church spire opposite, and when he looked again the little old man was gone! Bewildered, and half-fearing that in spite of appearances he had hurried the old man till he gave out, my uncle rode about and looked in the fence corners and searched for him in every direction, but without success. Then he dismounted, and, tying his horse, went into the grave-yard and looked about among the graves, but he was not there. At length he gave up the useless search, and, remounting, rode on to the gentleman's where he intended to stop, and in the course of the evening he mentioned the circumstance and asked the gentleman's opinion about it. He replied that he had heard something similar a time or two before, and could not account for it any further than that he knew a little old man of that description was found frozen to death at the side of the road some miles below, during the past winter, and that he had been buried at the grave-yard of the Organ Church by the people of the neighborhood." A silence succeeded for a minute or two, and then we turned expectantly to Aunt Debbie, who instantly remarked, "I cannot vouch for the authenticity of 'ghost stories' in general, but this has at least the merit of being strictly true, you may rely upon that. "Very many years ago, when my 'infant feet,' as Mrs. Sigourney beautifully expresses it, had trod upon the blossoms of some seven springs,' I had one very intimate friend, little Ellen Marston, whom I loved better than any little body in the world, for I was not so fortunate as to have either brother or sister near my own age. Ellen was a gentle, graceful little being, with a fair complexion, large, tender blue eyes, and a perfect crown of golden curls about her head, that danced and floated with every movement of her flexible little figure. All this was very good and beautiful, but Ellen had that which is better-a loving, truthful and unselfish nature-and it was for this I loved her so dearly, and for this, also, she was considered a profitable companion for Aunt Debbie, who was no better than she should be, I assure you. Dr. Marston lived more than a mile beyond the village then, and whenever I was permitted to go see Ellie, I was, to my great delight, generally allowed to remain some time at Greenbank. I had been spending a week there at the time my story opens, and was sent for rather unexpectedly to return home. My brother John, then a young man, came for me, and I was to return with him next day, so we retired soon, Ellie and I, the last night we were to spend together, determining to get up early, as we had to dress our dolls differently and make some contemplated improvements in our play-houses. In fact, John's premature arrival had interfered with some very important arrangements of ours, and we had now nothing left but to make the best of a bad matter. "The house at Greenbank was a long, low building, flanked right and left with wings a single room deep, and all on the ground-floor. A piazza, whose slender columns supported honey-suckle, jessamine and other climbing plants, extended along the entire front of the house, and was called 'Lovers' Lane,' from some old legend connected with it, I believe. This was a most attractive spot in summer time; for birds built among its vines, and the doctor sometimes placed an Eolian harp in his window near the corner column; but now the wind blew, and the snow drifted in, till it was impossible for us to play there. "We occupied the chamber at the extreme end of the right wing. It was a well-lighted room, having windows on three sides, and this night it was particularly so, as the ground was covered with snow, over which a full January moon poured its silver radiance. The walls, curtains, and drapery of the bed were white, and, altogether, the room was almost as light as day. "We had talked a long time, and kissed each other goodnight repeatedly; but, still remembering something that the other had forgotten, it was far into the night before we became sleepy. Little Ellen had not answered my last question or two, and I was gradually sinking into a doze, when, suddenly and unaccountably, I became conscious that some one was near the bed. Whether I had been roused by a sound or movement I cannot tell, but I was now broad awake, and, haunted by an indefinable feeling of dread and fear, I lay waiting and watching for the inevitable something I felt was impending. Nor did I wait long, before, slowly and solemnly, moved a tall, white figure out from the head of the bed. (At this moment the tongs slid and fell behind Nellie, who leaped into Aunt Debbie's lap, to the imminent danger of the half-finished stocking. Aunt D. held her there, and continued :) "It seemed like a human being completely shrouded in white; and, as it moved between my eyes and the moonlight, I could see that its ghastly face was turned towards me, and that its large, fearful-looking black eyes were fixed upon mine. Slowly it moved on round the bed, but its face turned always towards me, and its glaring eyes never swerved an instant from mine. When it reached the head of the bed again, an arm was stretched out, and a heavy ice-cold hand was laid upon my forehead. My blood seemed to congeal in my veins beneath that touch. I was stone cold with terror. I could not speak-I could not move. I was paralyzed. I could not even think, and for some time, I think, I must have been insensible. Gradually, however, consciousness returned, and with it the recollection of the fearful visitant, and the unutterable dread of a second visitation. Oh, the agony of those interminable hours! I did not dare to speak to Ellen, or to touch her, not even to move. I could only lie, and long for day, while the cold perspiration gathered upon my forehead in great drops. At last it came, and with the first movement in the house, I sprang to the floor. Ellen followed instantly. I looked at her. Her face startled me. It was livid; every hue of