Year: 1865

not be accounted for on natural principles
never saw lights round the, bed or heard
knocks on the head board which proved
to be forerunners' Of sickness or death;
never had even 'drelms come to pass,
and as to. spirits in the common accept
ance Of the term, since the days of the
Fox girls, my very presence has always
been a damper.


| am not one Of the sort who are al.
ways on the lookout for signs and won.
derS; and if want of faith in spirituaiiSm
or supernaturalism is a sin, ought to
have been the last one to look for so mark
cd a-you may name it what you please,
call it divine interposition. as the one !
am about to relate, all the witnesses TO
which-and they are not few-are still
living.


One bitter cold day in winter a merry
party of US, nestled down under furry
robes, went to meet all appointment with
a friend, living n few miles distant, with
whom we were TO spend the afternoon and
in the evening u attend n 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 invited guests, OF whom there
were many besides ourselves, in that pc.
culiar visiting trim, which only old time
friends, long parted, can enjoy. Restraint
was thrown aside; we cracked jokes; we
chattercd like magpies, and not a little of
the coming concert, winch promised n
rare treat TO our unsophisticated ears
All went merry as a marriage bell, and
merrer than some, till just before tea,
when ] was seized with n sudden and un-
accountable desire to go home, accompa-
MED by a 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 an
ticipations Of the concert; ! thought Of
the disappointment it would be to those
who came with me to give it up, and run.
ming 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 trusty family our chill
drcn were often rocked in the same cradle
AMI 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 boy of ten
years, the ONLY one of the family remain.
ing at home, who knew that when he re-.
turned from school he was expected to
bring in wood and kindlings for the morn
ins fire, take supper alone, or with little
Clara F., as he chose, and otherwise
pass the time as he pleased, only he must
not 60 in the street to play or on the pond
TO skate. lie had been left many times
in this way, and had never given occa
sion for the slightest uneasincss; still, as
this namelcss fear grew upon me, it took
the form or conviction that danger oi
some sort threatened this dearly beloved
child.


was rising to go and ask Mr.. A. to
take me home, when some one said, You
are very pale; are you ill?'


No. answered, and, dropping back in
the chair, told them how strangely had
been exercised for the last few minutes !;
adding, i really must 60 home


There was perfect ch0y9s Of voices
against il, and for a little time was ST..
fenced though not convinced. Some one
laid the matter before Mr.. A., who re-
piled:


Nonsense, Eddie is a good boy to mind,
will do nothing in our absence that he
would not do if we were there, and is en-.
juying himself well at this moment, Ill
warrant


This answer was brought 10 me in tri-
umph, and resolved to do as they said,
mot to think about it, But ut tea my
hand almost refused to carry food to my
lips, and found it utterly impossible to
swallow mouthful. A death.like chill
crept over me, and j knew that every eye
was upon Inc as | left the room. Mr..
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 state before; there is something in
it. lie followed me to the parlor, but be.
fore he could speak | was pleading as for
dear life that not n moment be lost in
starting for home. i know said |, it is
not all ina .ination, and whether it is or
not, shall certainly die if rtis dreadful
incubus is not removed shortly


All was now confusion; 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 before been to detain ME-
10 me those terrible moments seemed
hours, yet ! am assured that not more
than half an hour elapsed from the time
my fears first found expression before we
were on the road towards home. A horse
somewhat noted for 1eetness was before
US, and with. only two in the cutter-the
rest staid to the concert, and made Mr..
A promise that If nothing had hap
pened he would return-w we went over the
road at rapid pace. knew from the
frequent repetition Of peculiar signal
that the beast was being urged to his best,
yet | grew sick with impotence 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 impelled to hurry to the rescue.
Only once was the silence broken In that
three mile journey, and that vas 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 OI
speed. On reaching home cheerful light
was glimmering from Mrs. E--'s win
dow; before the vehicle had fairly stopped
We were clear Of it, and, opening the door
said in the very same breath, Where's
Eddie?'


'EddieH why he was here little whilC
ago. answered Mrs. E., pleasantly
striving to diSsipate the alarm she saw
written on our countenances. He at,
supper with the children, and played ,
while at marbles; then spoke Of Libb]
Rose having now picture book, and tbs
4 1 "A II n 4 4