Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1893-01-20
THE SIGNAL OF DEATH.
1T WAS A STRANGE TAPPING
ON THE WINDOW.
A Low Moan as of n We nan In Distress
How Mothers Demise AZ
fected a Daughters Fami-
ly Many MI es way.

Something that has always APP
pealed largely to my credulity and
that / never could explain occurred
10 ne or rather to my vile some
twenty years back said j. L. Davis
to Globe Democrat reporter 1T
Is case OF genuine spiritual telegra-
ply asI deem it. I'll make a story
OF it My wife was one OF three chill
dren. and the only daughter will
say here and you will see how 1t
figures in my story later Oh. that my
wife was very attentive and hard.
work ng GIRL and | know that her
parents ed her the best OF all
Along about 1871 a letter came from
home saying that her mother was i'll.
but not seriously SO Still 1t worried
my wife "a great deal and set her TO
thinking seriously OF going home
again. The weight OF business and
family affairs had grown by this time
to such an tent that IL required
constant attention My family was a
large one ten children in all and my
wife was an excellent manager so
that in view OF the constant need of
her was seriously opposed TO her
going. ANY how she wrote a letter
saying that she would come home IL
they needed her; but that she hoped
all would be we'll without
"A few days after | mailed this
letter lit was in the winter time and
snowing-I came home from the mill
and prepared to enjoy myself as l
usually did OF winter evenings. We
had supper and my vile Strengthened
things. she put the children 10 bed
that is the little ones and we sat
alone in the sitting room was
reading my paper and she was knit
ting. rs she always did. before the
fire. About 10 O'Clock she stirred In
her chair and said:
Did you fear some one walking?"
Il SAID No for didn't. | felt ut
once that at was u queer question
for her to as for it was showing out
side rather heavily. 1t was one OF
those soft wet snow-storms and il
wou take rather heavy walker to
be heard ON a gravel walk. / said /:
why it's showing out You GER
ia My did not hear any one walk. ;
Just then sac said:
- Listen; some ones tapping Or
the window
" bah, a sale. half nettled at
what l deemed her odd fancies i
don't hear any one arose from
my chair just to satisfy myself and
her aud opened the side door to
which the gravel path led l looked.
but no one was there. IL was simply
showing heavily. and no boot marks
were visible i turned back fully
assured that 1T was all her magma.
tion. For II little while nothing hap
pened. l got interested in some
newspaper tale. aud she again rocked
to and fro in her char when all at
once | heard tapping on the window
pane My wife heard it, too She
stopped and looked at me with that
triumphant glance of there now; |
told you So coupled with wild-eyed
surprise.
We listened. II came again
once twice three times. | dropped
my paper and opened the door My
wife came and looked over my shout
der out into the darkness There
was not sign OF any one although
had reached the door quickly and no
footprints were in the snow. | re.
member saying. Well that 8 queer
and shutting the door. Then we sat
down TO d scuss the matter 1t was
rather serious discussion l assure
you. although was not and am not
now seriously given 10 Il belief in the
supernatural. We talked OF the mat
ter i dare say. ten minutes when all
at once my wife said:
= There it is again.
Before | could realize what IL was
a low. mournful sound came from
without, not from the ground. |
thought. but from the lower branches
OF tree that stood little distance
from the door IL was just like a
woman crying in most wocful dis
tress. Oh that cry was olnp'y aw
fuL 1t was Just long low human
wall that seemed TO contain the bit
terest sorrow. ] was almost DUN.
founded. thought my wife would
faint but she only sat, still. very pale
and looked at me. Finally got up
and went 10 the door. 1t was the
same story as before There was not
o sign OF any ones prosenco
MY wife took IL ut oncs for what
1t was--a token. She said she knew
something must have happened at
home. that mother was worse or dead.
but she could hardly think OF that
Four days later letter came To my
Office for her. 1t was not black
bound for they couldn't buy mourn.
ing paper that far out in the country
and maybe they didn't care TO. But
IL was from home and ! felt it must
bring news OF death. opened 1t and
sure enough it told OF her mother
end how at 3 o'clock on
the night that the omen
came her mother had died
from a sudden Inflammation. and that
her dying exclamation was oh!
want to see Sarah'-that Is my WHO s
first name. ! withheld the letter for
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