Nature Studies (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1883 Excerpt: ...to the servant girls, who had to cross the space between the house and the wall to open the outer door in the latter, and were thus exposed to wet and eold," The annoyance became so great that Mr. Layard and a cousin watched behind the trees on "Jesus piece," armed with stout ash saplings, wherewith to administer a sound thrashing to the ringer, whomsoever he might be. But though the rings continued, no one pulled the handle. Hence the theory of ghosts was naturally suggested, but Mr. Layard, having brains, rejected that interpretation. At length chance cleared np the mystery. "Being ill," he says, " I was confined to the wing facing the trellis, and one miserable, blowing, wet day, gazing disconsolately out of the window, espied my favorite cat--a singularly intelligent animal, much petted--coming along the path, wet, draggle-tailed, and miserable. Pussy marched up to the house-door, sniffed at it, pushed it, mewed, but, finding it fairly shut, clambered up to the top of the trellis, some eight or ten feet fiom the ground, reached a paw over the edge, scratched till she found the bell-wire which ran along the upper rail from the wall to the house, caught hold of it, gave it a hearty pull, then jumped down, and waited demurely at the door. Out came the maid; in rushed puss. The former, after gazing vaguely up and down the street, returned, muttering ' blessings, ' no doubt, on the ghost, to be confronted by me in the hall. 'Well, Lydia, I have at last found out who rings the bell.' 'Lard, master, ye haven't, surely '--she was broad Zumerzetaheer. 'I have, come and see. Look out of the breakfast-room window, but don't show yourself.' Meanwhile I went into the drawingroom, where Mrs. Puss was busy drying herself before the fire. C...