The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1860-12-19
Thrilling GHOST STORY,

We were returning from our spring
meeting Of Preshy tery-oHo gcntlcnan
and two young ladies--in "rockawav.'
and the road none of the best. Nigh,
c'l / and damp, overlook us eight or ten
miles fom home, but onl,sa short dis.
talce from Judge Blanks who, after we
had arrived at his house, narrated us
follows: Years ago We hnl in our house
n sweet title child, about four wears #
age, and the Object, Of Course, Of very
tender affection. But sickness hid lis.
hard upon it. Remedies, promptly ro
sorted to, all proved in vain. Day after
| day the rose faded from the cheek, anal
! the fire in The eyes hnrncd low; ard af
! 'cngth death closed those eyes and sealed
/ those lips forever; and we learned by try
/, ;ng experience how intense darkness fol-.
lows tie qucnch;ns Of one Of those little
lights Of life.
The time rolling sally on, brought
us Mt length to the hour appointed for
committing orr treasure to the ordinary
custody of tho grave. The friends AS
semb!el, the customary services mtre
held, tbs farewell taken, aud the little
form Sc urely slut beneath the We.
screwed cotfln-l iJ, and in due form he
grave received its trust. We looked ON
and saw the earth thrown in, the mound
raised above, aud the plates Of sod neatly
adjns'e into great sheItering roof, aud
then wended our way back to our des,-
late home. Evening came on and wore
away. Ny wife had gone into nm adj
joining room to give some directions, to-
q servant, an l, untitled BY the scene of
! the day for aught else, had just laid my
head on my pillow in room upon the
first floor OF the house, when heard ~
shrek, and in moment moro, my vita
came flying into the room, and spring.
ing upon the bed behind me exclaimed:
" See there. our child our childn
"Raising my head, my blood froze,
within me, ani the hair upon my head
stood mp, rs saw the little thing in
grave clothes, with open, but manifcstlv
sightless Dyes, and pale rs when we gayo
| it the last kiss, walking slowly toward Va.
| Had been alone had not the extreme.
terror Of my wife compelled me to play
the man, should have leapcd from tho
window and bed without casting look
! bchn l.
Bat, not daring TO leave hcrin such
terror arose, sat down in chair, aid
| took the little creature between nv knees
a cold SWEET eovercd my body-and
gaze! with feelings unutterablc epen Che
! object before me. The cvns were o6en
| in vacant Stare. The flesh was color.
less, cold and clammt; nor d a tie chilli
appear to have the power of either
speech or hearing, rs it made no ATTEMPT
to answer any OF our questions. Tic
horror ofour minds was the more mtepse
as we ha watch our child through ito
sickness and death, and Ind been but u
few hours before es witnesses Of It's in
termant.
awhile gazing upon it, and asking in
my thoughts, What can tl;, ext,aor,ii-
nary providence m, IN ? for what can it
be sent2, The servant girl, having cropt
to the door, after a time, suggested, st
looks like Mrs.-'s child
"Now our neighbor Ind child about
the same age rs ours, and its constant
companion. But what could bring it to
our home at that hour and in such a
plight? Still the suggestion had opera
ted as q sedGtivo upon our excited feel
incs, and rendered MS more capable. of
calm reflection. Ard, after n time, wo
discovered in truth, that the grave clothes
were night clothes, and tho corpse 81
somnambulist. Anlit became manifest
that tie excitement attending the loss
an'! burial of IFS playmate, working upon
the chiid's mind IN sleep. was the cause
to which we were indebted for this WI
timely and startling visit.
Niping away the perspiratiun aud ia
king few long breaths, | prepared to-
| countermarch the little intruder back to-
its f6rsaken bed. Back we went, it keep
ing at my sile, though still asleep. 1t
had walked quite distance Across the
wet grass. i found the door Of its bone
aiar, just rs the fugitive had left, and it's
sleeping parents unconscious Of its abb
ser CO. The door creaked as pushed it
open, and awakened the child. who look :
cd wildly around moment, and thcw
| popped INTO bed
Now if it had not beeu for my wife,.
as have said. should, or the appear
ance Of this apparition, have made Is
leap Of uncommon agility from that win
dow; and after flight Of uncommon vcl~
Getty for a person of my are and tligm-
ty, should have been .eaay 70 take my
! oath in any court. either in Christendonr
or heathendonl, That had seem ghost.