_Monday 5._ There is wonderful _To do_, this morning among the Housekeeper & children, at the great house. They assert that a Man or a Spirit came into the Nursery about one o-Clock this morning--That if it was indeed a Spirit the Cause of his appearance is wholly unknown; but if it was Flesh & blood they are pretty confident that the design was either to rob the House, or commit fornication with _Sukey_, (a plump, sleek, likely Negro Girl about sixteen)--That the doors & windows were well secured, but that by some secret manner, unknown to all, the _Thing_ opened the Cellar door, went through the Cellar, & up the narrow dark Stairs (which are used only on necessary occasions, as when the great Stair way is washing or on some such account)--That it left the said Cellar door standing open, & besides unbar'd, & threw open the East Window in the little Room, in order, as they wisely supposed, to have, if it should be hurried, a ready passage out--That it had previously put a small wedge in the Lock of the Nursery Door, where several of the young Ladies, & the said _Sukey_ sleep, so that when they were going to Bed they could not Lock nor bolt the door, but this they all believed was done in mischief by the children, & went thereupon to bed, without suspicion of harm, with the door open--That Sukey some time in the Night discovered Something lying by her Side which she knew to be a Man by his having Breeches--That She was greatly surprised, & cry'd out suddenly to the others that a Man was among them, & that the Man _tickled_ her, & said _whish, whish_--That on this She left the Bed & run & squeased herself in by the side of Miss Sally the House-keeper, but that by this time the Whole Room was awake & alarmed--That when the thing knew there was a discovery it stamped several times on the floor, shook the Bedstead by the side of which it lay, rattled the Door several Times & went down Stairs walking very heavy for one barefoot--That on its leaving the Room the Hous[e]Keeper went to Ben Carters Chamber, & that he rose & they all went down & found the Doors & window as I have mentioned--All this with many other material accidents is circulating through the family to Day; some conclude it was a Ghost because it would not speak--But, more probably it was one of the warm-blooded, well fed young Negroes, trying for the company of buxom _Sukey_--The Colonel however, at Breakfast gave out that if any one be caught in the House, after the family are at Rest, on any Pretence what ever, that Person he will cause to be hanged!--This Afternoon _Nelson_ the Lad who waits in our School, was in the woods about half a mile off, where he met with & kill'd a _Rattle-Snake_ having six Rattles--He cut off the head, & brought Home the remainder of the Body, which we have skin'd & stuff'd--Mrs Carter complains to Day of the Tooth-Ach, & a slight Fever. _Teusday 6._