The San Francisco call. [volume], December 20, 1903, Image 29

About The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913

Image provided by: University of California, Riverside; Riverside, CA

                
Deair sire, If i had tendelrs
i wod by some tois. I wont a
bide, and a blone i£ i can gitc
it and a airship to. I want «i
negr doll. I want a bat and a
ball and a story book. I want
a traine. I want a ring. I
want a follsfais.
BY TIGHE HOPKINS
REAL GHOST STORIES
"We are haunted by a headless nun;
I hoDe she r will not present herself to
you. The house, you know, was, a con-
vent in'the eighteenth century.", These
words » in a . letter from : my ; old .friend
Blackett. in vl tine . me for Christmas.
How Ions we* delved I know not. We
made some work for masons. All at
once I cried:
"The spade is being pulled from me!"
The next Instant I smote something
hard.
We drew out the little box from be
neath the hearth, air-tight seemingly.
The box had a glass lid, and we beheld
within It the exquisite head of a girl
of one or two and twenty. But the very
moment I raiaed the lid that beauty
melted into powder — Uke the down
blown from a thistle.
"The nun has gone too!" whispered
Mn. Blackett, glancing over her
shoulder. M8& UsSf
Mrs. Blackett. her back to tha ghostly
nun, said in a tone which blended relief
with agitation: "Yes, I know that siv?
is there. She was sitting with me on
the sofa, and has Just moved across to
the place where she always stands.
George will believe now!"
George, indeed, looked somewhat un
nerved, though to him it must have
seemed that his wife's gaze and mine
were bent on vacancy.
"Speak to her, Mrs. Graham!" Mrs.
Blackett said to me.
"It is useless. But I know what this
poor penitent craves. It is the head
that w^as cut from her shoulders; and,
what is more, the head is buried close
to where she stands."
"Dreadful!" from Mrs. Blackett.
"Remember," said I, in a ton©' as
matter-of-fact as I could summon,
"that we are in the presence of a trag
edy which may be 150 or 200 years old.
There is nothing here to harm any
one."
"But what do you propose to do?"
asked Blackett, who, albeit shaken, dis
played still a certain dubiety of man
ner.
"To do? To find the little sister b*»r
head!" I answered. "If we find It. r>»
sure that you will never see her again."
T next morning, taking the farmer
and *we wife In some part into our con
fidence, we made them accompany us
to the haunted room. The rose was still
there, every petal in tact. ' The ; : board
was raised with scarcely an effort by
the farmer and myself, and In a square
cavity beneath stood a small oaken
chest with metal clamps. We opened it
and found, heaped about a small and
elegant guitar, a mass of girlish trink
ets in antique settings and a long silken
purse stuffed with gold pieces.
It pleased Lydia to think that the
gentle ghost of some gentle damsel had
come in this way to the aid of the
farmer and his wife, who were indeed
in very sore straits. The gentle ghost,
its kindly end achieved, slept peace
fully; ; the haunted room was still
thenceforth.
She went straight to the i haunted
room, and as I held the light above her
head in the doorway we saw in the far
corner of the chamber the rose that had
melted under our gaze in the abbot's
parlor. As we stood,, and looked three
distinct knocks resounded from the
board on which the rose lay.
as we were mounting to the room we
had chosen, L'ydla said: "I am being
drawn and guided somewhere. Come
with me." - ¦ v *
"May we see the rooms?"
We were taken to view s n me fine,
airy chambers on the first floor. "And
the upper floor?" said Lydia, Reluct
antly, the girl led us higher. On the
threshold of a room at one end of the
corridor Lydia paused and said: "This
is the haunted room." Our conductress,
crimsoning, answered astonishedly:
"Yes, madam." She added: "The place
was an abbey once, and after that a
manor house. There Is a story about
the manor house, but we do not know
It."
"Well?" said L
"We will stay here to-night," an
swered Lydia.
So It was that we found ourselves at
supper, Lydia and I, In . the abbot's
parlor, which had been later my lady's
boudoir, and was now a very simple,
low-roofed chamber, with a chintz
covered settle under the trelllaed win
dow, where roses hungr. On* of these
roses Lydia had plucked and fastened
in her dress.
Our homely cloth was removed by the
handsome girl and we were again alone.
A sudden, startled exclamation drew
my eyes to Lydia. The rose in the
bosom of her dress was being slowly
detached by hands Invisible. The same
imperceptible doer carried the flower
before our eyes to about the middle
of the room; there it hung a moment in
the air— and vanished. It had not fall
en to the floor, nor had the petals dis
solved; the rose simply went out In
epace, as It were, we watching.
Lydia stood up. "I think," she said,
quietly, "it was some one who wanted
me to follow. This Is a, very gentle
ghost"
But there was nothing more until we
went upstairs for the night. Then,
The handsome girl who had let us in
teemed scarcely to have caught the
words, but Ehe looked a little doubtful
ly at both of us, without speaking.
"Tell me." asked Lydia of her, "Is
not your house haunted?"
The handsome girl hesitated.
"I am not at all afraid of srhosts,"
urged Lydia.
