E-text prepared by Delphine Lettau, Mary Meehan, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Canada Team (http://www.pgdpcanada.net) GHOSTS AND FAMILY LEGENDS. A Volume for Christmas. by MRS. CROWE, Authoress of "Night Side of Nature," &c. London: Thomas Cautley Newby, Publisher, Welbeck Street, Cavendish Square. 1859. CONTENTS. _page_ FIRST PART. PREFACE v ROUND THE FIRE. FIRST EVENING 1 THE LOVER'S FAREWELL. _The Appointment Kept_. SECOND EVENING 19 THE WHITE CAT. PASSING SPIRITS. THE GARDE CHASSE. THIRD EVENING 43 THE CARRIER. FOURTH EVENING 63 REHEARSALS, &C. PROPHETIC DREAMS. FIFTH EVENING 81 THE VIGIL. THE STRANGE DOG. THE SCOTCH MINISTER. SIXTH EVENING 93 THE RADIANT BOY. THE PREDICTION. HAUNTED HOUSES. THE JUSTIFICATION. SEVENTH EVENING 111 THE GERMAN INN. THE BENIGHTED TRAVELLER. EIGHTH EVENING 135 MY OWN VISIT TO A HAUNTED HOUSE. MR. G.'S ADVENTURE. CONCLUSION TO FIRST PART. APPENDIX 149 AUTOGRAPH LETTERS COMMUNICATING PERSONAL EXPERIENCES ADDRESSED TO THE AUTHOR. SECOND PART. LEGENDS OF THE EARTHBOUND. THE ITALIAN'S STORY 173 THE DUTCH OFFICER'S STORY 209 THE OLD FRENCHMAN'S STORY 229 THE SWISS LADY'S STORY 259 THE SHEEP FARMER'S STORY 297 MY FRIEND'S STORY 327 PREFACE. It happened that I spent the last winter in a large country mansion, in the north of England, where we had a succession of visitors, and all manner of amusements--dancing, music, cards, billiards, and other games. Towards the end of December, 1857, however, the gaiety of the house was temporarily interrupted by a serious misfortune that occurred to one of the party, which, in the evening, occasioned us to assemble with grave faces round the drawing-room fire, where we fell to discussing the slight tenure by which we hold whatever blessings we enjoy, and the sad uncertainty of human life, as it affects us in its most mournful aspect--the lives of those we love.