A Veritable Big Gooseberry.
At Calcott, not very far from this village – a spot well-known to the members and followers of the Beaufort hunt – there resides a labourer blessed with more than a fair share of “olive branches,” one of whom – a little girl of eight years of age – is just now playing a part that is causing more than a passing sensation in the neighbourhood. Young and old, gentle and simple, rich and poor, take an interest in the general excitement.
The house where this child resides has been visited during the past week by many persons anxious to test the current rumour. That either the house or the girl is supernaturally or abnormally affected; that is that either the one is haunted or the other is bewitched. Ludicrous as it may seem to the incredulous in such matters, people who have expended their time and trouble to investigate the affair relate with the longest face, and the most mysterious air imaginable the result of their experience, and it amounts to this.
On arriving at the house, the child is requested by the parents to go upstairs, which she does, the visitors awaiting breathlessly, the result. Directly, a distinct mysterious knocking or thumping is heard increasing in force, and rapidity as time progresses. Strange to say, however, directly any of the curiosity-mongers approach the stairs or attempt to enter the enchanted room the spell is broken, and the knocking ceases. They must be content, it appears, with the effect without having a fair opportunity of judging of the cause.
The noise is a reality, there is no doubt of that; but as to the operator, and from whence comes the knocking, there may be more than one opinion whether the force employed be magnetic, mesmeric, or otherwise. Something should be done to clear up the mystery.
Stroud News and Gloucestershire Advertiser, 10th December 1880.