Produced by Distributed Proofreaders
Men, Women, and Ghosts
by
Elizabeth Stuart Phelps
1869.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1869, by FIELDS,
OSGOOD, & CO., in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the
District of Massachusetts.
University Press: Welch, Bigelow, &., Cambridge.
Note.
Of this collection of stories, "Calico," "The Day of my Death," and"Night-Watches" (the last under the title of "Voices of the Night") haveappeared in Harper's Monthly; "One of the Elect," (under the title of"Magdalene,") in Hours at Home; and "Little Tommy Tucker," in theWatchman and Reflector.
Andover, April, 1869.
Contents.
No News
The Tenth of January
Night-Watches
The Day of My Death
"Little Tommy Tucker"
One of the Elect
What Was the Matter?
In the Gray Goth
Calico
Kentucky's Ghost
No News.
None at all. Understand that, please, to begin with. That you will atonce, and distinctly, recall Dr. Sharpe—and his wife, I make no doubt.Indeed, it is because the history is a familiar one, some of theunfamiliar incidents of which have come into my possession, that Iundertake to tell it.
My relation to the Doctor, his wife, and their friend, has been in manyrespects peculiar. Without entering into explanations which I am not atliberty to make, let me say, that those portions of their story whichconcern our present purpose, whether or not they fell under my personalobservation, are accurately, and to the best of my judgment impartially,related.
Nobody, I think, who was at the wedding, dreamed that there would everbe such a story to tell. It was such a pretty, peaceful wedding! If youwere there, you remember it as you remember a rare sunrise, or apeculiarly delicate May-flower, or that strain in a simple old songwhich is like orioles and butterflies and dew-drops.
There were not many of us; we were all acquainted with one another; theday was bright, and Harrie did not faint nor cry. There were a coupleof bridesmaids,—Pauline Dallas, and a Miss—Jones, I think,—besidesHarrie's little sisters; and the people were well dressed and welllooking, but everybody was thoroughly at home, comfortable, and on alevel. There was no annihilating of little country friends in grayalpacas by city cousins in point and pearls, no crowding and no crush,and, I believe, not a single "front breadth" spoiled by the ices.
Harrie is not called exactly pretty, but she must be a very plain womanwho is not pleasant to see upon her wedding day. Harrie's eyes shone,—Inever saw such eyes! and she threw her head back like a queen whom theywere crowning.
Her father married them. Old Mr. Bird was an odd man, with odd notionsof many things, of which marriage was one. The service was his own. Iafterwards asked him for a copy of it, which I have preserved. TheCovenant ran thus:—
"Appealing to your Father who is in heaven to witness your sincerity,you …. do now take this woman whose hand you hold—choosing her alonefrom all the world—to be your lawfully wedded wife. You trust her asyour best earthly friend. You promise to love, to cherish, and toprotect her; to be considerate of her happiness in your p