The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-06-04

work with will.
Dinner time passed pleasantly, and tea
time came. The Culvertons never ate any
thing but a biscuit or cake at this meal,
and cups were handed about in the sitting
room. Jessie came in at the appointed
hour with her tea, served every one, and
stood smiling before Mrs. Culverton, as she
said: N
"Please ma'am let me pass you, the old
gentleman has not yet been served eyes
sir, in minute"
"The-old gentleman ?" cried Mrs. Cul-
verton.
Yes, ma'am-behind you in the corner
there, please"
"There's no gentleman, young or old,
there" said the lady. 81 can't imagine
what you took for one."
The girl made no answer, but turned
quite white and left the room. Mrs. Culver
ton followed.
At first she could extort no explanation,
but by-and-by the girl declared she saw an
old gentleman sitting in an armchair in the
corner, who beckoned to her, and she fan
ced was in hurry for his tea.
"What did he look like ?" asked Mrs.
Culverton.
q" He was thin and tall,' said the girl,
CHS hair was white and very long, and
noticed that one of his knees looked stiff,
and he had thick gold headed cane beside
him."
&C Uncle Hiram ~ cried Mrs. Culverton,
"upon my word you've described my great
grand-uncle, who has been dead for twenty
years.
Jessie began to cry. 81 shall never
keep place, she said, "You will turn me
away now"
See as many ghosts as you please"
said Mrs, Culverton, "as long as you don't
bring him before my eyes," and went
back to her tea without saying word to
any one of the family on the subject al
though she was extremely mystified.
Surely, if the girl had never seen her
Uncle Hiram, which was not likely, consid-
ering that he had been dead nearly her
whole life time, she must have seen some
thing in the ghost line; and, if, indeed, it
were Uncle Hiram's spirit, why should he
not come and aid them in their trouble?
Mrs. Culverton had always had a supersti-
tion hidden in her soul, and she soon began
to believe this version of tho case.
The next morning she went into the
kitchen, shutting the door, she said to Jessie:
NJ x;r 81 I 1a ,,1
miss you, so be frank with me. do not
believe these forms are optical illusions-I
feel sure they are actual spirits. What do
you think"
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; I'll keep the story
from the young folks, and Mr.. Culverton
would only laugh at it; but you described
my dear old grand-uncle, and 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 glances
between them and a subsequent conference
in the kitchen was of frequent occurrence.
The girl saw her apparition seated on
the center table, walking in the garden;
and so life-like was it that she found it I'M
possible to refrain from passing plates and
cups and saucers to it, to the infinite amuse-
ment of the people who saw only the empty
air in the same spot. i.l't a9.l9-
By-and-by she invariably spoke of her
ghost as the old gentleman; and was no
more affected by his presence than by that
of living being. If it was an optical il
lusion, it was the most singular one on
record.
But all this while-ghost or no ghost
the figure never did anything to help the
Culvertons in their dilemma, and the law
suit was nearly terminated, without the
shadow Of doubt, in Jabez Hardy s favor.
In three days all would be over; and the
Culyertons who had earned their property,
if ifmortals ever did, by kindness and atten-
tion to their aged relative whom they truly
loved and honored-would probably be
homeless
One morning Mrs. Cuyerton sat over
her breakfast after the others had left the
room, thinking of this, when Jessie came
in.
81 have something to tell You, ma am, "
she said. There's change in the old