The times., 1898-02-20
VERY QUEER HAPPENINGS.
Women Give Testimony as to sumo
MYSTERIOUS Experfences

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Mysterious Experiences
A short time ago a New England
family was spending the Christmas
holidays at their country place. which
is lovely and isolated, being some dis
tance from any other habitation. There
was no snow on the ground. but the
weather was bitterly cold, so that the
road was frozen into deep ruts, over
which a carriage or a cart ratified so
that it's approach could be heard when
it was some distance away.
One night they were all gathered
around a great open fire in the hall,
when they heard the noise of a carriage
on the road, then on their driveway; It
finally stopped before the door One OF
the boys sprang up and opened II. but
there was nothing to be seen. He stood
quite still, he was so amazed, and the
rest OF the family crowded around. ALI
mad heard the carriage drive up. and
malt; they could see for some distance
down the road on either hand, so that
IT would have been impossible for il 70
nave driven on without being seen
everyone felt frightened and ave-
struck, and no one was able To suggest
satisfactory explanation. The next
morning one came which they could
accept or not, as they chOse-it was d
telegram from a near relative saying
that her grandmother had died at ex-
actly the time on the previous evening
that they had heard the invisible car
riage drive up to the door.
Something in this same line is a story
told of a Brooklyn house. It was rent
ed by man and his wife. who lived
there peacefully and happily for several
years, during which nothing unusual
happened.
The man was finally called away on
business, which took him for a week to
city some distance away To prevent
loneliness his wife invited a friend to
visit her during this time. One day they
were sitting in the dining room. On the
table stood one OF those huge glass pickle
jars. which are not used now so much
as formerly. Suddenly there vas
pound on the table as If some strong man
had brought his fist down with all his
strength. The pickle Jar was shattered
into a thousand pieces.
The TWO women sat speechless with
terror for some time. for there was no
one else in the room and the occurrence
was enough TO frighten the bravest A
few hours afterwards a telegram was
received stating that the husband had
been killed in an accident and il was af-
terward discovered that the time Of his
death tailed exactly with that Of the
breaking Of the pickle jar.
1t is further related that the owner or
this house could find no more tenants for
ii and finally had il torn down. when it
was discovered that the foundations were
laid in and old graveyard.
"A lady OF unquestiOned standing. who
Is not the least inclined 10 be suDersti-
tous. tells Of some experiences which she
mad While visiting a friend who lived
alone. This friend was a widow who
had lost several children and had Iapsed
into state Of melancholia. which really
bordered on insanity. They were sitting
IN the paFlOr on the night Of her arrival,
When steps were heard on the stairs.
Who's that?' inquired Miss S.
That's little Johnny" replied her
friend.
Miss S. felt alarmed at such speech,
but forgot it after awhile. and when
she went to bed her thoughts had been
turned into other channels. Suddenly
as she brushed her hair she felt a hand
very cold. encircle her wrist. She
turned quickly, dropping her brush,
and expecting to see her friend stand
ing there. But she saw nothing At
that she rushed into her friends room
and told her what had happened
That's Johnny her friend repeat
ed again. You know he was always
full of fun He plays pranks all the
time"
AS little Johnny had died a short
time ago from pneumonia Miss SIS
feelings may he imagined. She spent
an uncomfortable night. but in the
morning was inclined to laugh at her
fright. and to think that her fancy had
been playing her tricks.
A shopping trip had been planned
and the two stood in the lower hail
pulling on their gloves, when a noise
was heard above. and a great card
board box. filed with old pieces which
smeIled of camphOr. suddenly came
tumbling down at their feet, upsetting
the contents on their way. Miss s.
nearly tainted. When she could speak
she assured her friend that she could
stand it no longer. She tTemblingly
packed her trunk and left. but ii was
a long time before she got over the ef-
feet of Little JOhnny's'' pranks.