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MAGUS

82 which seemingly trivial in themselves are yet perfectly torturing in their recurrence and strangeness. The unknown is of the most evil and malign disposition, with a well-developed tendency to destroy and to revel in mischief pure and simple. If it be a ghost or a spirit at liberty to wander “fancy free”, an unaccountable partiality is shown for one habitation and a very perverse propensity for interfering with the delf [sic], the cooking other domestic matters. In fact, the spirit seems most at home in the kitchen, as if it were the shade of some departed scullery-maid, whom “habit’s iron law” had compelled to return to earth, but whose sole remembered capacity was the smashing of the crockery-ware. The haunted house is situated on Old Town Hill and is occupied by a Mr Allen who carries on a respectable business as a grocer. If not exactly in the sere and yellow leaf, Mr Allen is somewhat stricken in years. Intelligent and candid in his walk of life, he has gained the esteem of all who knew him; and the fact that he should be the object of such bewildering occurrences, as have and are almost daily taking place, creates all the more commiseration, and a feeling very much akin to indignation in the town. The manifestations of something unusual and untoward first became noticeable some eighteen months ago. The phenomena were then merely confined to breaking the windows. It may be thought that there was nothing very extraordinary nor ghost- like in such a procedure, but there was. When several panes were broken and the how and means escaped attention, a strict watch was put upon the windows, but all was useless; the cause was still undiscoverable. Sometimes stones were used as the media but by whom or what nobody could see; and more frequently again the grass broke, apparently of its own accord. Even the frames at last to get abused, more especially at the rear of the house, and the strictest and most constant guard could make nothing of it. The house, by the way, is a small two-story building with three windows behind and the ordinary shop and front windows before. The yard is small and surrounded by a wall ten feet high from whence extend the open fields. All the glass at the back of the premises having been repeatedly broken, and every effort as protection avoided, one of the windows was barricaded with a shutter to which was affixed a bell in such a position that if the shutter were moved, the bell must ring. Men were also placed at each window with loaded guns so that it was impossible for any individual to approach without being at once observed and in their power. Notwithstanding this, a shutter was taken down, the bell simply noting the fact when it was accomplished and that in such a gentle, tinkling monotone as to be almost unheard. In front of the premises, glass was broken with the same security and freedom from observation. Fear now commenced to grow into serious alarm, which in no way decreased, as other incidents, equally, if not more bewildering in their character, became of daily occurrence. Bowls took a

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