The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1877-05-03
My Grandmother'S Ghost
Story.
BY NJ. W.


the old oak-panelled parlor, tired out
after long days skating, and tho
roughly enjoying the quiet and repose
and the comfort and warmth of the do
mestic hearth, in a sleepy, cat-like
fashion, when Jack, my eldest brother,
rousing himself with stretch and
mighty yawn, exclaimed, ''Why, girls,
how quiet you all are Are you quite
done up? Can't any one sing nice
pathetic ballad, or a good jolly hunting
song?-or can't any one of you play
something ?-No?-all too tired? Well,
who will tell us good ghost story?"
Rubbish, Jack! A ghost story
who believes such follies?" replied
Geraldine. We are quite above such
nonsense in these practical matter-of-
fact days"
"Ah," replied Jack, with a long
drawn sigh, sis there no faith left on
the earthy Oh, these degenerate days
Are all the charming tales we used to
shudder at so delightfully."- in the days
of our childhood utter bosh docs not
one amongst us, in his or her secret
soul, nurse fond, lingering, uncon-
tessed belief in the shadowy world of
ghosts, hobgoblins, fairies or spirits ?"
81 do" interrupted our grandmother,
shortly.
"You, granny" exclaimed a chorus
of astOnished voices.
Eyes, children, / do" replied the
old lady, looking at us over her spec
tacles in very dignitied manner.
Now, my grandmother was the last
person should have accused of believ-
ing in the supernatural. A strong
minded, strong-bodied old lady, some
what on the wrong side of seventy;
practical and matter-of-fact to fault;
handsome still in her old age; and the
clear-cut nose and brow, and decided
mouth and chin, forbade the notion of
weakness or credulity being leading
features in her character.
"YOu believe in ghosts, grandma ?"
said little Alice at length; land in
fairies, too?"
"In wraiths, corpse lights, and
fetiches ?" laughed Geraldine.
"Nay-I did not say that" replied
my grandmother. "You make too much
Of my confession of faith. | merely
said believe in ghosts; and l do"
"WhyY" we all exclaimed, with one
voice.
Because answered the gentle
lady, 81 have seen what ] firmly be-
Eeve to have been spirit from the
other world"
"Oh ~ exclaimed Alice, in a voice of
awe; "tell us about it grandma, please,
dor" And we all joined eagerly in
the request.
"Well, my dears," said the old lady,
after little hesitation, taking off her
spectacles, and laying down her knit
ting, 81 will relate to you my one sole
experience of the spiritual world.
Though the event | am going to tell
you about, happened more than fifty
years ago, ii is as fresh in my mind as
if it had only taken place yesterday.
No lapse of time will ever deaden or eff
face the impression it made on me,
Fifty-three years ago | was young
girl of eighteen years old. l was
tall, strong, active lassie, fond of rid
ing, hunting, fishing, and all country
sports and pastimes. | could dance
down any one in the country side, lead
the hunt in my own county, and was
never known to turn aside for the stiff
est fence, or to refuse the broadest
ditch. Fear was an unknown sensa-
ton to me. | did not know what nerves
meant, and headaches were strangers to
me. was full of health, strength, and
spirits. | was not bad-looking, either,
in those days" added the gentle lady,
with sigh, and glancing at Geraldine,
who our father had often told us, was
the image of what he remembered his
mother IN the days of his own child
hood. 81 had many offers, and not
few admirers. | never cared but for
one of them, children, and he was your
grandfather. "Ah, what years ago it
seems" and my grandmother paused
Il moment, and wiped her eyes.
Well, when ] was just about eighteen
went to pass a couple of months with
your grandfather's uncle at Gayton
Castle. 1t was long time before the
fire which afterwards destroyed the
west wing took place, and no one who
has not seen the Castle before that hap
pened can imagine what perfect spec
linen of medieval architecture 1t then
was.
1t made great impression on me, /
remember, as / drove up to 1t for the
first time one afternoon early in De-
cember. The rays of the setting sun
glistened on the windows, and caused
the stained glass to glow and sparkle
like jewels in their light; long avenue
of beeches led to the Castle gate, through
finely wooded park, and in the dis
tance long range of mountains stood
out, clear and distinct, against the sun
set sky.
A large party Of visitors were as
sembled at the Castle--quite thirty of
us ] should say, and merry time we