The Night-Side of Nature; Or, Ghosts and Ghost-SeersCrowe, Catherine
Religion
The Night-Side of Nature; Or, Ghosts and Ghost-Seers
Crowe, Catherine
Ghosts; Parapsychology
I could relate numerous stories wherein the appearance of a ghost was
accompanied by a light; but as there is nothing that distinguishes them
from those abovementioned, I will not dilate further on this branch of
the subject, on which, perhaps, I have said enough to suggest to the
minds of my readers that, although we know little _how_ such things are,
we do know enough of analogous phenomena to enable us to believe, at
least, their possibility.
I confess I find much less difficulty in conceiving the existence of
such facts as those above described, than those of another class, of
which we meet with occasional instances.
For example, a gentleman of fortune and station, in Ireland, was one day
walking along the road, when he met a very old man, apparently a
peasant, though well-dressed, and looking as if he had on his Sunday
habiliments. His great age attracted the gentleman’s attention the more,
that he could not help wondering at the alertness of his movements, and
the ease with which he was ascending the hill. He consequently accosted
him, inquiring his name and residence; and was answered that his name
was Kirkpatrick, and that he lived at a cottage, which he pointed out.
Whereupon the gentleman expressed his surprise that he should be unknown
to him, since he fancied he had been acquainted with every man on his
estate. “It is odd you have never seen me before,” returned the old man,
“for I walk here every day.”
“How old are you?” asked the gentleman.
“I am one hundred and five,” answered the other; “and have been here all
my life.”
After a few more words, they parted; and the gentleman, proceeding
toward some laborers in a neighboring field, inquired if they knew an
old man of the name of Kirkpatrick. They did not; but on addressing the
question to some older tenants, they said, “Oh, yes;” they had known
him, and had been at his funeral; he had lived at the cottage on the
hill, but had been dead twenty years.
“How old was he when he died?” inquired the gentleman, much amazed. “He
was eighty-five,” said they: so that the old man gave the age that he
would have reached had he survived to the period of this rencontre.
This curious incident is furnished by the gentleman himself and all he
can say is, that it certainly occurred, and that he is quite unable to
explain it. He was in perfect health at the time, and had never heard of
this man in his life, who had been dead several years before the estate
came into his possession.
The following is another curious story. The original will be found in
the register of the church named, from which it has been copied for my
use:—
EXTRACT FROM THE REGISTER IN BRISLEY CHURCH, NORFOLK.
“DECEMBER 12, 1706.—I, Robert Withers, M. A., vicar of Gately,
do insert here a story which I had from undoubted hands; for I
have all the moral certainty of the truth of it possible:—
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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