The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-09-03
THE GOBLIN RECORD.
BY JOS. G. CANNING.

BY JOS. @. CANNING.
Man, as we'll the lettered as the nm
lettered, is attracted by mystery. Will,
the educated one ridicules the extrava
gance and the unchecked wildness q
the ignorant brother in his persisten
chase after phantoms, he must confess
that the same ghost is playing wantor
with his own senses.
I have often been induced to investi
gate delusions, although convinced that
I was hunting a shadow, if not a silly
cheat To dissipate all ideas in one,
mind of goblins, haunted houses. and
weird noises has required more philos
ophy than has yet been accepted. And
so we must admit that if there is moi
cleverness in a mystery there is that il
it which fascinates in spite of better
judgment, and carries the Oj poLIoi be.
yond the control of reason, while
they listen with eager ears and excited
brains.
Tarrying at a friends house, I was
informed that there was an unoccupied
dwelling in the eneighborhood frequented
by unseen spirits. It interested me,
and I shortly discovered that his sister
was anxious and even willing to visit it.
I offered myself as an escort and pro-
tector, and was accepted. The uildinp
was called the Redwood mansion, for
merly the property of an old, aristo-
cratic family of the district. The last
inmates were two elderly ladies, sisters
of the Redwood lineage. For years
they had utterly refused communication
with the world, and were charitably
rated as eccentric. Their wants were
supplied by a slave of the butcher,
who pissed, at regular hours, all the
necessaries of life through the gate OF
the yard, and at each time found the
money and other orders. They had
been allowed their unsocial whims
through the indulgence of kind COM
munity and the esprit de corps of the
Redwoods until dread circumstances
broke the living chain. The rector of
the parish, while passing one morning,
was attracted by moans from the SOM
Der house, and forcing an entrance
found the eldest sister in dying agonies
and the other hurriedly pacing the
apartment in a state of frenzy. The
result was death of the one and the re-
moval of the other by distant relatives.
Such was the history given to me by
Miss Il. She added "I have such a
strange desire to visit this mansion,
however foolish'it may be-"
glory must have been as famous for its
grandeur as it was popular for it's enter
tainments when Col. Redwood with
his princely welcome was its courteous
lord. Now the walls were cracked, the
chimneys fallen, the windows broken,
and it's aspect desolate. I detected the
slightest tremor in the arm of my com.
panion as we pushed into its silence
The mold of neglect, the bat, the spi-
der IN her magnificent festoons, tattered
window-hangings, and general decay
surrounded us. We could almost i'm
agine the gibbering of uneasy spirits at
our bold intrusion as we passed from
room to room. Yet the stiffness of a
charnel house only prevailed.
" have heard, =" whispered Miss E. &,
"that there Is nm old desk, or cabinet,
which has never been removed. 1t
would be so novel and romantic TO find
it and search for relics, perhaps treas
ure." But no room contained it.
THE attic - she exclaimed. "Dare
yOu 60 up and explorer" ..,
"If you do not wish to accompany
me aud have the courage TO remain
Alone" was the reply.
90 Oh, then, gol But" her voice
trembled. Eyes go quickly and talk
10 me constantly. 1 will not go up, but
must know about it..
l assembled the creaking flight and
had informed Miss l.. that / was busy
at the discovered drawers, when a
scream from below startled me into
nervousness. It was from Miss E., and
instantly l was at her side.
" have had such fright" she said,
while the soft rose-like hue which
HnnRnH IN haVz aBnnEa IN
treme pallor.
6 An appa-"
Hush r. she whispered, with a fin
ger to her mouth. &C. know am fool
ish, but / distinctly heard-there
Did you not hear that ?-there I"
1t was even sol / heard footsteps
Keep your courage" 1 replied.
The noise of steps grew more distinct,
and fair head iell heavily on my
shoulder.
Sometimes it happens that a bright,
courageous idea takes the place of wan
ing hope and fearful uncertainty, acting
as pendulum to the giddy brain and
the shattered nerve. Such relief came
to my rescue, rendered MS I was, hOrS
ae combat, and Miss e. to support.
Angry as was, from the force of cir
cumstances, 1 laughedl Looking mp
wildly, then inquisitively, Miss T..
sprang from me, exclaimiDg: "What
is 1t then? 1 was frightened, and you
are cruel to make light of it !"
A dilemma / certainly was in. Ap-
pearauces were against me, but my
heart was not hard. had laughed
from thorough evaporation, for was
helpless. Could L have hoated away
with my charge 1 could then re-
turn and defy all the imps and goblins
ever exercised, and topple the wretched,
moldy, ghostly old shell into utter
ruins. 1t was at this crisis that large,
Eooly head, with protruding eyes.
uIsplay of ivory, and breadth OF up,
appeared at the door.
You black scoundrel I" 1 yelled,
DO you know how you havefrightened
CORY, massa Use right sorry"
Never mind, Sam, " interrupted Miss
T., " my wits have returned. I am so
g!ad 1t Is you" It was her favorite ser
want.
We we're to hasten back to accompany
party to Anemone vale, beautiful
spot beyond the town limits. 1 was not
sorry neither did Miss l.. regret the
Shange, nor the assurance that the gob-
ms OF the Redwood mansion were mol
now likely TO molest us. But did
you lind anything ?" she eagerly asked.
Wait and see T. was my answer.
The breeze was fresh in Amenone
ale, lovely in its carpet of the soft
mower which gave it its name.
There is a tint of mustiness about
and an ancient look" remarked my
inend. as he unfolled a manuscript !
handed him.
Well, there might be" replied hls
sister "It is snatched from the haunti
VI goblins-but Let Us hear il I"