'There are noises in the upper rooms,
madam," answered the girL "We never
use them."
We were admitted to the hall, and al
most immediately Lydia, turning to
me. said in a half-whisper: "This place
is haunted."
The tenant of the farm had adver
tised rooms to let— the object of our
quest. A little red-cheeked girl, riding
pillion on a donkey, with panniers
elung In front of her, pointed us to the
park, beyond which lay the farm
house, an abbey once. Evening was
coming on — a dusky, warm September
evening— and, as all the neighborhood
was strange to us, we imagined we
were pilgrims seeking the abbot's hos
pitality, Lydia and L
ComlnK near, I saw the remains of
the cloister, and it was not too difficult
to raise uo in fancy the divers build
ings that trust anciently have stood
within the walls: the abbot's own
lodging, the great refectory, the al
morry, the buttery, the brewhouse and
bakehouse, etc. But most of these had
quite vanished, and what remained
had been converted to the uses of a
modern farmhouse.
We left the station, and asked our
way to the farm, Lydia and L The
cottages cf the village, beautifully
thatched, were scattered irregularly:
the place had an ancient and happy
air.
TBere stood the ghost in her nun's
habit as she lived and died, headless,
her hands folded on her boaom.
"Look where she stands!" I said, as
Blackett threw open the door.
;I was absolutely certain that in the
drawing-room I should see the head
less nun standing to the right of the
mantelpiece.
" "Her head, presumably." And It was
some sort of admonition, a kind of
whisper in the middle of my own head,
. that prompted me to say it.
"We haven't got it, you know," ob
served Blackett. 4
"I wonder' how the poor lady came
to part with it? Saints above! I should
not like to have to account for all the
tragedies of convents. There are peo
ple, certain sensitives, who will take
in their hands a piece of ancient wood
or a fragment of old stone and read
yqn off the history of persons con
nected with that relic centuries back
In the , world. Was there some Hamlet
in this story, who drove this poor nun
to her nunnery, and was responsible
for her cruel death?" \~
"I am afraid," observed Blackett,
"we cannot gratify you with her his
tory. It passed with the convent."
•'Let us go to the drawlng'-room."
"You never will," he returned. "As
a good nun, she keeps from men. She
has shown herself to no one except my
wife and daughter, and- it Is only In
the drawing-room she appears."
''Does she communicate?"
"She is headless, . you know. We
don't expect her to talk. She does not
even carry her head under her arm,
like St. Denis. She simply stands to
the right of the mantelpiece with her
arms crossed on her breast."
"Well," said I, "the ghost never yet
walked that had not some errand to
fulfill. This nun wants something, and
appeals to your wife and daughter."
"What should she want?"
pricked in me that curiosity which ever
goes out to *he things that pass my
understanding.
"I have not. seen her yet," I said,
sitting with Blackett over the dining
room fire on the second evening of my
visit.
Ten dollars would be of a great value
to me, because I could buy these books
I would save it to Christmas and buy
a suit of clothes to wear for Christmas
and I would like to buy a brake wagon
also for Christmas. If I had any
I would buy books about history of
different nations. I would like to know
If $10 were given to me I would buy
mamma something nice; Mabel, my sis
ter, a trunk to keep her dolls' clothes
in. I would also give a doll to each
of my playmates, because I think they
like dolls better than any other play
toys. I must not forget Mrs. Fox,
after she has been bo nice to me. I
•would rive her a nice cup and saucer
and each cf the ladles a nice Christ
mas card. Then If enough money was
left I would buy myself a manicure set
end a writing desk and some books. 1
thick that would spend all the money
but about CO cents. That money would
buy something else some other time.
iJ I BESSIE LEE.
• • •
Would Buy Geographies.
If I had $10 I would not spend It for
things that are of no use to me, but I
¦would epend It for things that will help
me out in my studies. I would buy
booka asd other necessaries to help me
alcrg. When I grow up I want to be
somebody In this world and do things
to help my fellowmen and my country.
With $10 I would buy some books In
geography because I would like to
know all about the world and its in
habitants, its plants and trees and its
countries.
If I h&d $10 I would buy a box of
candy that costs 25 cents. And then I
would buy a little wagon and a pearl
handled knife and a top and ¦ do* ef
shoes and a coat and all the ciuaes
I need. And I would get a mouth or
cr. and some marbles and a whistle
and gone school books and last of all
I would want a gold. ring.
CHARLIE ZUCKERMAN.
• • •
Would Play Santa Onus.
Beeing that I have some money over
I would buy my sister and brothers
each a n!c« Christmas present. Know-
Ing that my mother wouldn't want me
to epend my money on her, so I may
Just as well buy a few toys.
MARY BRAUNSTEIN.
a • •
Candy First — Toys Next.
Then X would send clothes and maga
alnes to the poor people that have lep
rosy. The bufldlsg is situated out of
the city limits of Sen Francisco all by
Itself.
Now, I'm sure that it would be nec
essary to buy a few things that I need,
for I don't like to depend too much
oa the asylum. For X know that when
X have the money I may Just as well
znake use of It.
