Daily Kennebec journal., 1897-08-17
CROOKED ms FINGER,
Did Moses Farmers Ghost When Addressing Z
College Professor.

L
lege, a well-known electrician and scien-
tist. had an uncanny experience with
what he supposes was the ghost OF
Moses G. Farmer not long ago.
Professor Dolbear was at Bitter
Sweet. near Elliot, Me-. place for
many years the residence of Mr..
Farmer and his wife, and was the guest
of Miss Farmer. Mr.. Farmer was a
pioneer electrical inventor. 1t was at
the convention of electrical engineers
just held in Elliot, Me-, that Professor
Dolbear told the story of his ghostly
experiences.
The old Farmer house is full of re-
minders and mementoes Of the inventor
and his wife. There are splendid por-
traits in oil of both in the library, where
there is fine collection of the books
which were his constant companions.
The desk at which he worked still
stands beside his favorite window, and
the chamber where his wife slept and
died remains undisturbed today.
On the second floor of the old house
there is chamber with seven doors,
all alike, finished in the natural wood,
with white china door knobs. 1t was
in this room with seven doors that Pro-
fessor Dolbear saw the apparition Of
the former owner and occupant of the
house.
"Niss Farmer and l had been talk
ing of Mr.. Farmer" said Professor Dol
bear, land when I went to bed my
mind was full of thoughts about him.
How long lay there before sleeping or
whether 1 went to sleep at all do not
know, but suddenly became conscious
of some presence in the room. A mo-
ment latter l saw a figure that seemed
to be Farmer standing by my bed.
Il was surprised. but 1 do not think
that 1 was very much alarmed. He
greeted me with Hello. or something
of that sort.
WHO are you? l asked L am
Farmer was his reply, and he held out
his hand to me. l shook hands with
him, and l thought as did so that the
fingers felt little cold. 1 released the
hand and was thinking what to say
next and suddenly the figure vanished.
IF I was really awake at the time,
l fell asleep again. Very soon I pre-
ceived the figure again standing by my
bed. I do not know that l doubted it
was Farmer, but 1 thought l would
make certain, so l asked:
"'How shall l know you are Farm
er?'
"I will show you my hand he re-
piled.
Il saw he was holding out his hand
that I might see it, but 1 was deter
mined to take nothing for granted and
inquired:
but how shall know this is Farm
er's hand?'
"I1l show you my finger he said
He crooked up one of the fingers in
such peculiar way that when tried
l could not do it, without the assist
ance of the other hand. While l was
trying to perform the little trick the
figure disappeared.
Il was greatly puzzled over the Wis
sion, or the dream, if such it was, but
not in the least alarmed. I dropped to
sleep again, if indeed, had been really
awake. and was not disturbed until
morning. l rose with the remarkable
experience of the night vividly in mind
and related the whole story to Miss
Farmer. She was greatly interested,
and when l came to the trick of the
fingers she looked at me in astonish-
ment"
" That was a favorite little trick of
my fathers she said. peculiar to him
self. Few people could do it, In the
company of friends he would often hold
out his hand, as he did to you last nj ight,
crooking his finger, and ask if they
could do it. 1t was little thing, but
1n r,1nc .I r,fn npiet;
act the figure could have done if he
wished to prove his identy as my
father"
Professor Dolbear knew nothing of
this popularity of Mr.. Farmer.