Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1870-01-05
A 'Nysterious Visitation.,,

er and celebrate that holiday at the HON {
some one member Of the fsmily, from yes
to year. The l-ife-inspiring day and evenin
had been spent in b~estowing gifts, in feStivt
ties, Joyous sport hi laughter.
The religious services Of Sunday forenoo
had been attended, but the intense darkneE
and newly made mud had prevented a yer
general attendance at the evening service,
Quite alarge number ofSaturday's compan
who were not able to return to their home
the night before, had gathered at mothe
Harris, where they were TO spend the nigh
pursuant TO their leave for home on the fol
lowing Monday morning.
Mother Hart and relatives were pleasant
ly seated o the evening fire, engaged
in busy talk, she expounding with muei
esr~nestness h christian religion; ~recitinl
the enjoyment derived therefrom; the ad
vantages it afforded, and urging each TO
newnes OF life and action, as only n true and
earnest mother can.
Suddenly our attention was arrested by
singular whining, like that OF a dog at
closed door, for entrance. The dog was al
once looked for and found lying upon the
floor by the stove. The door was then
opened the dog whistle sounded, u nc
response. 1t was then thought that the
whining was not heard, when 1t was forgot
ten, and soon all again was wrapped in busy
conversation. We had not continued thus
long when the like whining wRs repeated
with an additional two or three abrupt
barks. As before, the door was opened, the
like whistle sounded but nothing could be
seen or heard save darkness n the quiet
patter OF the gentle rain upon the stone
steps.
= 1t was now nearly nine o'clock and some
Of the company had retired for the night,
while others were yet engaged I'm conversa-
ton. The singular whining and barking
had only ceased, when a most distressful
bowling was Sci up sounding in the same
direction.
We had read OF the 'dog howl" as being
~portentious or some great calamity. And
why might not this be ominous to a thus
happily united and hitherto almost unbro-
ken family; that death should lay her life
crushing HAND upon some one of its men,
bers, before the morning should come, on
that now, while just on the eve of separa-
ton. all would never be permitted to meet
together, and again 10 celebrate another
Christmas holiday.
The house dog was called and came from
the kennel. The noise could not have pro-
ceeded from him, IS the mournful bowling
still continued. 1t must be some dog in
distress : The lantern waslighted and two OF
three were sent out to ascertain what and
where it was. The shifting direction from
which the sound seemed TO come, led US for
s time in one direction Their in another
Twenty minutes or more were thus spent
when the search was given up and we re-
turned to b house. Meanwhile the same
bowling had been heard by those within, IS
distinctly n in the same direction as at
first, while 70 those without 1t sounded nigh
at times and then tosink away as tho COM
ing from a different direction in the distance.
A high spirit OF curiosity was now awaken
ed, and another and more thorough search
determined upon. A light was placed at
each outer window, while q greater number
than before were stationed about the house.
To each sentinel the bowling seemed to
come from the opposite side of house and
as each ran thither TO engage more directly
in the search, il resulted only in one grand
promenade around the house. And 10 the
anxious faces crowded ct the windows,
there could nothing he seen to pass the illu-
mination that streamed into the darkness,
from the light in the window. but the hasty
passage Of those without in their seemingly
silly pursuit after each other around the
house. The bowling did not cease, neither
driven TO a greater distance. Neighbors were
soon called in thinking It might be some
invisible messenger Of the air, and only
heard by them for whomA was prognostic.
But indeed 1t was a noise, and audible to all
alike. What could this be and what could
# means Were We sure that we were our
selves ? for we had never been taught to be-
Iieve in these mysterious visitations, and
gladly would nave denied this, could we
rave dom SO. It was now suggested as the
last expedient, thai the house be thoroughly
searched, for the brain had now become so
much entangIed in mystery that We could
not longer give direction 10 the sound So as
10 tell whether IT came from within or with
out.
The house was examined underneath and
on top. dow stairs and up stairs, dow Gel
lar Inc in every nook yes, SO exhaustive
was the search that V thec cellar drain was
probed, though scarcely large enough TO ad-
mid a rat, lest the mysterious creature might
there be concealed. The search had again
ended and only resulted in s%hrouding each
mind in deeper mystery. We had gathered
together and were seated p-romiscuously
about the room, each wore q ghostly air. and
was profound silence, save o and then
the mournful and distressful howl Of the
unknown.
Surely this was some spiritual visitant.-
Surely this must be the forerunner Of some
great misfortune and mean for none but
ourselves, andsurely must we meet it!
While sitting thus c~onfounded, to some
the sound seemed to come directly from the
stove. But 1t were vain TO think that anyliv
ing thing had concealed Itself there, for now
were it possible, even though the IRE had
much wasted away. But it may be hat the
sound is conducted through the chimney and
stove pipe. All, the chimney, forit has not
been searched; perhaps the unknown crea-
is lurking there. Perhaps some strange
bird had perched himself upon the chimney
top, and in deep sleep had fallen. No sooner
thought than q light was snatched and twoor
three ran up stairs, and placed their ear near
wher the pipe entered the chimney. Eight
or ten minutes were thus spent and no Soun
came. We had started down stairs, but no
had the stair doo been hut behind
than IL met our ears again. equally terri
BILE as before. The light was now LEFT below,
and we moved quietly, In the darkness, back
70 our former station, and there, after three
four minutes, In dreadfcl silence, the
same yet more distinct howl belched forth,
and the mystery was at an end. A Little boy
who was sleeping In the chamber, on q sofa
neal the chimney had lain down with his
head lower than his body, doubtless in con-
sequence Of which posture, he soon, after
falling asleep, had sunk into a species of
trance, and for nearly four hours had thus
been bowling,
In our previous search we had looked an
der the sofa on which he was sleeping, nj the
same time he asked, what we were doing
and why we lid not make that dog
get out" The light we had carried striking
his face. had disturbed him But while
in the darkness at the chimney, we could
hear his feeble words to thedog, then & short,
rapid breathing, which vas followed by this
initiated yet most perfect dog howl. This
was conclusive to n, but not to those below.
TIL they had seen and heard with their own
eyes and ears. The boy was Immediately
moved. his pulse wal so feeble that one could
hardly detect its ~throbbing. he was uncon-
scions Of pain, and had he not been detected
soon he would have growntoo weak 70 have
been heard, and dophtless would have died
before morning. But shaking, rubbing Of
arms and limbs, and soaking Of feet in warm
water, he gradually came out OF it in three or
four hours, but physically is yet very much
unstrung.
Had the boy been found dead In the morn