health had faded, and she staggered and trembled So, I could hardly get her along the corridor to her mother's room. She had seen it too-the same cold hand had been laid on her forehead, she said, and she shivered all over at the recollection. Poor little Ellie! not even the tender caresses of her mother, who took us both into her bed, could reassure her, nor the loving pressure of her lips and arms restore the warmth and glow of life to her little shivering frame. One cold chill succeeded another, and then came fever, and, for weeks afterwards, little Ellen's life was despaired of. I was conveyed home, and, for two or three months afterwards, was the victim of a low, nervous fever, from which I gradually recovered; but the worst consequence of that terrible night to me was the dread of being left alone. I could not endure to be left alone, even in the daytime, for years afterwards; and, even now, I sometimes live over the unspeakable horror of that night in my dreams. Meantime, Dr. Marston and your Uncle John, neither of whom had any sort of faith in apparitions whatever, instituted a strict search for the unprincipled person who could (as they averred) thus cruelly frighten two helpless, unoffending children. Large rewards were offered for the detection of the culprit, but without avail. The servants were closely questioned, and proved innocent. The premises were examined, but a slight bed of snow had fallen towards morning, and there was not a footprint to be seen about the house, and the windows and out-door of the apartment (which was at the head of the bed) were found securely fastened as the servant had left them the night before, without a shadow of alteration. The door that opened into the corridor had to be unlocked, I know; for, in my trepidation, I could hardly succeed in getting it open, and I had told them so. Not a clue to this mystery could be found, on the closest scrutiny, and, in a few weeks, the unavailing search was abandoned. "The ghost story of Greenbank was now noised abroad, and, with variations, became a fruitful topic for all the nursery-maids of the district. Some very conveniently disposed of the ghost by sending him upon a broom-stick up the chimney-others averred that he had disappeared through the key-hole-and others, more magnificent in their conceptions, shook the house to its centre, and sent him off in the midst of thunder and lightning. "Ten years after, at a party given to Ellen by a mutual friend, Dr. -was introduced to me. 'I have had the pleasure of meeting you before, Miss Dodsyn,' said he, in a tone of voice unpleasantly familiar; so I merely replied I did not remember. 'Oh yes, you do,' said he, 'I have given you good cause to remember me. Don't you recollect the last night you spent in the end chamber of Greenbank. Well, I had the honor of spending some little time with you there, though I am quite certain you did not recognize me.' 'Indeed!' said I, concealing, as well as I could, my indignation to get at the truth, and how did you get there, sir?' 66 6 Luckily the doctor's perceptive organs were not very largely developed, so he answered without hesitation, 'Well, as I was an old student of the doctor's, the room you occupied was mine, and I had a night-key to the door at the head of the bed, which opened from the piazza, you know. I had had leave of absence for a couple of weeks, but returned at the end of one, and going to my room and finding it so well tenanted, I determined to have a little fun at your expense; so I procured a sheet, chalked my face, held my hands in the snow till they were almost frozen, and then made my entrée. Your bright eyes were very observant, Miss Dodsyn, and I had to look very fiercely to frighten you.' (Little Nell closed hers.) And how did you get away?' I asked, calmly, forcing my indignation down. Oh, I remained some time at the head of the bed, and then stole out noiselessly.' 'Well.' 'But before that, while I was making preparations for my nocturnal visit, a man came for Dr. M. to attend a sick woman in the neighborhood, and I agreed to go in his stead, telling him to go on and I would follow soon. I was obliged to remain with the patient long enough to hear about the commotion at Marston's, and I was rather apprehensive. Fortunately for me, however, an inch or two of snow had fallen in the mean time, which prevented any one's knowing that I had been at Greenbank.' 'But-suggested I'would it not have been better for you to have returned to the doctor's, and remedied the evil, as far as possible, by a full explanation?' 'I thought of doing so at the timemeant to, in fact-but when I heard how seriously a mere practical joke was taken, I went back and filled up my leave of absence at R, as I had originally intended.' "But if you were afraid to discover yourself then, why do you do it now?' I inquired. "Oh,' said he, gallantly, 'what have I to fear from a gentle, charming young lady like yourself? Besides, at this distance of time I am safe, assuredly.' "Scarcely, sir!' said I, exasperated beyond endurance. 