Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1881-05-13


mas junketing; and, rs i was left ut
home alone, / at once determined to
retire TO the snug little study "a very
favorite resort OF mine. for IL was well
filed with books. Like most old
fashioned country-houscs, tho sitting
rooms were all on the ground floor.
The study had one window, the sill
of which was about five feet from q
gravel walk, which ran all along that
side of the house, so that any one could
readily have touched the window in
passing.
Having requested the maid to light the
lamp for me, was just following her
to the study, when was somewhats
prised by the girl running back into the
drawing room in state ofgreat perturb-
alton, and declaring that some one had
knocked sharply four times Mt the study
window; but that, on looking out, she
saw no one right or left on the gravel
walk; adding that she was much fright
ened and quite put out in consequence.
Thinking it some joke by n possible ad-
mirer, merely smiled at the girls
agitation, and betook myself to the
study for q comfortable read.
1t was n bright, clear. moonlight
night now; but heavy fall of snow
during the afternoon had covered every
field, road and path with its beautiful
mantle of spotless white; and n sharp
breeze was springing up which seemed
likely to increase to q gale. had
been reading barely half an hour, when
l was rather surprised to hear four or
five sharp taps at the outside of the
window, such MS might have been given
with the end of stick. Jumping up,
/ instantly threw open the window and
looked all around. Nothing was
to be seen but the bright,
frosty moonlight and the clean,
white snow; and what also noticed was
that the snow under and near the win
dow was perfectly smooth, untouched
and untroddeu; clearly indicating that
neither man nor beast had passed that
spot, or even near it.
confess l felt completely puzzled;
and not knowing exactly what to think,
l sat down again to read. l had not,
however, got through score of pages,
when tap, tap, tap again carried me to
the window, with exactly the same un-
satisfactory result-nothiug to be seen
nothing to be discovered. These
tappings occurred three different times
in the following hour and q half, and
delied my utmost endeavors to lind out
the cause. / examined the window
which was surrounded outside by ivy
and creeping plants-most carefully,
but found nothing. went outside to
each end of the house, and again OBJ
served that the snow was still untrod-
den and untouched. confess was
both surprised, puzzled and annoyed.
Here was an undoubted mystery, a
series of tappings, the cause of which
had, after close and careful investiga-
ton, totally failed to discover. 1t was
mystery, certainly, and one which
ought to be explained; but howp
In due time the family returned home
and after the ladies had retired, took
the doctor into the study and told him
of my mysterious experiences. He
laughed. and wagged his head incredu
lousy; adding, with merry twinkle oi
his keen gray eye, that he hoped, as the
night was so cold, had taken glass O
grog, and had enjoyed n comfortable
sleep in the coy armchair; mildly sug
gesting the possibility of my dream.
running in the direction of supernatura
sights and sounds; politely intimating
in fact, that had been asleep aud hat
dreamed the whole thing! This l a
once refuted by reference to the maid
who proved very willing witness, in
deed. The doctor seemed puzzled
shifted sharply two or three
times, took an enormous pinch o
smut, and then stood looking
intently into the fire; when suddenl,
tap, tap, tap, tap, loud and sharp at th'
window, caused lis both to run forward
throw it open, and look out; but, | neet
hardly say. with the usual result.
drew the DOCTORS special attention t.
the smooth, untrodden snow, and tolt
him had again and again examined
the window and wal both inside ant
out, but without effect.
"Well, Jack, it is certainly yer,
odd," said the doctor; "but as an
convinced the taps arise from som
perfectly natural cause. I'll stop here til
l find it out. if should stay al n hit.
We discussed the probable causes
tricks, cats, birds pecking. ETC., bu
abandoned our theories almost as 500
as started, until our deliberation, wer
cut short by the tapping being agail
renewed louder and sharper than ever
The doctor now nearly lost his temper
and throwing open both halves of tn
window Gt was q French, not sasl
window, fetched out overcoats an
hats, and proposed to extinguish tn
lamp, and to sitdown opposite the ope
window, and there carefully watch
This we accordingly both did. with a.
amount of patience and exemplary pei
severance never, perhaps, before exhib
tied by the most determined ghost
hunters, until, in spite of the blazin
fire behind us, we were nearly hall
frozen by the keen biting air and tn
wind which had now increased to
complete gale. At length, temper an
patience alike gave way, and as n
taps or manifestations of any kind ha
occurred, vexed and annoyed beyon
expression--for his open, honest natur
hated mystery and incertitude of an
kind-the doctor reluctantly closed tn
window, and had just slowly pulle
down the blind, when the tapping wa
again heard as vigorously as ever.
$50, sor' cried the doctor; "on
thing at least is clear-the taps, find
ale given ut the top of the window
Run, Jack, and fetch the bul's-eye Ian
tern-the wind is too high for candl
whilst get the steps"
Armed with the lantern, the docto
mounted the steps and closely exam
ined the whole top of the window bot
outside and In, but still could discove
nothing. Much irritated, he was abor
to give up the search, when, as he pro
jected his head through the open wiz
dow, he was suddenly aware of two @
three sharp taps on his forehead; an
raising the bulls.eye, he then disco,
cred n thick bit of stick hangin
amongst, but concealed by bunch {
ivy leaves which dropped over the to
of the window.
Here's the ghost he is-Pv
caught him. exclaimed the doctor
now in high glee; "but, to make dout
ly sure, let's give him another chance;
and closing the half of the window an
still standing on the steps, lantern
hand, he waited for the next "manife