The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1860-02-22

about twenty years of age. sitting in the
dining room reading, heard as if were
the door that led into the hall open, and a
person walking in that seemed TO have on
a silk night>gown. rustling and trailing
along. 1t seemed to walk round her. then
to the door, then round again; but she
could see nothing. She thought, 1t sig
niles nothing to run away; for. whatever
it's, can run faster than me- So she
rose. put he: book under her arm, and
walked slowly away. After supper, she
was sitting with my sister Sukey (about
year older than her) in one OF the chambers
and telling her what had happened. She
made quite light of it, telling her, I won
der you are so easily frightend, would faiE
see what would fright me- Presently
knocking began under the table. She
took the candle and looked, but could fud
nothing. Then the iron easement began
to clatter, and the lid of warming>pan.
Next the latch of the door moved up and
down without ceasing. She started up,
leaped into the bed without undressing.
pulled the bed.clothes over her head, and
never ventured to look up until next morn>
ing
"a night or two after, nv sister Hetty,
"a year younger than my sister Molly)
was waiting as usual, between nike and
ten, to take away my fathers candle, when
she heard one coming down stairs, walking
slowly by her, then going down the best
stairs, then up the back stairs, and up the
CARROT stairs; and at every step it seemed
the house shook from top to bottom. just
then my father knocked She went in,
took his candle, and got to bed as fast as
possible. In the morning she told this to
my eldest sister, who told her, You know
I believe none of these things; pray let me
take away the candle to night, and I will
find out the trick She accordingly took
my sister Hetty's place, and had no soon
er taken away the candle than she heard a
noise below. She hastened down stairs
20 the hall, where the noise was, but it
was in the Kitchen. She ran into the
kitchen, where it was drumming on the
inside of the screen. When she went
round, it was drumming on the outside,
and so always on the side opposite to her
Then she heard knocking at the back
kitchen door. She ran TO it, unlockd it
softly, and when the knocking was repeat
ed. suddenly opened it; but nothing was
to be seen. As soon as she had shut it,
the knocking began again. She opened
it again. but could see nothing. When
she went. to shut the door. it was violently
| thrust against her; but she set her knee
aud her shoulder to the door, forced it
to, and turned the key. Then the knock
ing began again; but she let it go on, and
went to bed However. from that time
she was thoroughly convinced that there
was no imposture in the aff.ir
"The next morning my sister telling
my mother what had happened, she said
If l hear anything myself, shall know
how to judge Soon after she begged
her to come into the nursery She did
and heard. in the corner of the room, 4.
it were the violent rocking of cradle
but no cradle had been there for som,
years. She was convinced it Was prefer
natural, and earnestly prayed it might no
disturb her in her own chamber at tht
hours of retirement; and it never did
She now thought it proper to tell my faith
: er But he was extremely angry, an,
said, 'Sukey, am ashamed ofyou. Thes
boys and girls frighten one another; bu
: you are woman of sense, and SHOULD
4 know better. Let me hear of it no more
"At six in the evening be had famil
:. prayers as usual. When he began tn
9 prayer for the king. knocking began a.
, round the room, and laundering knoc
attended the Amen. The same was hear
from this time every morning and evenin
while the prayer for the king was repeat
t ed. AS both my father and mother ar
8 now at rest, and incapable of being pain
ed thereby, think it my duty to furnis
the sericus reader with key to this Gil
Q cumstance. riA I
1 e"The year before King William dice
my father observed my mother did not sa
8 amen to the prayer for the king. Sh
e said she, could not believe the Prince {
Orange was king. He vowed he woul
= never cohabit with her uutil she did. II
:, then took his horse and rode away; nc
e did she hear any thing of him for twelv
month. He then came back, and live
i with her as before. But fear his vo
t was not forgotten before God.
;. "BeiDg informed that Mr.. Hoole, til
t vicar of Haxey, Gan eminently pious an
l sensible man, could give me some furtht
9 information, J walked over to him. II
I. said, Robert Brown came over to me. an
}, told me your father desired my compan,
9 When l came, he gave me an. account {
9 all that had happened, particularly ii
t knocking during family prayer. But th,
: evening (to my great satisfaction we ha
: Ino knocking at all. But between nine an
Q ten q servant came in, and said, old Je
e frey is coming, Chat is the name of or
o that died in the house,) for hear tt
lsignai.' This they informed me was hear
Q every night about quarter before tel
e II was toward the top of The house, o
:. the outside. at the northeast corner. r,