The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-04-03
and capable; but she turned me Off for
frightening the family"
WHoM 2v nsknl Mrs. CulNnrton

"How ?" asked Mrs. CulNcrton.
"Seeing ghosts ~ replied the girl
every day saws little child In white
playing about the house; and all sale
there was no such child there, thougl
there had been one once, but he wa
dead. Mistress said pretended to Sc,
1t for the sake of impertinence, ant
she discharged me but knew by hel
trembling that she thought had seen
ghost. | went to a doctor and he call
cd it optical Illusion, and it would
soon pass away; and sure enough,
have not seen it since left the house,
II was queer story; but Mrs. Cul.
verton believed t,and before she left the
office, had hired Jessie to fill Johannas
place, for the space Of one month from
that day. That evening she came and
went TO work with will.
Dinner time passed comfortably and
teatime came. The CulvertOns never
ate anything but biscuit or cake at
this meal, and cups were handed about
in the sitting room. Jessie came in at
the appointed hour with her tray, SER
we'd every one. and then stood smiling
before Mrs. Culverton as she said:
"Please ma'am, let me pass you, the
old gentleman has not yet been helped.
Yes, sir, in II minute"
"The-old- gentleman ?" cried Mrs.
Culverton.
ayes ma'am-bchind you in the cor
ner there, please"
"There's no gentleman, young or old
there" said the lady, 81 can't imagine
what you took for one.
The girl made no answer but turned
quite white and left the room. Mrs. G..
! followed.
At first she could eXtort no cxplana-
ton, but by and by the girl declared
she saw an old gentleman sitting in an
arm chair in the corner, who beckoned
to her, and she fancied in hurry for
his tea.
"What did he look like ? asked Mrs,
Culverton.
ale was thin and TALL" said the girl
this hair was white and very long,
and noticed that one ofhis knees look
ed stiff, and thick gold-headcd cane
beside him"
"Unclc Hiram y cried Mrs. Culver
ton, "upon my word you've described
my great grand-unclc, who has been
dead for twenty years"
Jessie began TO cry.
81 shall never kee a place." she said
"You will turn me away now"
'.See a. many ghosts As you please
she said, "as long rs you don't bring
them before my eyes" and went bach
to her tea without saying word to any
of the family on the subject, although
she was extremely mystiiied.
Surely if the girl had never seen he
uncle Hiram-which was not likely
considering that he had been dead ncar
ly her whole life tmc--she must hav
seen something in the ghost line; ant
ifindccd, it were uncle Iirain's spirit
why should he not come to aid them il
their trouble? Mrs. Culverton had al
ways little superstition hidden in he
soul, snd she soon began to believe thi
version of the case.
The next morning she went into tn
kitchen and shutting the door, said Il
Jessie:
"My good girl, do not intend to dis
miss you, so be quite frank with me
do not believe that these forms ar
actual spirits. What DO you Think"
81 think as you do, ma'am," said tn
and grandfather had the second sigh
for ten years before he died.
"Ifyou should see the old gentleman
: you told of again" said Mrs. Culverto
, ''be sure and tell me. I'll keep tn
story from the young folks, and Mr.
Culverton would only laugh at it; bu
you describe my dear old grand uncle
and my belief is you saw him."
The girl promised to mention any
thing that might happen, TO her mis-
tress; and from that day an interchang
of glances between them and subse
Quent conference in the kitchen was q
frequent occurrence.
The girl saw her apparition seate
on the sofa in the parlor, seated at tn
dinner table, walking in the garden
and so lite.like was it that she found |
impossible to refrain from passing plate
, and cups and saucers to it, to the IL
finite amusement Of people who SAY
, only empty air in the same spot.
, BY and by she invariably spoke of he
ghost as the old gentleman, and wa
no more affected by his presence than b
that of living being. II it wa an ol
+ tical Illusion ii was the most singula
> on record.
But all this while-ghost or no ghos
the figure never spoke, and never iii
, any thing to help the Culvertons i
their dilemma, and the lawsuit va
, nearly terminated, without the shado'
of doubt, in Jabez llardy's favor.
r In three days all would be over, an
4 the Culvertuns who had earned thel
! property, ifevcr mortals did, by kino
, ness and attention to their aged rel;
l tive-whom they truly loved and hoI
ored-would probably be homeless.
, one morning, Mrs. Culverton Al
= over her breakfast after the others ha
a left the room, thinking of this, whe
| Jessie came In.
a "I've something to tell you ma'am,
: she said. "rhere's IL change in the oil
, gentleman
| What do you mean" asked Mr.
, CulvertOn.
I've seen him twice at the foot of m
, bed in the night said the girl ian
though he always, before me, has bee
kind and pleasant looking, now
frowns and looks angry. lie beckoI
: me to go some where, and don't dal
in the night time.
~ kIr. al