Litchfield enquirer., 1864-03-31
FOR THE ENQUIRER. THE LOST RING.

to believe the strange tale ana about to re. late, which is substantially true.
 am no spiritualist, and have never really investigated the doctrine of the spiritualists but am confident there arc things my phioso. phy pever dreamed of.
 am not superstitious, though my marvel ousness used to be severely tested. will men. ton an instance.
 When I was six years old, and my grand. father sixty. I was taken to his residence to spend year, and then my principle compan
 ion and playmate xas cousin one year youn ger than myself.
 At evening when grandfather had had ! good frolic with us, and being tired would wish to be quiet, he would amuss us with stor
 es, ens of which I shall never forget He told of a brother and sister much attached tc each other but finally separated by death, the sister being the victim. John the survivor was described alone and lonely. In the dead O. night he hears voice, "Johnny, Molly's cold Johnny, MolIy's cold ]"
 The horrible tone in which this was uttered by grandfather and the fearful mystery involv ed, would curdle my blood, and cause that in defnabls chilliness of the scalp, that suppose ono feels when his "hair stands on end.' But 1 had acquired even at that age reputation for bravery that I would no forfeit by owning 1 or manifestng fear and when grandfather 1 would test oar courage by inducing us to go one at a time, into dark closet opening out of the room, and request us to stay till he call cd us I would nerve myself to the trial and notwithstanding he would croak in his hoarsest voice, " Jehany, Molly's cold, Johnny, Molly 8 cod,' would remain in the dark, till I was recalled. Nvt go with my cousin. He would rush into the room before the dreadful cry WAS scarcely uttered.
 it was foolish test, and wonder 30 sepsi- tle man as grandfather was, shou|l ever huve trisdi'.
 But all this is foreign to my story, enly wished to show that am not s sup p5's!it;ous coward.
 The strange tale ain to rrIst9 IS connected with ring that 1 cnce highly I.gizei. gift from very dear brother. 1t ''s, cog, rosed of five pearls. ensirced by :ns'v, little jets. Wken haI ehjaysd Hearia5 i! 1 .n,g or two,
 ons day went ia.o t:e ki:caets tu i,ake fl. jed cakes' Or 6 boiled cakes,' as ysu Isnkees say. q tEen lived ill Ncs loIk &:a;e, wh=ro We .:"dalged r ''ired cskcs.'} Ao. wishing the dough to soii ring, sIippsl ;l eff ny fa ger and pu. 1t on d shelf cf the cupboard, snd though that was in l8il 1 did not SC. it again til! 1t was put on my sAssr ass weeA, a the strange manner j .hn!! relate As it is now 'c4, you will perceive t'le ring had been miss. ing tven'y,hrce years. Soon after losing my riug went to OAio and enjoyed few months social interccursc with my eldest brother, and several very dear caa.ias, almost as dear aa dy own brothers. One of them was my early playmate, then a Gne youth of nineteen, and a college student, aGd another, his sister, young girl sixteen years old v.ho afterward developed into one of the loveliest young women ever saw. To hul ! told the story of my loss and she sympathized with and shared my regret. I have lost rings since, but none that regretted so much. A few years after that visit in Ohio, found myself a resident of Litchfied Co.,, once more, and soon after had the pleasure of welcoming that sister-ceusin to my home among the hills. But it was pleasure mixed with @ bitter alloy, for she was wasting with consump- ton and knew it perfectly we'll. once ven- tured upon hopeful remark to her. She look ed at me earnestly, but snlingly, and whispor- ed, (she could not speak aloud) Cousin I shall never se any better," and in tho spring ot 1851 she died.
 Reader did yon eyer look upon portrait till it seemed to start from the canvas instinct with life7 never felt an emotion more akin to fear than that used to experience when l noticed the eyes of q portrait hanging upon the wall of grandfaher's room, that seemed to follow me continually. It fairly haunted me, ! though the original. was an uncle loved next to my father. He was emphatcally "splen. did man," honored while he lived, and la. mented when he died. He sleeps among the corals of the Pacific Ocean, and the portrait of his youth adorns home ou the Illinois Prair ies. In his life he dld good service in the Mexican war, and were he now alive, one more powerful arm would aid in putting down "the rebellion but he was not spared fer that hop or, though his son brave lad of nineteen. dis tinguishsd himself at the battle of Murfrees boro aud WAS therefore promoted. He hac been the pet and protege of the lamented cous in before referred to. Left mother!ess at tn, age of two years, he was nrrtured by her mos ienderly and trained very judiciouslJ, but deatl would not spare her even to his necessity, ant he was deprived of her fostering care and love But when one friend failed another was read to extend motherly care to the little orpha yet never think of him without referring i'm
 mediately 10 Cousin Sarah. have never be
 hsved myself a spiritual medium, yet how els
 can one account for that which recently occu, red, and which | u;ll porv