New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-12-10
THE GHOST OF RUSSIAN HILL.

A great deal has been written about the
large trees, the magnificent scenery and the
vast gold fields Of California. Even it,
mammoth vegetables and delicious mutton
have had their honorable mention. IL
short. l do not know of much connected
with the country that we are unacqnainted
with. There's one thing, however, that has
not been told Of within my knowledge
and that is California ghost. The suhjec,
has at least the recommendation OF rarity
and perhaps it may be found to possess
some interest. For myself. give no opinion
upon the point: could not at the time; but
Twill truthfully and faithfully record the
story as it was said to happen. and was re
lated to me by the poor woman whose be
Lief at least could not be shaken in it, and
ever a portion Of whose life it had exercised
so strange an influence.
1t was the year 1854. and ] was living al
San Francisco. CHANGING to need some one
to assist me in doing some plain sewing, Mr.
Evans, one of the merchants OF the town,
and a man whose character tor benevOlence
was known far and wide. gave me the ad
dress of one Mrs. Adds. She was a superior
person. quite lady. he said, who had come
to California from the Eastern States, and
was reduced to live by herr own exertions.
He added that she had recently been very
i'll with nervous fever, was hardly strong
enough yet for the harder worl. Of washing.
which she had before been taking in. and
no doubt she would be glad OF the lighter
employment of sewing.
.'Washinsr' l exclaimed. A superior
person, quite lady, and reduced to take in
"Ay," replied Mr.. Evans, and thankful
TO get it."
Adds, climbing over the intervening sand
hills that lay between St. Annis Valley and
my more centrally situated home. The
streets were not then cut through OF paved
as they are now, SO the expedition was
quite a pilgrimage, and l was tired before
i reached the cottage Of Mrs. Adds.
recognized it by the description Mr.. Evans
had given: a pretty white dwelling with
green blinds, standing in a garden sur
rounded by picket fence, with an orLa-
mental porch, over which a green inc was
beginning to trail. All looked fresh aud
new; and it appeared she had not long got
into it.
A little girl Of nine was playing outside
with a boy OF three: other child, a girl of
perhaps six OF So sat, wrapped III asshawl,
watching them. She looked ill /; and indeed
there was delicacy about them all. The
moment they caught sight Of me, all three
evinced considerable alarm and ran indoors
In q minute, the eldest came out again, sent
said that must please excuse her for run
ming away, but she and little sister and
brother were shy and not used to visitors.
She was a gentle, pleasant looking child
but in her face there fingered an expression
a. Of some sudden fright and | thought it
must have been at me.
Mrs. Adds came to the door then. A
pale, delicate looking woman, with a sweet
face of suffering, and a refinement OF man
ner that uIprised no. 1t was next to im-
possible to believe that she could be doing
the work of a Common washerwoman. Alas,
l had not then the experience have &C
4uired since, Of what well-reare women
may be reduced to by distress, when exiles
in . foreign country.
The porch door opened into the parlor, |
and We went in. 1t was tidily, nay, lastly |
furnished, with such articles as sujourners |
in San Francisco would most readily pro-
cure. A fresh mating covered the floor.
Some cane-seated chairs and a round table
stood about the room. Besides. there was
. set Of hanging shelves trimmed with
fringe, and plenty of little ornaments and
souvenirs, bespeaking d1friendship and
loving parting gifts from the other side OF
the continent. All this. and the woman's
gentle manner and really pretty face,
seemed more and more ut variance with her
hard calling; but as ono sees these anOma-
lies in ne count, y, as California vas then,
l came at last to the conclusion that, what
ever circumstances bad rendered it neces
nary for Mrs. Adds to work in the way she
did, they had no power to destroy her
natural refinement Of mind, with its old
"You must excuse my little people, if You
please" she went on to say. They are
frightened hares, and fly for shelter 1T the
sight Of = strange face; indeed. we are none
Of rs strong just now, though we are gain
ng health daily. All. except Nancy, INV
oldest, have had a long, weakening fever"
"Panama,"I suggested.
NO" she said, and shuddered a little.
,peaking slowly. at was II nervous fever:
am lust recovering from it myself, having
lad the most heightened attack of the
hree."
And then remembered that Mr. Evans
lad mentioned it-a nervous fever.
What caused tf' | asked.
But " thus question Mrs. Adds made no
Inswer An unmistaka BILE shiver passed over
Ter frame, and Tor the moment thought !
ho was going to faint
~ beg your pardon" she said. IL have
een much shaken in the nerves; jal red
nd worried. 1 do hOp--I do trust thai
re shall al get well in lime, now We ale III
,is plessaDL aud peaceful house"
"Perhaps the house you lived IN before
rs damp"
mo. 1 don't think it was damp; it was
IT. that she sad, 1t was on Russian |
ILL.,"
Unhealthy, perhaps. in other waysV
.. Yes. Unhealthy-for u.s. and there