Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1868-02-12


| but she put the usual questions and receiv
ed the most satisfactory answers, except as
| to references
But | can t employ you without refer
ence, said Mrs. g., knowing that fate had
decreed hat this girl should take place In
her kitchen.
IF you can't l must out with it., said
the girl. There's my ady's name, ma am.
She will tell you am honest and capable
but she turned Inc off for frightening the
family.
''How?'' asked Mrs. Culyerton.
Seeing ghosts - replied the girl "Ev-
cry day saw little child in white playing
about the house and all said there was no
once, but he was dea J. Mistress said |
pretended to see it for the sake of imperti-
nence, and she discharged me; but | knew
by her trembling that she thought | had
seen ghost. | went to a doctor and he
called it optical delusIon, and it would soon
pass away and sure enough, L have not
seen it since | left the house.
1t was queer story; but Mrs. Culverton
believed it, and before she left the Office, had
hired Jessie t. fill Johanna's 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 tea
time came. The Culvertons never ate any
thing but biscuit or cake at this. meal,
and cups were handed about 10 the sitting
room. Jessie came in at the appointed
hour with her tray, served 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 a minute.
''Ihe-old- gentleman cried Mrs. Cul-
vert0n.
Yes ma aul-behind you in the corner
there, please.
There's no gentleman, young or old,
there, said the lady. L cant imagine
what you took for one. y
The girl made no answer but turned quite
white and left the room. Mrs. e. followed.
At first she could extort no explanation.
but by and by the girl declared she saw an
old gentleman sitting III an arm chair IN
the corner, who beckoncd to her, and she
fancied in hurry for his tea.
.'What did he look ike?" asked Mrs
Culverton.
He was thin and tall, said the girl
''his hair was white aud very long. and |
noticed that one of his knees looked stiff,
aud thick gold headed cane beside him.. >
Uncle Hiram % cried Mrs. Culverton,
upon my word you We described my great
grand uncle, who has been dead for twenty
years
Jessie began to cry.
Il shall never keep place, she said
"YOu will turn me away now.
See as many ghosts "a YOU please, she
said, las long as you don t bring them be-
tore my eyes, and went back to her tea
wii hout saying word to any Of the family
1r 10 c,,i,iaot al- h0urb ha w 10
mystifed.
Surely ifthe girl had never seen her uncle
Hiram-which was not likely, considering
that he had been dead nearly her whole life
time-She must have seen something IN the
ghost line and if indeed. If were uncle Hi
rams spirit, why should he not come to aid
them in their trouhle? Mrs. Culverton had
always "a little superstition hidden in her
soul, and she soon began to believe this YER
sion Of the case
The next morning she went into the kitch
en- and shutting the door, said to Jessie:
My good girl, do not intend to dismiss
you, so be quite frank with me. | do not
believe that these forms are optical illusions.
feel sure that they are actual spirits.
What do you think p
Il 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 -
IF you should see the old gentleman you /
told of again, said Mrs. Culverton, "be /,
sure and tell me. III keep the story from !
the young folks, and Mr.. CuIverton wou;d |
only laugh at it; but you describe my dear |!
old grand uncle, aud my belief is you saw
him -
The girl promised to mention anything |
that might happen, to her mistress; and /
from that day an interchange OF elances be- |
tween them and Il subsequent conference in |
the kitchen was of fr quent occurrence.
The girl saw her apparation seated on the !
sofa In the parler, seated at the dinner ta
ble, walking in the garden, and so self like
was it that she found 1t impossible to re-
frain from passing plates and cups and sau
GERS to it, to the infinite amusement of peo-
pie who saw only empty air III the same
spot.
By and by she invariably spoke of her
ghost as the old gentleman. and was more
affected by his presence than by that of a
living being. If it was an optical illusion 1t
was the most singular on record.
But all this while ghost or no ghost
the figure never spoke. and never did any
thing to help the Culvertons In their dilem-
without the shadow of a doubt, in Jabez |
Hardy's favor
In three DAYS all would be over, and the
Cnlvertons who had earned their property;
if ever mortals did, by kindness and atten-
ton to their aged relative-whom they tru-
" loved and honeIed-would probably be
home less.
One morning, Mrs. Culverton sat over
her breakfast after the others had left the |
room. thinking of this, when Jessie came in. |
i've something to tell you ma 'am, she