A Ghostly Story.
A story of ghosts and ghostly manifestations is given to the world by an American paper, the Des Moines (Iowa) Register:
“Ever since the Third-street spook raised such a rumpus, ghostly visitors (it says) appear to have become numerous. Closely following the sudden demise of the uncertain spirit that disturbed the denizens of the Fourth Ward, were heard rumours of ghost power running sewing-machines. Several citizens well known testify that the wheels were turned by some unknown and invisible agency. This was followed by unnatural lights blazing on the walls and looking as green as an evening paper man afflicted with yellow jaundice.
On Cherry-street a resident reports that invisible bells are tinkled at unseemly hours. The tintinabulation is like that of a Chicago charm bell, and is heard in different parts of the house, but never very close to any person. When any one goes to the place where it has been heard, the tinkling appears to be just at the back of him.
A house on Locust-street is afflicted with a bright light shining in a certain place on the wall of a bed-room. The light is plainly visible at a distance, but disappears whenever any one gets close to it. Another peculiarity is that it shines as brightly during the day as at night, although it is necessary to close the shutters and darken the room during the sunlit hours in order to see the spook in all its brilliancy.
A Tenth-street dog sees ghosts, but whether of man, beast, or book peddler is not explained. The animal will suddenly start from sleep and make a fierce attack upon some invisible foe, frequently following it round the house, growling and barking all the time. It has indulged in this phantom fighting over two years.
The phenomenon always occurs in daylight. One night last week a prominent citizen was awakened by the music of his piano, playing most sweetly to the tune of ‘Robin Adair.’ His daughter, the only musician in the house was absent at the time, and he hurried to the parlour to see who it was thus charming the night with the sweetest melody of the time. Arriving there he found the apartment empty, and the piano closed and locked. A lady residing in the East Des Moines became very interested in the Third-street ghost, and made several visits to the locality where it was reported to be boarding. One evening, accompanied by several other ladies, she was at the house, returning home about ten o’clock. Two of the ladies went into the parlour with her, and sat down to talk over the ghost. Suddenly a large music box on the mantel commenced to play, continuing through five tunes, the instrument being geared for ten. When it ceased the box was examined, and found to be entirely ‘run down.’ It was replaced on the mantel, and a moment later it commenced to play again, continuing until all the tunes were played.
In another house the gas in a certain room is frequently lighted by invisible matches. The person occupying the apartment has often gone to sleep after turning off the gas, and awakened hours after to find it brightly burning. Again it would be turned off, and at daylight the blaze would be as vivid as ever. This is a good natured spook, for comparison of the gas bills before this phenomenon commenced, and since its existence, shows no increase in the amount consumed. A lday of eminent social position and undoubted truthfulness assured the author a few days since, that her buried child frequently appeared to her when she visited the room where he died. In the course of the conversaion the lady said that her sweetest moments were during those silent intervals with her lost darling. Every feature of his face appears to her perfectly natural, and he always seems to clasp in his little hands a favourite toy that lay on his bed when he died. Strange to say, the mother never remembers how the image is dressed.”
Central Somerset Gazette, 30th May 1874.