Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-12-07

this meal, aud cups were handed around
about the sitting room. Jessie came in
at the appointed hour with her tray,
served everyone, aud then stood smiling
before Mrs. CulvertOu, as she said
Please ma'am let me pass you, the
old gentleman has not been helped.
Yes, sir, III a minute.
&" he-old-gentleman !" cried Mrs.
Culverton.
" Yes ma'am-behind you in the cor
ner-there, please.
There's no gentleman, young or
old, there" said the lady. /" I can't
imagine what you took for one"
The girl made no answer, hut turned
quite white and left the room. Mrs.
c. followed.
at first, she could extort no explana-
ton, but by and by the girl said she
saw an old gentleman sitting In the arm
chair in the corner, who beckoned TO
her, and she fancied In hurry for hls
tea.
What did he look like ?" asked
Mrs. CulvertOn.
1" He was thin and tai, said the girl
=" his hair was white and very long,
and noticed that one OF his knees
looked stiff, and thick gold headed
cane beside him."
A." Uncle Hiram - cried Mrs. Gull
verton, " upon my word you have de-
scribed my great grand uncle, who has
been dead for twenty years.
Jessie began to cry.
"I shall never Keep a place, she
said. - You will turn me away now. !"
" See as many ghosts as you please,
she said, . as long as you don't bring
them before my eyes" and went back
TO her tea without saying word to any
of the family on the subject, although
she was extremely mystihed.
Surely; if the girl mad ever seen her
uncle Hiram-which was not likely
she must have seen sOmtehing in the
ghost line, and if indeed it were uncle
Hiram's spirit. why should he not come
to aid them in their trouble Mrs
Culvarton had always had little super
stition hidden in her soul, and she
soon began to believe this version of
the case.
The next morning she went to the
kitchen, aud shutting the door, SAID to
Jessie
''AIy good girl, 1 do not intend TO dis
miss you, so be quite frank with me. L
do not believe that these forms are OPP
tical illusions. l feel sure that they
are actual spirits. What do you
think?"
81 think as you do, ma'am," said the
girl. ''Our folks have always seen
ghosts. and grandfather had the second
sight for ten years before he died"
s'If You should see the old gentleman
YOU told me of again." said Mrs. Gull
verton, be sure and tell me. I'll keep
the story from the young folks, and MIR.
CnlvertOn would only laugh at it; but
Won described my dear old grand uncle,
and my belief is you saw him.
The girl promised to mention any
thing that might happen to her mistress;
and from that day an interchange of
oIances between them and subsequent
Conference in the kitchen was of regu-
lar occurrence. q,
The girl saw her apparition seated
on the sofa in the parloT, seated at the
dinner table, walking in the garden;
and so life like was 1t that she found 1t
impossible to refrain from passing
plates and cups aud saucers to 1t, to the
infinite amazement of people who saw
only empty sir in the same spot.
By and by she invariably spoke OF
her GHOST as the old gentleman; and
was no more affected by his presence
than by that of living being. If it were
an optical illusion, It was the most singu-
| lar on record.
But all this while-ghost or no ghost
tho figure never spoke, and never did
ANYTHING to help the CulvertOu's IN
their dilemma, and the lawsuit Yves near
II ~ terminated without the shadow of a
6oubt in Jabez Hardy's favor,
In three DAYS all would be over, and
the CIuIyerton's, who had earned their
oroperty, if ever mortals did, by kind
ness and attention to their aged rela
Itives-whom they truly loved and hon
ored-w would probably be homeless.
One morning Mrs. Culverton sat over
her breakfast after the others had left
the room, thinking of this, when Jessie
came IN. :,
eve something to tel you ma'am,
she said. There's a change In the old
gentleman"
"What do ycu mean?'' asked Mrs.
Culverton.
GIVE seen him twice at the foot OF
nv bed in the night" said the girl,
s'and though always before he has been
kind and pleasant looking, now he
frowns and looks angry. He beckons
to me to go somewhere, and L don't
dare-in the night time.
"You must" said Mrs. Culverton; 81
know he'll come again; and III sit with
YOU all night and go where you go. 1t
NAV be of great use to us all, Jessie. "
sI shan't be afraid ma'am. if have
COMPANY" said Jessie, IN the m, 81
matter of fact manner, and carried out
the breakfast things.
ALI day they never spoke on the sub
liect, but on retiring Jessie found hel
mistress in her bedroom wrapped in q
shawl.
"I'm ready, You see, +" che said. And
Jessie merely loosened some buttons
and hooks. aud lay down dressed.
Ten O'Clock passed-eleven-twelye.
Mrs. Culverton began to doubt, when
suddenly she saw Jessie's eyes dilate IL
a most peculiar manner, and in an In
s aut more the girl said:
why here he is, ma'am."
''There's no one there" said Mrs
Culyerton.
"Oh, yes, ma'am, see him." SAID
the girl. He's III great excitement
ma'am; he's taking out his watch Il
to look at, and the chain is made OF
such bright yellow hair, L thought a
first it was gold. "
''His wife's hair" said Mrs. Culver
ton. ut was buried with him. YoI
see dear old uncle Hiram. Does b,