Where occasion requires allusion to myself, I shall simply say the author.

At seven o’clock on the morning of June 21st, 1879, as the sun was shining brightly, and the cool breeze was blowing from the bay, the author entered the haunted house.  After placing his umbrella in a corner of the dining room, and his satchel on the table, he seated himself in one of the easy chairs to await results.  Esther and Olive were present.  He had been in the room about five minutes when, to his great astonishment, his umbrella was thrown a distance of fifteen feet, going over his head in its flight.  At the same instant a large carving knife came jumping over the girl’s head, and fell near him.  Not at all pleased with this kind of a reception on the part of the ghosts, he left the room and went into the parlor, taking his satchel with him, and there sat down paralyzed with wonder and astonishment.  He had been seated only a moment when his satchel was thrown a distance of ten feet.  At the same instant a large chair came flying across the room striking the one on which he was seated, nearly knocking it from under him.  It suddenly occurred to him that he would take a walk, during which he could admire the beauties of the village.

On his return to the cottage, the ghosts commenced their deviltry again with redoubled violence.  He had no sooner entered the house than all the chairs in the parlor—­and there were seven by actual count—­fell over.  Concluding not to remain in that room, he went to the dining room, when the chairs in that, his favorite room in every house, went through the same performance.  Feeling hungry, not yet having had his breakfast, he sat down to a good substantial meal, Esther sitting directly opposite.  After pouring out his coffee, she handed it to him with the remark, “Oh, you will soon get used to them; I don’t think they like you.”  “No,” he replied, “I do not think they do either.  In fact, I am satisfied they do not; but, having come here to investigate, I shall remain until they drive me from the house.”  While eating breakfast the ghosts commenced to hammer on the table.  By the system in use by the family when conversing with them, he carried on a long conversation, they answering by knocks on the bottom of the table.  Before entering into the conversation, however, he sat so that Esther’s hands and feet were in full view.  The ghosts told the number of his watch, also the dates of coins in his pocket, and beat correct time when he whistled the tune of “Yankee Doodle.”  Chairs continued to fall over until dinner, during which there was a slight cessation of manifestations.