The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1871-11-16

wing OF inc DullulHS -WHlCn why l
have before described. Nothing
more was said on the subject till we
met at the tea-tablc, when ! inquired
ofthc Doctor for his solution of the
mystery. lie cvinced no more sur
prise than his wife at my inquiries
regarding my mysterious visitor
lie said that he could really give me
no satisfactory explanation of the
phenomenon, and wound up the sub
icctin his reserved way by suggesting
thatit was not at all likely that would
be troubled in the like way again. |
left the table dissatisfied and annoy
ed. | had just fled from palpablc
pcstilcncc, and this seemed to be the
coming shadow Of it. However,
time wore on, and | saw no more of
what reminded me so strongcly OF
the Fisherman and the Gcnii in the
Arabian Nights, with the absence of
my vcxation, my good humor and
chccrlulncss returned.
My childrcn's chamber overhead
was II sort Of study and play-room,
where most OF their morning hours
were passed with book and pencil.
My youngest daughter inherited
from her father remarkable talent
for drawing, which had always en-
couragcd, for her development in the
art was really wonderful in one so
Young. loved TO sit in my little
parlor and listen to the merry pcals
of childish laughter called forth by
some mirth-cXciting sketch, or, more
likely, caricatlrc, for children nrc
naturally Satirisls. One morning |
missed the usual honest, jolly laugh
tor, and my ear was offended by an
uncouth sort Of gibbcring and gig
Cling, which was as offensive us 1t
was unaccountablc. | rOso to re-
prove my pets for indulging in such
folly, when they suddenly entered
my room, looking startled and
troubled.
Mamma" said Nellie, my baby
artist, "whlt is that funny noise
We heard it before, and I don't like
it, mamma, for just now 1t was close
to our door"
This piece Of strange intelligence
was confirmed by the elder girls,
and US had never known them in
their lives to dcviatc from the truth,
| confess | was quite Us puzzled rs
was the children themselves. They
had never before cNplc csscd fear OF
anything. Having them always un-
der nv own supervision, they had
escaped that dangerous association
with servants which so often forms,
or rather dclorms the characters OF
children. The ignorant delight in
the marvellous, and n story loses
nothing by repetition. ! have al
ways observed the more ignorant
the rclator, the larger the spectre and
the louder the supernatural footballs
always the accompanying horrors
Of Il servants tradition.
There is no horn fear in children
What they have never heard OF, they
certainly can never fear. | laughed
at the little ones, and then laughed
With them, at their underlined suspi-
cion of something startling and I'M
usual. But when after u while | re-
llcctcl began to think there was
something wrOng--somcthing
could not fathom-and | made up
my mind that, on a recurrence Of the
mornings events, would leave the
house at once. felt convinced that
some one was practicing on our ere
dulity, and | was determined that the
chirdrcn should be neither annoyed
nor terrified. Then The question
presented itself, Who is the nischic-
vous elf playing oil this farce, and
what the motive? Was there no one
save ourselves under tho roof, but
the Doctor, his wife and daughter,
and scrvant-maid, u stout, steady
Scotch woman, who seemed to live
amost entirely in the little wing OF
the house, and who, though evident
ly sort of servant housckccpcr,
looked to staid and sensible to in
dulgc in any prank of this sort. Be-
sides, she seemed too fond of chill
drCn, and when, on one or two OC-
casions, she had encountered my
"wcc bairns," as she called them, her
manner was exceedingly kind and
tender. | had always entertained
the utmost contempt for practical
joking, and to play upon tho fears OF
any one, especially children, was a
crime in my eyes never to be iorgiv-
en-. Now, then, what to do fer |
felt that something must be done,
and that Immediately. My suspi-
cions leaned towards the daughter ;
and as suspicion is always very mar
row and iIlibcraI, attributed her
reserve and melancholy manner to
thia extraordinary and unlccling
phase of monomania into which her
mind had driltcd. My resolve was
formcd. sent the children for II
ramhlc, (knowin2 there is no nerve
tome like fresh air and sunny skies, }
and prepared myself to sec Mrs.
Marston ut once. While making
some little addition to my morning
toilet, again heard the same mean
inelcss laughter. This reused me,
and | turned to leave the room pre-
when u sight met my eyes
which shall never forget. Stand
ing in the doorway were two chill
drnn, | should Judge from ten to
twelve years of age. The girl was
entirely without clothing, but her
beautiful dark hair, reaching nearly
TO hcr knees, covered her like veil.
Tho boy had some light garment on
y could scarcely tell what, for il
was in tattcrs. AS they stood, their
arms cncircling one another, |
thought never ochcld anything so
exquisite. AS soon as | recovered
myself sufficiently to speak, cx-
claimed, "Who are you?" In mo-
mcnt my lovely vision was dispcll-
cd a burst of idiOtic laughter was
nv only answer. In moment |
perceived the cause of the transfer
nation in the faces which an instant
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