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Article OLD GREGORY'S GHOST: ← Page 2 of 5 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Old Gregory's Ghost:
had been served , the old butler entered the apartment , bearing in his arms a huge bowl of steaming punch . He was an old-fashioned , eccentric looking fellow , this butler , wearing an antique white wig , breeches " with silver
buckles at his knees , " like Bobby Shafty in the song , and silk stockings , with a smiling face , pleasant to look upon , and he served out the punch in such a genial way that it seemed better for his touching it . He then took his place behind his master ' s
chair , and stood smiling on the company , which consisted of Mr . Buffings ( who , as far as smiling went , was the very counterpart of his butler ) , Mrs . Buffings , two sons and their wives , three daughters and their husbands , and a perfect flock of grandsons
and granddaughters , Mr . Playfair , Mr . Puggings , and the butler in question—for , so far as geniality went , our old serving man seemed to keep the party going . Not that they needed much to do it , for a livelier party never met together , as Hall
Stevenson would say , " neither before nor since the flood . " The youug ones played games , the old ones sitting watching and drinking punch , until the butler said : " I wonder if old Gregory ' s Ghost will walk to-night . Rather a cold niht for
g him , I fancy , and sprites are never very thickly clad , by all accounts . " " What Ghost is that ? " asked Mr . Playfair .
" One that is said to haunt this house , " replied Mr . Buffings . " Ha ! pray tell us the legend , " requested Mr . Playfair . _ " Why , it ' s all a pack of nonsense , " rejoined his host . " However , if you like to
hear it , I've no objection to tell it . " Now it was a queer thing , but just at this juncture the young ones seemed to grow tired of playing , and drew up to the old ones , whilst the old ones suddenly felt the col d stronger just then , so that all drew their chairs near to the fire . The Wind , which for some time bad been
growing stronger , began to howl more dismall y , and Mr . Buffings began his story " AH that I know about old Gregory , " said he , « is that he was the owner of this Mansion a great many years ago . Besides wns estate he had acquired much money , tto one knew how . He was a bachelor , and ived in avery retired and eccentric manner
with an old housekeeper and an old valet or butler as his only attendants . He occasionally went to London , where he had an office in some part of the city , but what he did there was as much a mystery as the rest of his proceedings . He kept no society , and no one about here knew him except by name . Towards the latter end of his life his visits to London became
more frequent , and he appeared unsettled in his manner , and , after one of his visits to the great metropolis , he came back quite agitated , sat drinking alone until midnight , then went up to bed , and was heard by his man-servant to lock himself
in his room , a thing which he had never before been in the habit of doing . " At this point of the story the company seemed to feel the cold more keenly than ever , maugre the punch within them , and with one accord all drew nearer the fire ;
while the old butler came from behind his master ' s chair , where he had hitherto kept his position , like Corporal Tim with Uncle Toby , and stirred and replenished the fire with fuel , but remained standing at the end of the mantel piecedoubtless to
, be ready to attend to the fire when it needed it again , as he kept looking thoughtfully into it , as many other men have done both before and since . " Next morning , " said Mr . Buffings , continuing his story , " old Gregory did not
appear at his usual time . Hour after hour passed by , and still he never came . Though forbid to ever call him when he did not rise as usual , the old couple began to be afraid that illness had overtaken himand therefore mustered courage to
, break his strict injunctions by knocking at his bedroom door . There was no reply . Again they knocked , and again , but with the same result .
" Old Margery , the housekeeper , who durst not be left alone in the house , put on her bonnet and pattens , and , wrapping herself well up in her scarlet cloak , proceeded to the village , told her story to the doctor and constable , and soon raised a forcesome going with a sincere desire to
, be useful to their fellow-creatures , others merely to see what was the matter at old Gregory ' s . Arrived at the mansion , the door of old Gregory ' s bedchamber was soon forced open , and " Here the wind shrieked more fiercel y
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Old Gregory's Ghost:
had been served , the old butler entered the apartment , bearing in his arms a huge bowl of steaming punch . He was an old-fashioned , eccentric looking fellow , this butler , wearing an antique white wig , breeches " with silver
buckles at his knees , " like Bobby Shafty in the song , and silk stockings , with a smiling face , pleasant to look upon , and he served out the punch in such a genial way that it seemed better for his touching it . He then took his place behind his master ' s
chair , and stood smiling on the company , which consisted of Mr . Buffings ( who , as far as smiling went , was the very counterpart of his butler ) , Mrs . Buffings , two sons and their wives , three daughters and their husbands , and a perfect flock of grandsons
and granddaughters , Mr . Playfair , Mr . Puggings , and the butler in question—for , so far as geniality went , our old serving man seemed to keep the party going . Not that they needed much to do it , for a livelier party never met together , as Hall
Stevenson would say , " neither before nor since the flood . " The youug ones played games , the old ones sitting watching and drinking punch , until the butler said : " I wonder if old Gregory ' s Ghost will walk to-night . Rather a cold niht for
g him , I fancy , and sprites are never very thickly clad , by all accounts . " " What Ghost is that ? " asked Mr . Playfair .
" One that is said to haunt this house , " replied Mr . Buffings . " Ha ! pray tell us the legend , " requested Mr . Playfair . _ " Why , it ' s all a pack of nonsense , " rejoined his host . " However , if you like to
hear it , I've no objection to tell it . " Now it was a queer thing , but just at this juncture the young ones seemed to grow tired of playing , and drew up to the old ones , whilst the old ones suddenly felt the col d stronger just then , so that all drew their chairs near to the fire . The Wind , which for some time bad been
growing stronger , began to howl more dismall y , and Mr . Buffings began his story " AH that I know about old Gregory , " said he , « is that he was the owner of this Mansion a great many years ago . Besides wns estate he had acquired much money , tto one knew how . He was a bachelor , and ived in avery retired and eccentric manner
with an old housekeeper and an old valet or butler as his only attendants . He occasionally went to London , where he had an office in some part of the city , but what he did there was as much a mystery as the rest of his proceedings . He kept no society , and no one about here knew him except by name . Towards the latter end of his life his visits to London became
more frequent , and he appeared unsettled in his manner , and , after one of his visits to the great metropolis , he came back quite agitated , sat drinking alone until midnight , then went up to bed , and was heard by his man-servant to lock himself
in his room , a thing which he had never before been in the habit of doing . " At this point of the story the company seemed to feel the cold more keenly than ever , maugre the punch within them , and with one accord all drew nearer the fire ;
while the old butler came from behind his master ' s chair , where he had hitherto kept his position , like Corporal Tim with Uncle Toby , and stirred and replenished the fire with fuel , but remained standing at the end of the mantel piecedoubtless to
, be ready to attend to the fire when it needed it again , as he kept looking thoughtfully into it , as many other men have done both before and since . " Next morning , " said Mr . Buffings , continuing his story , " old Gregory did not
appear at his usual time . Hour after hour passed by , and still he never came . Though forbid to ever call him when he did not rise as usual , the old couple began to be afraid that illness had overtaken himand therefore mustered courage to
, break his strict injunctions by knocking at his bedroom door . There was no reply . Again they knocked , and again , but with the same result .
" Old Margery , the housekeeper , who durst not be left alone in the house , put on her bonnet and pattens , and , wrapping herself well up in her scarlet cloak , proceeded to the village , told her story to the doctor and constable , and soon raised a forcesome going with a sincere desire to
, be useful to their fellow-creatures , others merely to see what was the matter at old Gregory ' s . Arrived at the mansion , the door of old Gregory ' s bedchamber was soon forced open , and " Here the wind shrieked more fiercel y