The Shasta courier., 1863-11-07
Supernatural Appearances

The following is one of that class Of ghost
stories which.are the least encountered with iu-
credible or impossible accessories, and it de-
rives additional importance from being narra-
ted by a. elear-headed, man, sceptic and a
iis5eliarer. 1t is, in "a t, no doubt owing TO
tie rery circumstances of the hard pllilosophic
turn of the attestor's mind that we have the
details less encumbered with those absurd lies
which are often added under the influence Of
terror, or of sn excited imagination
1t appears that, the conversation having TAX
en- a psychological turn, the lder gentleman
had been plainly asked whether no he be-
lieved that spirits coud appear. Instead of re-
plying, as had been confdent:ally expected,
with couple of monosyilables and little sar-
casm, he made some hesitating answer, and,
moreover betrayed such unwonted agitation,
that the questioner hastened to change the sub
jeet. He was, however, stopped.
Nephew said the old gentleman, earnest
ly, "you have touched upon theme very
painful to me-more so than you well IN
derstand still, am not altogether unwilling
TO converse upon it; and perhaps doing so
may somewhat lesson the melancholy impress
sion have conceived from Il circumstance that
lately befell me. Yes, will tell YOU; but do
not Interrupt me with doubts, suggestions, or
queries. All this have already done for my
self.
You know, well enough, that am not a
man giren to fancies. have dull habit of
regarding things as they are, not as they may
possibly be. | ignore probabilities, and hate
hypotbeses. The facts of the world have
found numerous enough to deal WITH let alone
contingencies. | make this confession, not for
the sake OF argument, but simply to enable
you the better to app eciate what ! am going
TO tell
You have been long aware Of the estrange-
ment between my brother George and myself
1t matters not for the cause. Blame, | am
afraid, attached to both of US. 1t will be suf-
fcieut to remind you that we parted ten years
ago, in anger ana that up to the time of his
death, last year, we neither saw each other, nor
held intercourse of any kind.
- One night, last December, | had gone to
bed, as usual about eleven o'clock, and had,
imagine, fallen asleep at once for | remember
ed nothing after getting into bed, till l was
awakened by something that seemed to be ly-
ing across my feet at the bottom of the bed
Supposing that it was Brush my dog, who did
sometimes gain surreptitions entrance into my
room at night, called to him and bade him
get down.
LAS my speaking produced effect, sat
not know if you will understand what mean
by seeing in the dark. Let me explain.
.If you go into totally dark room, where
there happens to be pure white object, you
will, after a time, know in what part of the
room it is and, if you are patient you will
soon be able to distinguish it from the other
articles. Again, if you are in the dark, and an
obj ct of light color is near you, however
minute, it will in a few moments become vsi-
BILE. You yourself are in darkness, yet you see.
The object of your vision sheds no light on
other bodies, however near. 1t is merely self
Illuminating. So it was with me, l could not
see the posts OF my bed nor the window, nor
my own hand and yet saw that man was
lying across my feet, with his Iace turned to-
wards me
have more than once asked myself how it
was did not conclude him to be a robber No
such idea crossed my mind. | was not alarmed.
Still, made effort to move, or question the
intruder; and it was assuredly from no super
stitious feelings, for the thought of anything
preternatul al never occurred to me until the
figure raised itself upon arm, and showed
me distinctly the countenance of my brother
George. Then, ! own, l felt awe-strcken-as
in the presence of something beyond our COM
prehension. knew that the spirit of the dead
was before me.
- / had not as | have said, seen George for
ten years. The familiar face was again
before my eyes, showing just the change that
period must have made The faint halo which
seemed to encirce the figure made perfectly
visible the lines on his face, and the hair half
streaked with grey. | saw him gaze earnestly
on me, and noticed his lips move, as though he
strove to speak. At TIE moment | fell back on
my pillow, and darkness shut him from my
sight.
n r to u
self, rose, noted the hour, and for greater GER
tainiy, knocked at my servants door and in
quired the time. did so for the sake of secur-
ing additional evidence that | had not been in
a dream.
" The precaution scarcely necessary. |
awoke, next morning, with clear remem-
brance of all that had transpired; and my first
act was TO write to my brother, asking him if
anything had occurred to him, and-flled, too
late, with the love | had before felt for him
asked hi;n to forgive my part in our quarrel,
and come and see me.
= Alas he was past earthly reconciliation
He had, indeed, expired the night his spirit
visited me. And, nephew, at ten minutes be-
fore tie time had noted down. George had
lifted himself family from the pillow, and, sup
porting his head on his hand, asked for his
dear brother john
It may be rs well to add that Mr. Hare ~
(the name by which the friend who supplied
this accident desires to be known) furnished
the most sutiicing verifcatons of the fact re-
la4a