The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-03-11
SPOKE TO A GHOST
Queer Incident In Which Bishop
WilberforCe Figured.
THE STORY THE SPIRIT TOLD.

4
an English Country House.
The following remarkable incident in
the life of the late Samuel Wilberforce,
bishop of oxford and afterward of
| Winchester, is related as absolutely au-
thentic, and the good bishop himself is
said to have many times rehearsed the
story to his friends:
On a certain occasion the worthy
bishop had accepted an invitation to
stay at country house not far from
| London. Entering the drawing room
previous to dinner on the evening of
his arrival, he noticed a clergyman sit
ting by the open fire and taking no
part in the general conversation. The
bishop was somewhat surprised at not
being presented to the clergyman. and
his establishment was great when
few moments later. dinner being an
nounced. the guests retired, leaving the
clergyman at his place by the fire. The
hostess having assigned Bishop VIII
berforce the seat of honor at her right
hand, as soon as an opportunity offer
ed he remarked:
81 beg your pardon. madam, but may
/ inquire who was the clergyman we
left sitting In the drawing room"
"Ah. you have seen him, them" re-
piled the lady. 1T is not every one
who has that privilege, l cannot tell
you who he is or whence he comes
For many years this specter has haunt
ed the house and grounds 1t has, in
fact, been tradition in the family. He
seems to do no harm, and, although he
appears only occasionally, we have be-
come quite accustomed to our friendly
ghost"
How very slngularr' remarked his
lordship. But have you never adj
dressed your specter?"
Indeed, have had no opportunity.
nor the desire. for that matter" re.
sponded the hostess, growing pale.
May I take the liberty now?' in.
CURED the dignitary.
with all my heart, your lordship,"
replied the lady The bishop aross
and, returning TO the drawing room,
found the clergyman where he had
left him few minutes before. Hav-
ing no fear, the bishop said kindly:
"who are you. my friend. and why
are you here|
The specter seemed TO sigh deeply
and say as though TO itself. "At lastr'
Then In a hollow voice, addressing
the bishop. IL continued: II am the
spirit OF a clergyman who left this
world some eighty years ago. and
am here to impart to any one who Will
receive II a secret which died with
me. / could not rest in my grave
while great wrong was being done
which 1t was In my power to right. |
have been returning all these years In
the hope some one would address me,
for 1t was not given TO me to be the
first TO speak. All men have stunned
me until now, and 1t is your mission
10 do my bidding. / was called TO this
house eighty years ago TO receive
confession from a dying man. He
was the sole possessor of secret the
knowledge of which would alter ma
terially the entail of this vast estate,
and in his death he wished to repair /
the terrible wrong upon his kin.
"At his request I wrote down the ]
confession word for word as he gave
1t to me, and when he finished he ex. I
pired in my arms. 1t was very lmpor- I
tant that should return to London /
that night. and in passing through the
library to leave the house | concluded 4
Ii would be safer not to carry the pa.
per on which was written the confes- +
sion away with me, but TO place it in +
some secure, unseen spot, where !
could obtain 1t the following day and
deliver the document TO the person for
whom 1t was intended Mounting the
steps to the bookshelves. took out
copy of Young's Night Thoughts,
which was the first book upon the up
permost shelf nearest the last win
dow. and, inserting the paper careful
ly between It's leaves, / replaced the
book and departed. A horse was
awaiting me at the door. but ere we
reached the entrance of the grounds
he took fright. i was thrown and in
stantly killed. Thus died the secret
with me- No one has disturbed that
book in all these years, and no one
has had the courage to address this
from the unknown The
paper will be found as / have stated.
and it remains for you TO correct the
which has so long been upon
this noble family. My mission is over,
and can rest in peace"
At the close of this remarkable
speech the specter faded gradually
from sight. and the bishop was left
gazing into space. Recovering from
his establishment, Bishop Wilberforce
went at once to the library and found
the book exactly as indicated by the
specter In fits secluded corner upon
the top shelf. thick with the dust OF
lges, evidently the book had remained
many years. There was
he document just as described. but
now faded and yellow. The secret of
he confession never became known TO
he world The good bishop regarded
L as a confidence from the spiritual
world and always ended the story with
he assurance that the priestly speeter
was never again seen.
Ii is a fact. however. that about the
line of this extraordinary occurrence
he magnificent estate in question pass
ID into possession OF a remote member