The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1860-02-22
W0oDsFIELD MONROE COUNTY, OHIO FEBRUARY %, 1860.

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stairs; he with much hope, and I TO 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 woody in which Miss Hetty and
two of her younger sisters lay. Mr. Wes-
ley observing that they were much affected
though asleep, sweating, and trembling
exceedingly very angry, and, pulling
out pistol, was going to fire at the place
from whence it came. But l snatched
him by the arm, and said, 'Sir, you
are convinced this is something preternat-
ural. Ifso, you cannot hurt it; but you
give it power to hurt you.' He then
went close to the place, and said, sternly,
Thou deaf and dumb devil! why dost thou
fright these children, that cannot answer
for themselves? Come to me. in my study
that am mani Instantly, it knocked
his knock (the particular knock which he
always used at the gate) as if it would
shiver the board to pieces; and we heard
nothing more that night
"Til this time my father had never
heard the least disturbance in his study.
But the next evening, as he attempted to
go into his study, (of which none had the
key but himself wheE he opened the door
It was thrust back with such violence as
had like to have thrown him down How
ever, he thrust the door open, and went
in. Presently there was a knocking, first
on one side, then on the other, after a
time, in the next room, wherein my sister
Nancy was. He went in that room. and
the noise continuing, adjured it to speak,
but in vain. He then said, These spirits
love darkness, put out the candle; perhaps
it will speak, She did SO. and he repeat
ed his adjuration; but still there was only
knocking, and no articulate sound. Up.
on this he said, Nancy, two Christians
are on overmatch for the devil. Go all OF
you wn-stairs, it may be when l am
alone he will have courage to speak. p
When she was gone, a thought came in
his head. and he said, If thou art the
spirit of my son Samuel, I pray knock
three knocks, and no more Immediate.
ly all was silence, and there was no more
knocking at all that night. I asked my
sister Nancy (then fifteen years old,
whether she was not afraid when my faith.
er used that adjuration. She answered
she was sadly afraid it would speak wher
she pnt out the candle; but she was no
at all afraid in the daytime, when it walk
ed after her, only she thought when sh
was about her work he might have dou
it for her, and saved her the trouble
"By this time all my sisters were s.
) accustomed to these noises that they CAV
them little disturbance. A geuile tap
ping at their bed head usually began be
tween nine and ten, at night. They the
, commonly said TO each other, Jeffrey
coming; it is time to go to Sleep An
if they heard noise in the day, and sal
; to my youngest sister, .Hark, Kezzy, Jei
; fey is knocking above she would run u
stairs and pursue it from room to room
saying she desired no better diversion.
"a few nights after, my father an
mother had just gone to bed. and the car
die was not taken away, when they hear
three blows, AND second and q thir
three, as if it were with large oaken sta
j struck upon chest which stood by th
e bedside. My father Immediately aros
I put on his night gown, and, hearing gres
noises below, took the candle and wei
down; my mother walked by his side.
AS they went down the broad stair
9 1they heard as if a vessel full of silver wa
u poured upon my mothers breast and ra
< jingling down to her feet Quickly afte
there was sound as if large iron he
G was thrown among many bottles undt
! the stairs; but nothing was hurt Soc
e after, our large mastiff dog came, and ra
i to shelter himself between them. Viii
n the disturbances continued he nsed I
+ bark and leap, and snap on one side an
the other, and that frequently before ar
l. person in the room heard any noise at al
y But after two or three days be used [
e tremble, and creep away before the noi
,! began. And by this the family knew
q was at hand; nor did the observation ey
e fail.
'r "a little before my father aud moth
g came into the hall, it seemed as if a vel
q large coal was violently thrown upon II
=" floor and dashed all in pieces; but nothir
was seen. My father then cried out, 8
'e key, do you not hear? all the pewter
"a thrown about the Kitchen But wht
sr they looked, all the pewter stood in
e place. There then was loud knockir
d at the back door. My father opened
=. but saw nothing. 1t was then at tie 70
OF door. He opened that, but il was st
le lost labor. After opening FIRST the on
at then the other, several times, he turns
q and went up to bed. But the noises we
"a so violent over the house that he cou
: not sleep till four in the morning.
- "Seyeral gentlemen and clergymen nc
n earnestly advised my father to quit d
D. house. But he constantly answered, N
N let the devil flee from me; will nev
e. Aaa from the devil Rnt he wrote IN n