The Every-day Book and Table Book, v. 1 (of 3): or Everlasting Calendar of Popular Amusements, Sports, Pastimes, Ceremonies, Manners, Customs and Events, Incident to Each of the Three Hundred and Sixty-five Days, in past and Present Times; Forming a Complete History of the Year, Month, and Seasons, and a Perpetual Key to the AlmanacHone, William
History
The Every-day Book and Table Book, v. 1 (of 3): or Everlasting Calendar of Popular Amusements, Sports, Pastimes, Ceremonies, Manners, Customs and Events, Incident to Each of the Three Hundred and Sixty-five Days, in past and Present Times; Forming a Complete History of the Year, Month, and Seasons, and a Perpetual Key to the Almanac
Hone, William
Days; Great Britain -- Social life and customs
A glass tumbler that was put on the floor jumped about two feet and then
broke. Another that stood by it jumped about at the same time, but did
not break till some hours after, when it jumped again and then broke. A
china bowl that stood in the parlour jumped from the floor, to behind a
table that stood there. This was most astonishing, as the distance from
where it stood was between seven and eight feet, but was not broke. It
was put back by Richard Fowler, to its place, where it remained some
time, and then flew to pieces.
The next thing that followed was a mustard-pot, that jumped out of a
closet and was broke. A single cup that stood upon the table (almost the
only thing remaining) jumped up, flew across the kitchen, ringing like a
bell, and then was dashed to pieces against the dresser. A tumbler with
rum and water in it, that stood upon a waiter upon a table in the
parlour, jumped about ten feet and was broke. The table then fell down,
and along with it a silver tankard belonging to Mrs. Golding, the waiter
in which had stood the tumbler, and a candlestick. A case bottle then
flew to pieces.
The next circumstance was, a ham, that hung on one side of the kitchen
chimney, raised itself from the hook and fell down to the ground. Some
time after, another ham, that hung on the other side of the chimney,
likewise underwent the same fate. Then a flitch of bacon, which hung up
in the same chimney, fell down.
All the family were eye-witnesses to these circumstances as well as
other persons, some of whom were so alarmed and shocked, that they could
not bear to stay.
At all the times of action, Mrs. Golding’s servant was walking backwards
and forwards, either in the kitchen or parlour, or wherever some of the
family happened to be. Nor could they get her to sit down five minutes
together, except at one time for about half an hour towards the morning,
when the family were at prayers in the parlour; then all was quiet; but,
in the midst of the greatest confusion, she was as much composed as at
any other time, and with uncommon coolness of temper advised her
mistress not to be alarmed or uneasy, as she said these things could not
be helped.
“This advice,” it is observed in the narrative, surprised and startled
her mistress, almost as much as the circumstances that occasioned it.
“For how can we suppose,” says the narrator, “that a girl of about
twenty years old, (an age when female timidity is too often assisted by
superstition,) could remain in the midst of such calamitous
circumstances, (except they proceeded from causes best known to
herself,) and not be struck with the same terror as every other person
was who was present. These reflections led Mr. Pain, and at the end of
the transactions, likewise Mrs. Golding, to think that she was not
altogether so unconcerned as she appeared to be.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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