would leave--every
one Of Mrs. Mofat's guests declared they
would accompany her in her chivalric in
cursion into the abode of spirits.
Our removal was effected in the month
Of May, and we were all charmed with our
new residence. The portion of Twenty
sixth Street where our house is situated
between Seventh and Eighth Avenues
is one of the plessan.est localities in New
York. The gardens back of the houses,
running down nearly to the Hudson, form
in the summer time. perfect avenue of
verdure. The air is pure and invigora-
ting, sweeping. as it does, straight across
the river from the Wechawken heights,
and even the ragged garden which sur
rounded the house on two sides, although
displaying on washing-days rather zoo
much clothes-line, still gave us a piece Of
greeu sward to look at, and cool retreat
in the summer evenings. where we smoked
our cigars in the dusk, and watched the
irefies flashing their dark lanterns in the
long grass.
Of course we had no sooner established
ourselves at No. : than we began to ex
pect the ghosts. We absolutely awaited
their advent with eagerness. Our dinner
conversation was supernatural. One Of
the boarders who had purchased Mrs.
Groves might Side Of Nature for his
own private delectstion, was regarded as a
public enemy by the whole household for
not having bought twenty copies. The
man led life of supreme wretchedness
while he was perusing the volume. A
system of espionage was established, of
which he was the victim. If lie incau.
tiously laid the book down for an instant
and left the room, il was immedistelv seiz
ed and read aloud IN secret places o a Sc
ieet few. | found myself person Of i'm
meRse impog .auce, il having leaked oal
that | was tolesabiy we'll yer:ed in super
naluralism. and had cnce written a story
entitled The Po, ofTulips," for Harper
Aonthiy. tho foundation of which was a
ghost. If table or wainscot panel hap
pened TO warp when we were assembled in
the large drawing room, there was an in
stant silence, and every. one was prepared
for an immediate clankiug of chains and
a spectral form.
After month of psychological excite
} ment. it was with the utmost dissatisfac
. tion that we were forced to acknowledge
that nothing in the remotest degree ap
preaching the supernatural had manifes'.
ed itself. Once the black butler asserva
ted that his candle had been blown ou
by some invisible agency while undressing
himself for the night; but as / had more
t than once discovered this colorcd gentle
man when cne candle must have appeared
5 as two. thought it possible that, by go
ing step farther in his potations, he nigh
f have reversed this phenomenon. and see,
, no candle at all where he ought to have be
held one.
Things we're in this state when an Incl
dent took place SO awful and inexplicab,t
: in its character that my reason fairly reels
at the bare mention OF the occurrence.
: w..s the 10th Of July. After dinner wa,
over | repaired with my friend Dr.. Ham
mond, to the garden to smoke my evening
pipe. Independent of certain mental sym
: pa.hies which existed between the Doctor
and myself, We were linked together by
5 secret vice. We both smoked opium. We
knew each others secret, and respected II
t We enjoyed together that wonderful ex
pension of thought; that marvellous inten
styling Of the perceptive faculties; tha
boundless feeling of existence when W.
seem to have points of contact with the
II whole universe; in short, that unimap,na
bic spiritual bliss, which would net sur
: render for throne. and which i hope YOU
reader, may never--never taste. is'asv7i E
Those hours of opium happine IS which
the Doctor and ! speut together in secre
; we're regulated with scientific accuracy
We did not bhndy smoke the drug O
Paradise and leave our dreams to chance
While smoking we carefully steercd oul
conversation through the brightest and
calmest channels of thought. We talked
of the East, and endeavored to recall the
magical panorama of its glowing scenery
We criticised the most sensaous poets
those who painted life ruddy with health
brimming with passion. happy in the pos.
session Of youth, and strength, and beauty
A.. n. a 1s<.c Ck - an.