The Best Ghost Stories | Page 4

upon our past course of life we have led in the world; that our time is
short and uncertain; and that if we would escape the punishment of the ungodly, and
receive the reward of the righteous, which is the laying hold of eternal life, we ought, for
the time to come, to return to God by a speedy repentance, ceasing to do evil, and
learning to do well: to seek after God early, if happily He may be found of us, and lead
such lives for the future, as may be well pleasing in His sight.
A RELATION OF THE APPARITION OF MRS. VEAL
This thing is so rare in all its circumstances, and on so good authority, that my reading
and conversation has not given me anything like it: it is fit to gratify the most ingenious
and serious inquirer. Mrs. Bargrave is the person to whom Mrs. Veal appeared after her
death; she is my intimate friend, and I can avouch for her reputation, for these last fifteen
or sixteen years, on my own knowledge; and I can confirm the good character she had

from her youth, to the time of my acquaintance. Though, since this relation, she is
calumniated by some people, that are friends to the brother of this Mrs. Veal, who
appeared; who think the relation of this appearance to be a reflection, and endeavor what
they can to blast Mrs. Bargrave's reputation, and to laugh the story out of countenance.
But by the circumstances thereof, and the cheerful disposition of Mrs. Bargrave,
notwithstanding the ill-usage of a very wicked husband, there is not yet the least sign of
dejection in her face; nor did I ever hear her let fall a desponding or murmuring
expression; nay, not when actually under her husband's barbarity; which I have been
witness to, and several other persons of undoubted reputation.
Now you must know, Mrs. Veal was a maiden gentlewoman of about thirty years of age,
and for some years last past had been troubled with fits; which were perceived coming on
her, by her going off from her discourse very abruptly to some impertinence. She was
maintained by an only brother, and kept his house in Dover. She was a very pious woman,
and her brother a very sober man to all appearance; but now he does all he can to null or
quash the story. Mrs. Veal was intimately acquainted with Mrs. Bargrave from her
childhood. Mrs. Veal's circumstances were then mean; her father did not take care of his
children as he ought, so that they were exposed to hardships; and Mrs. Bargrave, in those
days, had as unkind a father, though she wanted neither for food nor clothing, whilst Mrs.
Veal wanted for both; insomuch that she would often say, Mrs. Bargrave, you are not
only the best, but the only friend I have in the world, and no circumstances of life shall
ever dissolve my friendship. They would often condole each other's adverse fortunes, and
read together Drelincourt upon Death, and other good books; and so, like two Christian
friends, they comforted each other under their sorrow.
Some time after, Mr. Veal's friends got him a place in the custom-house at Dover, which
occasioned Mrs. Veal, by little and little, to fall off from her intimacy with Mrs. Bargrave,
though there was never any such thing as a quarrel; but an indifferency came on by
degrees, till at last Mrs. Bargrave had not seen her in two years and a half; though above
a twelvemonth of the time Mrs. Bargrave hath been absent from Dover, and this last half
year has been in Canterbury about two months of the time, dwelling in a house of her
own.
In this house, on the 8th of September, 1705, she was sitting alone in the forenoon,
thinking over her unfortunate life, and arguing herself into a due resignation to
providence, though her condition seemed hard. And, said she, I have been provided for
hitherto, and doubt not but I shall be still; and am well satisfied that my afflictions shall
end when it is most fit for me: and then took up her sewing-work, which she had no
sooner done, but she hears a knocking at the door. She went to see who was there, and
this proved to be Mrs. Veal, her old friend, who was in a riding-habit. At that moment of
time the clock struck twelve at noon.
Madam, says Mrs. Bargrave, I am surprised to see you, you have been so long a stranger;
but told her, she was glad to see her, and offered to salute her; which Mrs. Veal complied
with, till their lips almost touched; and then Mrs. Veal drew her hand across her own eyes,
and said, I