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


man.
~ hat do you mean?" asked Mrs. Gull
verton.
Il We seen him twice at the foot of my
bed in the night, said the girl ''and tho lgh
he always, before me, has been kind and
pleasant looking, now he frowns and looks
angry. He beckons me to GO somewhere,
aud | don t dare, in the night time
You must, said Mrs. Culverton Il
know he will come again and I'll sit with
you al night and 20 where you 90. 1t may
be OF great use to Us all Jessie
L Shant be afraid, ina am, if have
company, said Jessie, in the most matter
of-iact manner, and carried out the break
fast things.
All the day they never spoke on the sub
Ject; but, on retiring, Jessie found her mis-
tress in her bedroom wrapped in shawl.
Il IN ready, you see, she said. And Jes-
sic merely loosened some buttons and hooks
and lay down, dressed.
Ten clock passed d-eleven-twelve. Mrs.
Culverton began to doubt, when suddenly
she saw Jessie eyes diiate in most pecu-
liar manner, and, in an instant more, the
girl said: why here he is, ma amp
There's no one there" said Mrs. Cul
verton
"Oh,yes ma am see him, said the girl
He IN great excitement, ma am he 5
taking out his watch to look al, and the chain
is made of such bright yellow hair,I thought
at first it was gold -
His wiie's hair" said Mrs. Culverton.
1t was buried with him. You see old un-
Gle Hiram. Does he look at me?'
Yes, ma am, said Jessie.
Uncle said Mrs. c., do you know
me after all these years p
He mods, said the girl.
Have you come to help us-dear uncle p
said the lady.
Uncle Hiram was described as nodding
very kindly and beckoniDg.
He wants us to follow him, said the
lady, and took the light. The moment she
opened the door Jessie saw the figure pass
through 1t.
Mrs Culverton still could see nothing.
Obedient to the girls movements, Mrs C.
decended the stairs and stood in the library
The ghost paused before book case.
He wants me to open 1t, said Jessie.
Do so, said the lady.
He signs to take Gown the books, said
the girl.
And Mrs. Culverton' own hands went to
work. Book after book was taken down
novels and romance, poems and plays.
A pile OF volumes lay upon the library car
pet, and still the ghost pointed to the rest
till they were all down.
He looks troubled, ma am. He seems
trying to think, said the girl "Oh, ma am,
he's gone to the other case
And so, TO cut Il long story short, the
four great book cases were emptled without
apparent result.
Suddenly Jessie screamed:
He in the air. He's risen, ma am to
the top OF the case. be wants me to climb
up"
ct the steps, y Jessie, said her mistress
and Jessie obeyed
On the very top of one of the cases, and
covered by cobwe5s, she found an old Ger
man book, and brought it down.
This was there, she said. Mrs. Culver
ton took it IN her hand. and from between
the leaves dropped folded paper fastened
with red tape aud scaled.
The lady picked it up. and read on the
outside these words:
7te last leM and statement Of Hiram
Hurry"
Fora little while she could only weep and
tremble soon she found words:
Uncle, she said, in the name of my
husband, and my dear hiidren, | thank you
from MY soul. Does be hear me, Jessie?'
Yes he mods and smiles, said the girl:
VIII you let me see you,-uncle ? said
Mrs. Culverton.
He has gone. said the girl. He has
kissed his hand and gone
And 20 he had for good for from that mo-
ment he was never seen again 10y mortll eye.
Nobody believed the DRY of his appear
ance. But the will had been discovered,
without doubt, and the Culvertons were no
longer in danger of expulsion from their
old home. There they lived and died, and
J e,>ie remained uatil she married; and all
her life received every kindness from the
family, who were indebted to her singular
for their comfort aud happiness.
Whether Uncle Hiram spirit real came
back to earth or motifs question; but Mrs:
Culverton always asserts that it did, and
quarreed with every one who ventures to
doubt the assertion.