At the age that I am now. had I $10
n xny own hand I would first think
et my mother, but as long as she
doesn't need the money I would buy
scrr.t bocks.
Buy Presents for Mother.
If I got $10 I would put some In
the poor box and give the rest to my
papa, who is sick and not able to
work for a long time. If I had more
I would buy stockings for my cousins.
& nice waist for my auntie and a dress
and shoes and stockings for myself.
NONIE O'SULLIVAN.
Give to the Poor.
If I had $10 X would buy a big doll
and buggy and some pretty goods to
make my doll some dresses.
I would buy a work basket with
needles, thread and thimble. I next
would buy a set of dishes to play
house with.
I then would buy 'myself tomt hair
ribbons and handkerchiefs and some
candy. I'd like to buy a ring and a
trunk to keep my dolls' clothes In;
and a- story book, as I love to read.
ELIZABETH KOVARIK.
Doll and a Buggy.
If I was given $10 to spend for
Christmas I would buy for the matron
a tea set, $2 75; for my big sister Tes-
Ble an evening wrapper, $2 85; a sil
ver set, $2 75; for my father a nice,
neat necktie, 90 cents, and my sis
ters Annie and Alice some handker
chiefs, 40 cents: hair ribbons, 25
cents; for my nephew a rattle, 10
cents. I have a comfortable home, a
nice warm bed to sleep In, healthy
food to eat and everything any one
wants.
There are lots and lots of poor chil
dren who will not have the pleasure
we will have on Christmas.
JENNIE MILLER.
Aged 12 years. A sixth grade, Mis
sion Grammar School.
Teaset for the Matron.
If I had $10 to spend &V my own way
I would first of all buy my mother a
nice pair of warm slippers and a shawl.
Next I would buy my sister a bottle of
violet perfume and pome nice handker
chiefs. Then I would buy a good many
Christmas cards and distribute them
among my little friends. Last of all I
would buy myself the book of "Rose in
Bloom." which I have longed for for a
long time. IRENE JONES.
Slippers and Shawl for Mother.
If I had HO the first thing I'd do I
would put (3 in the bank. I have two
brothers, and for Christmas presents
I would give them each BO cents. If I
had a friend whom I knew and loved
well I would give my friend 50 % cent3.
For my mother I would buy a brush
and comb for E0 cents. As Christmas
Is coming on I'd buy for myself a story
book for SO cents, a football for 75 cents
and a gam* for 25 cents. With the rest
of the money I would buy a new hat
and a pair of gloves. So you see what
I would do if I had $10.
WALTER MUELLER.
more- money I wonld buy a bicycte
and also a nice little doll for my sister
to play with for Christmas.
JOHN BROWN.
Put Money In the Bank.
Bolt of Clothes and a Wagon.
Bow X would like $101 If X had $1»
. ¦ -
and then X would know a great deal
MATTHIAS VIDAVER,
•¦•*• ¦:•¦:.• ;v* '•-
Grab Bag .of Good Things.
If I had $10 all my own I would so
downtown and I would buy a doll, ball,
buggy, a box of handkerchiefs, a rib
bon and a set of dishes, a hat, a dress,
some pictures, a doll's bed. a cap* and
some beads, a ring, and book, and I
would give my mother and sisters and
brother each SO cents and I would buy
some Christmas presents and fir* them
to some -other children. X would buy
son* Christine* cards and dolls and
give them for Christmas. X would buy
a doll or a book for Christmas.
ESTELLA SCHENK.
I would buy books about great au
thors, poets and wise men, because to
know the sayings of wise people helps
to educate a person.
I am very eager to learn about the.
world and I would like to know every
thing: that is possible for me to know.
I would not only buy books on ereog
raphy, history, arithmetic and such
things, but books that teach me how
to be strong and how to defend myself.
I would spend that $10 on my educa
tion, because I wish to be smart.
I want to be a man like President
Lincoln, like Thomas Jefferson, llk«
Benjamin Franklin; therefore, that is
the reason why I am eager to buy
books if I had $10.
the events which happened in foreign
lands and in my own country. I would
like to know about the. wars that hap
pened b 'tween the different nations of
the earth.
What would you do rvith $10?
Doesn't gv very far, you think? No,
as the price of Christmas presents goes
these last few years $10 is not such
a very large sum. But lo these poor
little orphans — ah! — what wonderful
things might not be done with that
amount. Read below and see for
yourself if you could get any greater
pleasure cut of the expenditure of
such a sum. Some of the letters are
amusing — some are truly pathetic.
Certainly all are tremendously inter
esting.
TO the average Christinas chop
per of even moderate circum
stances $10 will not seem such a
very big sum this year, but to a
whole host of little ones in this city
it is a pri.icely sura that almost beg
gars the imagination and taxes their
ingenuity to spend it alL -
Would Buy Airship
THE SAN FRANOSCO SUNDAY'- GATJ —CHRISTMAS NUMBER.
CHARLES ROARK.
WHAT I WOULD DO IF I HAD TEN DOLLARS?
29