On a large farm near Portarlington there once lived a Mrs. ----, a
strong-minded, capable woman, who managed all her affairs for herself,
giving her orders, and taking none from anybody. In due time she died,
and the property passed to the next-of-kin. As soon, however, as the
funeral was over, the house was nightly disturbed by strange noises:
people downstairs would hear rushings about in the upper rooms, banging
of doors, and the sound of heavy footsteps. The cups and saucers used to
fall off the dresser, and all the pots and pans would rattle.

This went on for some time, till the people could stand it no longer,
so they left the house and put in a herd and his family. The latter was
driven away after he had been in the house a few weeks. This happened
to several people, until at length a man named Mr. B---- took the house.
The noises went on as before until some one suggested getting the priest
in. Accordingly the priest came, and held a service in the late
Mrs. ----'s bedroom. When this was over, the door of the room was locked.
After that the noises were not heard till one evening Mr. B---- came home
from a fair, fortified, no doubt, with a little "Dutch courage," and
declared that even if the devil were in it he would go into the locked
room. In spite of all his family could say or do, he burst open the door,
and entered the room, but apparently saw nothing. That night pandemonium
reigned in the house, the chairs were hurled about, the china was broken,
and the most weird and uncanny sounds were heard. Next day the priest
was sent for, the room again shut up, and nothing has happened from that
day to this.

Another strange story comes from the same town. "When I was on a visit to
a friend in Portarlington," writes a lady in the _Journal_ of the
American S.P.R.[4] "a rather unpleasant incident occurred to me. At about