The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1898-05-19
STORY OF A GHOST,
Spirits of Departed Announce the
Death of a Friend.

Spirits of Departed Announce the
Death of a Friend.
A quiet business man, n resident of a
city in Ontario, related the following
experience:
"My father was dead, and had been
dead some years. My mother and
youngest sister for some time after his
death lived with me. On the approach
of my sisters wedding day my mother
was unexpectedly taken from us by
the hand of death. The sad event
postponed my sisters wedding till n
year from that time, and her lover
went away again to resume his bust
ness affairs. But the wedding never
eventuated. Before the year was end
ed suffered one of the bitterest losses
of my life, in the death of my favorite
sister, who had lived with me for
years and to whom l had become al
most n second father. Her death came
few weeks of Christmas. l asked the
man who was to have been my broth
er-in-law to come and spend that day
with me. He promised to come, feel
ing that from common grief we
would derive mutual comfort.
christmas eve arrived and l ex-
pected my friend that night. But
did not look for him till late, as he had
to come quite a distance on horseback
and might not be able to start until
late in the day: in fact, felt that 1
would not be surprised If ] did not see
him until 1 or 2 o'clock in the morn
ing. The other members Of my house
hold retired for the night, but l sat up
awaiting the arrival of my guest. Re
clining in my chair by the fender in the
family sitting room l commenced to
beguile the time with the Christmas
Globe and other interesting reading
matter. Half an hour or so passed
away, when l put aside the papers.
feeling that did not care to read any
more. This was very unlike myself,
as had been in the habit of sitting till
midnight sometimes perusing with in
terest political discussions of the day
or poring over my business affairs, and
never found 1t hard to concentrate my
thinking powers. But this night l
felt restless and apprehensive. and at
the same time little despondent. 1
glanced at my watch; it was 10:45
o'clock. The time seemed very heavy.
The bOuse seemed quieter than 1t had
for years. Placing my elbows on my
knees, and resting my face in my
hands, commenced to think, or,
rather, to muse. Presently the clock
In the next room struck II and some
what aroused me. Its last stroke had
scarcely done vibrating when l heard
a rustling sound at the door of the sit
ting-room. Thinking that my visitor
had come upon me unawares, looked
up expectantly and was fully awake
The door swung mysteriOuly back and
four persons, or, rather, shadows,
glided toward me, advancing abreast
through the apartment. They were
my father and mother and my sister,
leaning on the arm Of her lover, whom
l had been expecting in the flesh. They
looked as natural as when In life and
their faces We're very happy. This
observed as they drew near my chair,
and 1 felt no fear. Presently they
paused. and my sister, with very
bright smile, said: George. we are all
together now The vision passed /
sat in contemplation for some time and
then retired. l knew my guest would
never arrive.
I'm the morning n messenger came
with the intelligence that about mid
night my friend had been found by the
roadside dead. His horse had re-
mained near the spot where the rider
lay Frustrated, and to all appearances
the cause of death had been the STUN
bling of the horse and throwing of the
rider over an ugly heap of stones.
asked at what time did he think the
accident had happened. He answered
that those in attendance had conclud-
ed that death had taken place about an
hour before the finding of the body
Just the time of my vision, / thought.
| went away with the man to look after
the remains of my friend. found that
a person known to us both had sent the
message. After the funeral rites were
over 1 told some of my nearest friends
the story of that night. l seldom tell
1t now, but those happy faces are often
In my mind, and are always an inspira-
tion to me" Toronto Globe