Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-10-29
Nonth's Golninn.
NOT A GHOST.

habit, during my holidays, of spend
ing a long time at certain intervals
with my grandfather, who was an
eminent surgeon. One day the old
gentleman, while going his rounds,
caught a severe cold, which confined
him to bed. Unfortunately his illness
proved more serious than at first ex-
pected, and in few days he was no
more. / went from home with my
parents, a distance of thirty-two
miles, to attend the funeral. As we
were compelled to stay the night
after the funeral at the house, | was
asked if | should be afraid to sleep
in the bed in which my grandfather
died; an idea which Indignantly
repudiated. Considering l was only
a boy of fourteen, my consenting to
sleep in the room was, under the cir
cumstances, somewhat courageous.
/ retired to rest at the usual time, no
doubt with my thoughts full of stories
I had heard read about ghosts and
ghostly visitants. The bed was
huge old-fashioned four-poster, with
heavy curtains hung on rings, which
ratified with every movement of the
bed, and was, at the time of which l
am writing, highly aristocratic bed
stead.
undressed and got into bed, de-
voutly hoping that my slumbers might
not be disturbed by the appearance
of any spiritual visitor. The curtains
near the head of the bedstead being
partially drawn, by turning my read
in either direction my gaze rested on
them. These curtains seemed, to nv
already half-terrified fancies, to be
hiding places for any number of
ghosts, all ready to confront me.
However. l at last fell asleep.
My repose was of troubled ma
ture. | fancied / heard strange
noises in the room, but at any rate I
awoke after being asleep a short
time-I suppose about two or three
o'clock IN the Notwithstanding 1
heard the curtain rings rafting. /
thought it must be my agitated state
of mind which caused this idea. I'M
agine, then, my horror and fright
when l saw, by the faint glimmer of
the now expiring fire, that the cur
tain on one side of the bed was be-
ing forcibly jerked aside by some I'M
seen hand. L trembled from head to
foot, and covered beneath the blank
cts, expecting hardly knew what.
Again and again did this unseen
hand jerk the curtain. 1t could not
have been trick of the imagination.
L was unable to cry out, even if ]
had been inclined to do so. At last,
after having given about half doz-
en- angry jerks, Intellectually as re-
CARDS pulling the curtain aside, l was
left to enjoy such rest as 1 could rea-
sonably expect to get before morn.
ing.
Never was daylight more eagerly
welcomed by anybody than it was by
me that morning. With the earlies
dawn l sprang out of bed-feelins
Drawer than had done a few hours
Beforehand proceeded first to dress
and then to examine my room, in or
der to ascertain if possible by wha
means my ghostlY visitor had mad
his entrance and exit. The door wa
securely locked, as 1 left it the nigh
before; and there was no slidin,
panel or anything of the sort whic
could have admitted anybody.
then turned toward the window, bu
that, too, was fastened; and I con
fess gave the affair up as inconl
prehensible.
went down stairs more thorough
ly impressed with regard to night Wis
itants than I remember ever to hav
been before. My pre-occupied air
for l was debating whether or not t
mention my adventure attracted a
tention, and drew forth many ques
to all of which replied with ver
guarded answers. At last I told tt
whole story, adding that l never b,
lieved in ghosts before, and shoul
like to find out the truth of this on
My story seemed to them incredible
But at last in spite of the solen
proceedings we had witnessed,
smile stole over the face of my gran,
mother. 1t was quickly suppresse
and she said, II think / can expla
the mystery, young gentlemen let
come and try
We all followed the old lady +,
stairs into the room where I b;
passed the night. She went to t
side of the bed and pointed to t
curtain rings. We then saw the e
PLANTATION of the whole matter, viii
was as follows:
My grandfather was, as l ha
said, very celebrated in his day, a
consequently, had large practic
His night-bell, in order not to d
turb the other inmates of the hou.
was hung in his room close by
side. When the old gentleman W
taken ill, absolute silence was {
joined. This bell, therefore. "
taken down, and the wire fastened
the curtain rings. On the night
question, some young men, strang
in fha ,1looo ooI