Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-02-14

quarter before ten. 1t was toward the top
of the house, on the outside, at the north-e lst
corner resembling the loud creaking OF saw,
or rather that of windmill when the body OF
it is turned about in order to shift the sails to
the wind. We then heard a knocking over
our heads; and Mr.. Wesley, catching up
candle, said, Come sir, now you shall hear
for yourself" We went up stairs; he with
much hope, and Ito say the TRUTH with much
fear When we came into the nursery, it was
knocking in the next room when we went
there, it was knocking in the nursery.
And there it continued to knock though
we came in, particularly at the head of the
bed (which was of wood IN which Miss
Hetty and two of her younger sisters lay. Mr..
Wesley observing that they were much affect
ed-though asleep, sweating, and trembling
exceedingly-was very angry, and pulling out
a pistol, was going to fire at the place from
whence the sound came. But l suatched him
by the arm, and said, "Sir, you are convinced
this is something preternatural. If so, you
cannot hurt 1t; but you give it power to hurt
you" He then went close to the place, and
said sternly, Though deaf and dumb devil!
why dost though fright these children, that
cannot answer for themselves Come to me,
in my study, that am man 2" Instantly, it
knocked its knock 1.-THE particular knock which
he always used at the gate) as if it would
more that night
"Till this time my father had never heard
the least disturbance in his study. But the
next evening, as he attempted to 90 into his
study. (rf which none had the KEY but him
SELF when he opened the door, it was thrust
back with such violence as had like to have
thrown him down. However, he thrust the
door open, and went in. Presently there was
a knocking, first on one side, then on the 9TH
err, and after time in the next room, wherein
my sister Nancy was. He went into that
room, and, the noise continuing, adjured it to
speak, but in vain. lie then said, these spir-
its love darkness; put out that candle, and
perhaps 1t will speak She did so, and he re-
peated his adluration; but still there was only
knocking and no articuae sound. Upon this
he said, Nancy, two Christians are an over
match for the devil. Go all of you down
stairs; it may be when | am alone he will
have courage to speak When she was gone,
thought came in his head, and he said, If
thou art the spirit of my son Samuel, pray
knock three knocks, and no more Immed-
ately all was silence, and there was no more
knocking at all that night. asked my sister
Nancy, then fifteen years od) whether she
was not afraid when my father used that adju-
ration. She answered she was sadly afraid it
would speak when she put out the candle; but
she was not at all afraid in the day -tme when
it walked after her, only she thought when
she was about her work he might have done it
for her, and saved her the trouble
BY this time all my sisters were so accus
toned to these noises that they gave them lit
tie disturbance. A gentle tapping at their
bed-head usually began between nine and ten
at night. They then commonly said to each
other, jeffrey is coming; it is time to go to
sleep And if they heard a noise in the day,
and said to my youngest sister, 'Hark, Kezzy,
Jeffrey is knocking above she would run up
stairs and pursue it from room to room saying
she desired no better diversion.
"a few nights after, my father and mother
had just gone to bed, and the candle was not
taken away, when they heard three blows,
and a second and third three, as it were with
a large oakcn staff, struck upon chest which
stood by the bedside. My father Immediately
arose, put on his night-gown and, hearing
great noises below, took the candle and went
down; my mother walked by his side. AS
they went down the broad stairs, they heard
as if vessel full of silver was poured upon
my mothers breast and ran jingling down to
her feet. Quickly after, there was a sound as
if large iron bell was thrown among many
bottles under the stairs; but nothing was hurt.
Soon after, our large mastiff dog came, and
ran to shelter himself between them. While
the disturbances continued he used to bark
and leap, and snap on one side and the other,
and that frequently before any person in the
room heard any noise at all But after two or
three days he used to trembe, and creep away
before the noise began. And by this the fam
lily knew it was at hand nor did the observa-
ton ever fail.
Conclusion Tomorrow