Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-08-24
A COUNTRY MYSTERY.

re I'VE among mysteries LI16 u
self is a mystery. Death with all
the light that has been poured on 1t
by revelation, is a mystery. Every
process of nature In the transfer
milton of invisible matter into green
vegetation, purple and gold and blue
flower and fruits, is a mystery. But
so accustomed are veto these wonder
full and inexplicable processes which
are going on around US that they
excite but little interest and small
surprise, while if an event occurs
which is out of the ordinary course
Of events in our lives or among our
surrounding, we are curious to know
all about it, and some such events
excite our widest curiosity.
five lived among ghosts, if intelli-
gent beings ofanother than our hui
manrace were constantly visible to US
gy night or by day, passing to and fro
among but not Of US, we should lock
on ghosts with as little wOnderment
as on the coming up of trees, the
drifting Of clouds in the air, the
return of spring-time and winter
An interesting illustration of this is
found among the cOlOred people in
parts Of the South. They believe in
ghosts or ''haunts, " and think they
see them frequently, so frequently and
commonly that they think nothing
strange Of such sights. 'Did you
ever see a haunt?'' 1 once asked an
intelligent cOlOred man. ooh, yes.
everybody sees haunts." Do they
frightenyo u?'' 'WhatshOulda haunt
frighten any one for? You see plenty
Of 'em all the time; They never hurt
you"
People are fond of minor mysteries
regardless of the greater mysteries
around them. There are few lOcali-
ties in which you will find existing
some special mystery, some occur
renee which has taken place about
which the local mind exercises itself
vainly to find explanation Ofthe why
or the wherefore.
Away down the valley beyond the
ErancOnia mountains is a clearing in
which are the remains of a cellar wall,
proving that a small house once
stood there. Equally strong proof
exists in the tangle OfcinnamOn roses
which annually perfume the air among
the thickets Of wild cherry now cover
ing the clearing, and in the few rotten
boards which crush under your feet
as you push through the thicket to
reach the trout stream which runs a
/ few rods behind where the house
/ stood. 1t is more than a half cen
/ fury since this house stood there. 1t
! was a lonesome spot, well up on the
/ slope Ofthe hills, guarded in rear and
on right Gnd left by the untouched
! forest, looking out in front over an
/ extended landscape. 1t was a mile
! from the next house, and nearly two
miles from the village. The house
! was old when a stranger bought the
/ farm from the man who had built the
! house and brought up a family in it
| and had then moved to the West
! The stranger was thoroughly a
stranger. No one knew him, or where
he came from, and still more import
I ant, his conversation, habits, tastes
and general style of life were wholly
strange to those of the people in this
locality. He had no employment II
common with the people. He knew
nothing about farming. He never
/ plOWed or cultivated his land. He
/ lived alone in the little house, whose
/ sparse furniture he had bought with
! it. He received letters occasionally
I al nn of J,
ably brought him the means of liV
ing, for he always had sufficient mon
ey for the purchase of the necessities
of life. He did hot mingle with the
people, but was nevertheless greatly
liked by the men because Os his kind.
lY ways, his occasional services tC
those in need, his valuable advice of
ten sought and always given witt
willingness and with ample evidence
that he was well able to advise
Years passed, and he had become
part Of the community, an important
part, too. The village minister, who
was q man of ability, fond Of studies
related to his sacred profession, was
surprised and delighted one day il
casual conversation with the strang
er to find that he was a scholar, ablC
to help him in getting at the mean
ing Of a Greek word used by st. Paul
by citing the repeated use Of The
same word in Greek literature. The
doctor, who like many country ply
sicians had been compelled to lead {
very lonesome life so far as intellec
tual cOmpaniOnship was concerned
found immense delight in passing
talks, brief but full of information
and appreciation, with the unknown
man. For he remained practically
unknown. Henever talked long witt
/ any one. HeWOuld exchange a few sen