Year: 1869

THE UNSPOKEN WARNING.


] am no believer in the supernatural.
never saw any ghosts, never heard any strange
noises: none, at least, that could not be ac-
counted for on natural principles. | never
saw lights round the bed OF heard knocks on
the head d-board which proved to be 'forerun-
ners'' of sickness or death; l never had even
dreams come to pass, and as to spirits, in the
common acceptance of the term, since the
days of the Fox girls, my presence has always
been dampcr.


| | am not one OF the sort who are always on
the lookout for signs and wonders; and if
want of faith in spiEiualism or supernatural
ism is a sin, | ought to have been the last one
to look for so marked a-vou may name it
what YOU please | call it divine interposition,
as the one am about to relate, all the wit
nesses to which-and they are not few-are
still living.


One bitter cold day in winter merry party
of us, nestled down under furry robes, went
to meet an appointment with friend living
a few miles distant with whom we We're to
spend the afternoon and in the evening attend
a concert to be held near by.


The sleighing was delightful, the air keen
and inspiring, the host and hostess genial as
the cracking fires in the CRATES, and the in
vited guests, of whom there We're many be-
sides ourselves in that peculiar visiting trim
which only old time friends, long parted, can
enjoy. Restraint was thrown aside we crack
ed jokes we chattered like magpies. and talk
| ed a little OF the coming concert, which prom
ised a rare treat to our unsophisticated ears
| All went merry marriage bell, and mer-
rier than some, till Just before tess, when was
seized with a sudden and unaccountable de-
sire to 90 home, accompanied by dread or
fear of something, | knew not what, which
made the return appear, not matter of choice
but thing imperative.


| | tried to reason it away, to revive antci-
pations of the concert; I thought of the dis
appointment it would be to those who came
with me TO give it up, and running over in my
mind the condition in which things were left
at home, could find no ground for alarm.
| For many years part of the house had
been rented to a trusty family; our children
were often rocked in the same cradle, and half
the time ate at the same table; locks and
bolts We're things unused, and in deed as in
word we were neighbors. In their care had
been left a boy of ten years, the only one Of
the family remaining at home, who knew that
when he returned from school he was expect
ed to bring in wood and kindlings for the
morning fire, take supper alone, or with little
Clara E, as he chose, and otherwise pass
the time as he pleased, only he must not go in
the street to play OF on the pond to skate. He
had been left many times in this way, and had
never given occasion for the slightest uneasi-
ness; still, as this nameless fear grew upon
me, ii took the form OF a conviction that dam
ger of some sort threatened this beloved child


| was rising to 90 and ask Mr., A TO
take me home, when some one said, " on
are very pale; are YOU ill9'


No" I answered, and, dropping back IN
the chair told them how strangely had been
i exercised for the last few minutes. adding Il
really must go home.'


There was perfect chorus of voices against
it, and for little time was silenced though
not convinced. Some one laid the matter be
fore Mr.. A., who replied;


Nonsense, Eddie is good boy to mind
he will do nothing in our absence that he
would not do if we were there, and is enjoy
ing himself we'll at this moment, III war
rant


This answer was brought to me in triumph,
and | resolved to do as they said mot to
think about it, But at tea my hand almost
refused to carry food to my lips, and found
it utterly impossible to swallow mouthful.
A deathlike chill crept over me as left the
room. MIR. A. rose, saying in a changed
voice and without ceremony:


MAKE haste: bring the horse round we
must go right away. | never saw her in such
a state before; there is something in it." He
followed me to the parlor, but before he could
speak | was pleading as for dear life that not
: a moment be lost in starting for home II
know said !, sit is not all imagination, and
| whether it is or not shall certainly die if
this dreadful mcubus is not removed short
ly."


All was now confuson the tea table de
serted the meal scarce tasted and my friends
alarmed as much at my looks as at my words,
were as anxious to hurry me off as they had
been to detain me. To me those terrible
moments seemed hours, yet am assured that
not more than half an hour elapsed from the
time my fears Iirst found expression before
we We're on the road towards home A horse
somewhat noted for tieetness was before us,
and with only two in the clltter-the rest stail
to the concert, and made Mr.. A. promise that
if nothing had happened he would return-
we went over the road at a rapid pace. |
knew from the frequent repetition of a peculiar
signal that the beast was being urged to his
best, yet | grew sick with impatience at the
restraint wanted to fly. All this time my
fears had taken no definite shape only
knew that the child was in danger and felt
lmpelled to hurry to the rescue Only once
was the silence broken in that three mile
Journey, and that was when, on reaching an
eminence from which the house was in full
view, said THANK God the house isn't on
fire"


That was my own thought said Mr.. A
--, but there was no slackening of speed
On reaching home q cheerful light was plim
mcring from Mrs, E--~'s window; before
the vehicle had fairly stopped, we were clear
Of it, and opening the door said in the very
same breath "Where's Edde?H


Eddie? why, he was here little while
ago. answered Mrs. F., pleasantly, try
ing to disspate the alarm, She saw written on
our countenances. ''He'ate supper with the
Children and played awhile at marbles then
spoke of Libby Rose having new picture
book, and that he wanted to see it. You'll
find him over there


With swift steps Mr.. A-crossed the
street to the place mentioned, but returned
with, ''lle has not been there" Eddie was
remarkably fond of skating, and my next
thought was that he had been tempted to dis
obedience. said calmly ''We will go to the
pond"


| was perfectly collccted | could have
worked all night without fatigue with the
nerves in that state of tension but Mr.. A.
said, ''No, you must 60 and lie down. Eddie
is safe enough somewhere about the VILLAGE