The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-03-01
GASPAR.
From Robert Dale Owens "foOtfalls on the Boun
Diary of another World"

AT Dorchester, few days since, l acci-
dentllly met, at the house ola banker in
that city, lady whom had not previously
known: and from her LIPS heard story of
a character 50 extraordinary that no com
mon place voucher for the yeracity OF the
narrator would suffice, in the eyes of most
people, to establish its authenticity.
''Nor was il an ordinary testimonial which
on applying to our host, he furnished to me.
lIe had known the lady for moro than thr-
ty years. so great is her truth Inc added,
so easily proved is her uprightncss, that l
cannot doubt that she herself believes what
ever she says Blamelcss in her walk and
conversation, he regarded it as an incredible.
ity that she should seek 10 deceive.
of strong mind, and intelligent upon oil
subjects, it seemed almost as difficult for him
10 imagine that the narrative he had himself
frequently heard FROM her lips-clcar and
circumstantial Us it was-shu should have
been self.decciver.
..AIy own observation Of the lady, stranger
as she was to mo, confirmed everything which
her friend the banker had told inc in her
favor. There was in her E,co and manner,
even in the tones of her voice, that namclt rs
something, rarely deceptive, which carries
conviction OF truth. As she repeated the
story, could not choose but trust to her
sincerity; and this the rather because she
spoke with evident reluctance. 1T was rare
w. the banker said, .that she could be pre-
vailed ON to relate the circumstanccs-her
hearers being usually sceptics, more disposed
To laugh than sympithize with her,
add to this, that neither the lady nor
the banker were believers in Spirtualism,-
having heard, us they told me, next to moth.
ing on the subject
II commit no breach Of confidence in the
following communication. III you speak OF
this natter said the lady to me, Il will ask
YOU To suppress the name OF the place IN
France WHERE the occurrences took place.
This have accordingly done. ! may add
that the incidents here related had been the
frequent subject Of conversation and COM
ment between the lady and her friends.
About the year 1920 she said, we were
rsidng at the seaport town oi-,in France,
having removed thithcr from onr residence
in Suffolk. Our family consisted OF my
father, mother, sister, young brother about
the age of twelve. and myself, together with
an English servant. Our house was in u
lonely spot, on the outskirts of the town,
with a broad, open beach around itand with
no other dwelling, nor any outbuildings,
in it, vicinity.
.One evening my father saw, seated on q
fragment of rock onlya few yards from
his own door, figure enveloped in large
cloak. Approaching him, my father bid him
good evening" but, receiving no reply, he
turned to enter the house. Before doing 30
however, he looked back, and To his very
great surprise, could see no one. His aston
ishment reached its height, when on return
ing to the rock where the figure had seemed
seated, and searching all around it, he could
discover no trace whatever of the appearance,
although there was not the slightest shelter
near where any one could have sought con-
cealment.
'On entering the sitting room, he said,
children, | have seen ghost;'--at which,
as may be supposed, we all heartily laughed.
That night, however, and for several sue
cceding nights, We heard strange noises in
various parts Of the house-sometimes re-
sembling means underneath our window,
sometimes sounding like scratchcsagain,t the
window frames, while at other times II SEEM
cd as II number of persons were scambling
over the roof. We opened our window again
and again, calling out TO know IL any one
were there, but received no answer.
.Aiter some days the noises made their way
into our bedroom, where my sister and my
self (she twenty and eighteen years oil aSe)
slept together. We alarmed the house, but
received only reproaches, our parents be
lieyeing that we were affected by silly fancics.
The noises in our room were usually knocks
sometimes with the space perharsofa minute
between each.
AT length our parents also heard both
the knockings in our room and the noise out
| side. and were fain to admit that 1t was not