The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1881-11-05
AFTERNOON TALKS.

What a number of shilly-shally people
there are in the world-persons whose
yea never means yea, nor their nay nay.
| Parents are largely responsible for this,
and it is no exaggeration to say that the
world would be good deal better and
happier than it is if only children grew
up to the conviction that decision once
expressed was final. What trial of
temper and of patience it is to work for
undecided people, people who have
schemes which never fructify, vague no
tions of enterprise with which they de
| lude the unwary, weak in consequent
undertakings in which they involve those
who have not learned the worthlessnesS
of their decisions. Everything that
makes life more uneasy than it need be,
ought to be put down, if possible, and 4
crusade against undecided people would
be public benefit. The Quakers under
stand the value of an uttered bond. As
the we'll known joke against the visitor
who refused cake once, and later stretch
ed out his hand for it. to be met with u
quiet but firm, "No, no, my friend-thou
wouldst not have it when thou couldst,
thou canst not have it now from his
host, abnndantly proves.
There will be absolutely no need for
umbrellas this season; the penthouse
hat is coming in, and it IS guaranteed to
shelter the ground for half yard round
the wearer. No danger even from drip
pings.
The revival of an interest in ghosts is
strange as coming from England, where
| Spiritualsm has lately suffered an over
whelming blow. But plenty of people
who disbelieve in spirits feel a creepy
sensation at the bare mention of a ghost.
One of the best attested ghost stories is
that told by a highly respectable clergy
man of house on terrace at Hastings,
England, where nightly connections oc-
Cured which drove all the servants out
of the house. But the mistress, being 4
woman of iron will and great determine
tion of character, declared that nothing
should induce her to leave until her term
was up. Having help by the day, she
remained with her sons in the house, but
one day suddenly appeared at the house
agents and delivering UP the key, re-
quested to see the owner of the property.
She described what she had seen and
what had convinced her that the commo-
ton in the house had meaning. Pass
ing an empty room on the stairs, she saw
what she took to be white skirt hang
ing near the window; advancing to re-
move it, it proved to be a white figure,
which gliding rapidly across the room,
appeared to sink into the hearth. Twice
she saw and noted this, and convinced of
the truth of her own eyesight, brought
the story to the landlord. He told her
he had watched her stay in the house
with interest, as she was the twelfth ten
ant who had occupied it, the eleven for
mer ones having all left at moments
notice, complaining of noises, and several
of the appearance of a "white woman
that he had decided to pull the house
down and rebuild it. He further said
that before it came into his hands it had
been in the occupation of gentleman
from Barbados and a young girl known
as his niece, who had left him suddenly,
no one knew why. The old man had
died in the house, and he, the present
landlord, had bought it after his death.
The house was pulled down, and under
meath the hearthstone in the room off the
stairs was found the skeleton of Il young
girl and fragments of white garments.