This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1900 edition. Excerpt: ...out a basket, and gathered all the fruit and vegetables he could lay hands on; then bringing it swiftly into the house, he set it on the hearth, lifted up the cover of a large saucepan, and tumbled the things he had gathered indiscriminately into' the boiling water. At times he would attend when visitors were present, horrifying them by moving things around without any visible agency, and scare them almost into fits by taking part in their conversation, and reminding them that he was the Bill Dole they had formerly known when he lived among them. On one occasion a lady, making a visit to the distressed family, incautiously expressed her disgust that a wretch of the well-known bad character of Bill Dole should, as report alleged, come back to make Spiritual manifestations. "She openly expressed her disbelief of the popular rumours, alleging that it must be some trick of the neighbours, which would ultimately be discovered. Whilst speaking, the family became extremely uneasy, judging from the kicks and poundings on a bureau in the apartment that the subject of the visitor's unfavourable criticisms was himself listening to them. Not were they mistaken. In a few minutes the voice of the spirit was heard in clear and distinct tones, saluting the visitor as ' my dear, ' and asking afiectionately after the little boy Arthur, ' whom you know, my precious one, ' the mischievous imp added, ' I am the real father of, though you do try to hide it by abusing me.' "The tricks, and sometimes the mischief enacted by this invisible persecutor were beyond all description weird and powerful. "By night and day his pranks were continued, and though he always yielded to the remonstrances of...