Smyrna times., 1912-09-18
She Only
to a Child
By F. A. Mitchell

We in America who have outgrown
a belief in the supernatural are not i'm
pressed by those legends that are still
In vogue among peoples nearer to ma
ture. Science, while it has advanced
US, has taken much of the Imagination
out of US. leaving US like the stalks
from which flowers have been stripped.
L have envied those untutored persons
who still believe the dead may at
times mingle with the living.
While travelling in Spain stopped
for few days in the province of La
Mancha. The peasants of the region
are much given to legends and believe
In ghosts. l was walking through
valley one day when | came to a little
church surrounded by the typical yard
studded with tombstones. went
through the gate and came upon the
sexton, who was digging a grave. 1t
was peaceful place. hamlet of the
dead. leach in his narrow CELL" and !
found myself regarding it as such
rather than that the heaped mounds
should cover only earth l spoke to the
sexton, who got out of the grave to
answer certain questions l asked him.
DO you believe the dead ever come
out Of their graves and walk about
here?"
Il have seen them myself. senor."
he replied.
''In what form?"
'Of a moonlight night l have seen
airy figures moving about among the
tombs."
"Near by or from a distanceY p
From a distance. They are shy of
us mortals."
Don't you think what you say yoI
have seen were rays of moonlight com.
ing through the branches of the trees?"
"Oh, no. senor," he replied "They
are really the dead But it is of no
use to try to get near them, for as soon
as mortals approach they become in.
visible"
Are there no persons they will per
NIT to approach them"
Now, l asked the question with
purpose, for | confess am not a dis
believer in communications between
the living and the dead and have a be.
lief in the theory that some persons are
susceptible of being impressed by spir
its-in other words. are mediums.
The man leaned on his spade and ap
peared to he thinking. The southern
sun gilded his wrinkled brow as he
framed his reply. and it occurred to me
that he would make a fine model for
an artist.
THE only persons I have ever known
them to appear to in their human
shapes are children. There is one per
son buried here-a woman-who will
always manifest herself to a child
They say, senior, that she lost all OF
her' children before they reached the
age of twelve. If child comes here
she will arise from her grave and sit
upon the tomb built over it and look al
the little one wistfully."
This was something definite, and |
became interested. will she permit
child to approach herr" l asked.
THE children who have seen her say
that as they approach she fades away
and when they get to the tomb there is
no one there"
do the children only see her when
they are here alone?"
Children are never here alone. They
are not admitted when alone. If they
come it is under the care of older per
sons"
And do the older persons see this
spirit?''
mo. senior; they do not"
Il cannot believe your story, but |
admit there is something about it that
appeals to me.'
'If senor will bring a child be will
be convinced"
That would be easy. I was travelling
with party of Americans. among
whom were several children. | could
easily bring one of them to the church
yard. chatted for some time longer
with the sexton; then. putting a piece
OF money in his hand and telling him
would be with him the next afternoon.
ACAl hlAl-
There was a boy of seven in our
party. delicately organized little fel
low, and | asked him the next da
to go to walk with me. He gladly as
sented, and took him to the church
yard The sexton was there putting
supports under some of the tottering
stones. Pnd ! chatted with him while
the boy played among the tombs
kept my eye on the child and presently
saw him looking in the direction of
the tomb of the lady who appeared to
children. Then he began to move
slowly toward it. The sexton noticed
him and gave me knowing look. The
boy kept his eye fixed on the tomb
and approached it with timid steps,
When he came near it he paused
Then presently be turned and retraced
his steps,
why did you go to that tombY'
asked him
Because ! saw a lady sitting on it