Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1861-02-28
THE SIXTH SENSE.

conscious Of power. My dear father was
sick, and gradually y undergoing that met
cmpsychosis, which the shallow thinker
calls death. 1t was stormy day in Jan
uary; the snow had fallen two feet deep,
and i started for my home, eight miles
distant. My father had written to me
that he wanted to see me; he wanted to
give me Injunction after injunction, not
to forget my duties to him, and the care
OF wile-my mother He need not have
sent it. could not, never can, forget
him or her. His desire to see me, grow
ing out of a feeling that he might at any
hour pass onward and to give Inc conn
sci, was natural, but not necessary. But
his slightest wish was law to me; and l
started for home, as have said, on foot.
Weary walk-this drudging in an unbro-
ken snow path Before | reached the
door, thought my body would tire ont
completely; but it did not-l accomplish
ed it.
l ate my supper, chatted awhile with
my parents, and went to bed in my old
bedroom. My father and mother | left in
the kitchen, grati6ed at my arrival, and
proud of me.
fell asleep, awoke, rose and dressed
myself, came into the kitchen, took a seat
between my father and mother. They
looked surprised, and asked why left my
bed.
Said Has nobody been here since l
went to bed?'
No ....s..
We'll replied /, there ,OW somebody
come, and that is why left my bed-at
least nave dreamed there would, and my
dream is no allusion to Inc, but fierce
reality f...
My father smiled, as if incredulous; yet
said he asked no better or braver defen-
der than his boy. AT this Instant my
mother, very cautious woman, heard a
rap at the door, and stepping to it, as
supposed to inquire who was there, and
what was wanted, but instead, opened the
door, and in came terrible gust of snow
the night was hideous-a and with them
in marched a woman.
She walked half way from the door to
the fire when she discovered me, and ev-
identity took her aback by my presence. l
saw the creature Of my dream. l knew
that l was destined to struggle, and /
grew in strength as I looked at my dear
father and mother. She took chair,
turned her back to the fire, and seated
herself in the shadow. l kept my seat
and appeared to give no attention to her.
who are you?' inquired my father.
Whats that to you9' said she.
Everything, if you are going to stay
in my house, nothing if you are not
What if | will not tell you?'
Then you must leave my house.
Leave the housep exclaimed she, Il
should like to see anybody try to put me
out
'What if I call my men, and throw you
out, neck and heels?'
You have not got any men, they have
all gone home
How do you know"
Il enquired at the last house on the road
before / came here. 1t is Saturday night
and was told that your laborers all went
home, and that you lived alone
/ glanced at my father. He was pale,
but his courage ebbed not whit. He,
helpless, not able to get out Of his chair,
surmised strange occurrences, for he had
received not less than eighteen hundred
dollars that week from large wheat sales,
and he saw what was before him. This
hag was either decoy, or man in dis
guise whose object was robbery. l cosld
see that all this was rapidly passing thro'
my fathers mind, but it did not bow him
the ninth part of an inch. So | was still
as if l expected nothing but war OF
words. The hag had an old quilted hood
and an old BON bazine cloak, which reach.
ed to her feet, and was belted about the
waist
You are a woman? said father.
'Ofcourse am; what do you ask thai
question for?'
'Have you husband?
"Yes.'
where does he live?'
In Truxton.'
We'll, then, if you have husband
why do you not live at home, instead o
gadding about on such a night as this
fit only for fiends to be abroad?'
why don't you set the North Rive
on fire?' said she, leaping from her chair
and springing to my father at the bach
side of my chair, and kissing through hel
teeth, IN teach you why l am here
My mother screamed and ran; my faith
, er made an Intellectual attempt to get ou
, of the way, but instantly yielded, resolv
ed to take what awaited him; and wa,
out of my seat as quick as the hag, AM
as she passed me on her way to grappl,
f with my father, | struck her with my fs
blow under the ear, which, but for he
cotton hood, would have knocked he
down; as it was, it staggered her, anC
, gave me time to get the chairs out of th'
way, and gather for a fight,
She recovered, and looking at me for
moment, said, as fin soliloquy:
, 'Oh, you choose to cross my path, dc
you? Well, see if don't settle with yol
. pretty quickly and thrusting her hanC
. into her cloak, made a motion ss if sh
, would draw dagger.
The intention maddened me, and i
3 bro't foam to my lips. struck her hal
dozen blows, as quick as lightning. Sh
3 let her dagger go, and cenched me. He
grip satisfied me that ! had found my
e match-aye, more, in strength; and tina
my skill as a boxer, and my almost un
naralleled ability as n wrestler must saw