Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-04-15

the reports He was an old man
named Lyford, who lived on Chestnut
street. When first came to this place
to work, | saw the old gentleman come
in and come directly to this room
Once here he would light the gas and
stay. He grew to be a regular visitor.
and by the regular stumping manner
in which he walked / could tell each
day as he came up the stairs to the
library and stumped up to this place.
He would come in the morning, two or
three times each week, and stay all
day. When noon came l would lock
up and go home as though he were not
here. Gradually the old gentlemans
visits grew less frequent and his
stamping mode of walking was of a
more uncertain nature. He visited the
place once a week and then once in two
weeks. All the while | observed he
was growing weaker and weaker A
month passed without visit from him
and then he came one day, so very
feeble that he could only with diff
culty climb the stairs. / went home at
noon as usual. At night i also walked
away after locking the doors. and ]
forgot the old gentleman until after /
had reached home. Then hurried
back and up in here into this room.
There by that table. the old gentleman
sat with his head pillowed upon his
arms, fast asleep. as calm as babe.
The reports that he so liked to study
with the specifications Of inventions,
the like of which he doubtless wished
to emulate, were spread about on the
table. / walked him and assisted him
home. That Was his last visit That
days work had wearied HIM immense
ly. A short time after he died and
missed his visits very much
Before that ventilator from the
House run up through here said the
man Of books. after the main room had
been reached once more and he felt in
mood for spinning yarns that would do
justice to the for'c's'le of the State
House. Il used 10 notice that the ac-
emulation Of gas oratory. | suppose
you call it. that was delivered by the
members through the session, would
bulge the floor and make our cases
hA, ha,. all AR.
the floor would sink back to its level
again. That ventilator now lets the
eloquence out into the dome
And now speaking about spooks.
he continued you know that the
versatile Holman F. Day has written
of the library spook that Waterman
Charles Pettingill says he hears every
night. Well you are now in his home.
This is a ticklish place on a wild night
The wind and rain beating on the sky
light windows and blowing about the
sides of the building, give this very
develop my negatives when 1 have
any to develop. One very wild night
l was at work in there and / had ter
rible luck No one of the negatives
would work properly. l had taken
several views that l very much de-
sired, but do you know. every one Of
those negatives brought up the figure
of a yelled and robed spirit pointing in
the direction Of the east? | could not
account for it. On that same night a
terrible accident happened upon the
sea. Could l have prevented that ac
cident if | could have understood the
warning given me by that good spirit?
That is the question l have long been
studying. ! am as yet as nearly un-
able to read spook signs l am to
read the hieroglyphics of the Egyp-
tians. though l hope in time to learn
both"
Go down again to the new library
and see the difference.