'If I had strength enough in this right arm, I would thrust you from the room now-but there is my brother.' "John, who happened at this moment to glance towards me from his station opposite, saw the unusual agitation of my manner, and crossed over immediately, but I, knowing the impetuosity of John's character, had presence of mind enough to ask him to take me out to the fresh air, attributing my emotion to a temporary cause. God forbid that I should be the cause of mortal combat between two of my fellow beings." (Here Aunt D. paused to take up a stitch, and we were all vociferous in our exclamations against the unfortunate doctor. Nellie thought he ought to have been punishednot killed nor cart-whipped-she didn't mean that, oh no— but published in the papers, or cut by the ladies, or somehow, and Frank thought he'd just like to have pitched him out the window, for fun. The stitch all right, Aunt D. resumed :) "The old house at Greenbank has long since given place to a modern and more stylish mansion. The doctor and his wife sleep together, side by side, in the quiet grave-yard attached to the old place, and Ellen is now the joy and sunshine of a planter's home on the beautiful banks of the Savannah, where she is trying, with God's assistance, to train a little Ellie and Debbie, with one or two other young immortal beings, for eternity." Aunt Debbie was silent awhile after concluding, and abstracted, as if busy with old associations; then, recollecting herself, she turned to Frank for his dream and its consequences. "Well," said Frank, with a preparatory ahem and a comical gravity of manner, quite irresistible, "I dreamt I fell out of bed the other night, and lo and behold I awoke and found myself on the floor!" Pen Illustrations of the Drafts. SCROLL-QUARTERED COACH. Illustrated on Plate XIX. MR. WALTER R. BUSH, of Albany, has kindly contributed this draft to the Magazine; but, in doing so, very modestly disclaims any originality about it. We fear that his extreme modesty in this instance may have deprived him of the credit justly his due. He, however, says: "I I have no recollection of copying, although I might have seen something like it in many respects." We consider it a very fine draft, whether original with our friend or copied, and therefore give it a place. On comparing this with the former illustrations of the coach, as given in this work, it will be found to differ from them in several points, and, consequently, we give it more for the sake of variety than as a representative of the fashion. As manufacturers, we think Messrs. Goold & Co. fully up to the fashions in getting up work, and for durability their work is seldom equaled. Track, 4 ft. 8 in. CHILD'S CARRIAGE. Illustrated on Plate XX. Mr. Ralph Smith, of New Haven, contributes this very pretty little child's carriage to the Magazine. It has been engraved from a photograph, without any reference to scale. We think, however, that any person wishing to make one can get all the idea necessary to do so from our picture. You will notice that a dolphin's tail forms the toe-board, and a nautilus-formed shell the body, which the dolphin appears in the act of swallowing-and such a mouthful! These were carved by Mr. G. H. Clinton. The whole is painted black, and touched up with brown and white to imitate the natural shell. Trimmed with coteline for body-linings, and figured silk in the head-linings. The top is enameled leather-the springs, joints, and bands being full-plated with silver. The price is $40. THE ALBANY SLEIGHS. Illustrated on Plate XXI. We give on this plate three different varieties of the sleigh, all in perspective, and all from ambrotypes of the manufactured article. They have been taken without regard to scale, and no doubt will prove quite as useful, as guides in manufacturing, as any with which the craft have been "bored" for the last three years. This is not saying much, to be sure, but it will show that we are not inclined to give a thing for more than it is worth, which value in this case we shall leave with those who have written us "please give us some sleighs." We are under many obligations to Messrs. Goold & Co. for these drafts, which represent truthfully their originals. We would be very much obliged to our friends if they would furnish descriptions of their drafts, to accompany their publication, when they hand them in. No one knows better than the manufacturer how a body is made, &c., &c., and it would lessen our editorial labors very much, besides giving our readers variety in detail. Where any may feel incompetent to do so, so as to meet the public eye, we will very cheerfully prepare their "rough notes for publication, and give the contributor full credit. Our next number will contain a fine draft of a hearse lately built at Albany, two light buggies, and a fourth draft, not yet decided upon. THE FATE OF A MONOPOLY.-The company in Paris which, a short time since, undertook to monopolize all the hackney coaches in that city, and to perform in its collective capacity what private enterprise and superintendence was much fitter to carry out with any chance of success, has proved a failure. The "Imperial Company of Fiacres" has got into debt two millions and a half francs, and is now borrowing the amount of its debts from another company, on the security of its "rolling stock." Sparks from the Anvil. A PLAIN DASH. Ir would be a very easy task to fill this department with designs of a fanciful nature, but which our readers would never make, perhaps. In this instance, we choose to give another picture of the times-we might say "hard times" -as everybody seems to think they are. Many shops here have made such dashes as our sketch presents, and some with two additional "bars," placed so as to come just where the straps to the flap secure the rolled-up apron. In а curved dash they answer a very good purpose, since the bars effectually prevent the apron and straps from wrinkling the leather in front of the covered dash, which is so often found to depreciate the value of some of the finest work. It will be understood that the squares at the upper corners form the dash handles, when the frame is covered. A DESIGN FOR A JENNY LIND DASH-RAIL. A FRIEND sends us this rail for a wooden dash. We give it in a half figure. The straight portion may be plated with silver. The whole design will, probably, be new to some of our read ers. HANDLE FOR A PHETON. THIS is a very tastefully shaped handle for a Phaeton, which tells its own story well. It shows a portion of the body with the slat-irons attached. The whole presents a very unique appearance, for which we are indebted to the same gentleman who favors us with the Jenny Lind dash-rail, above. For the New York Coach-maker's Magazine. THE CLIP KING-BOLT IN A NEW ASPECT. NEW YORK, September 27, 1858. EDITOR OF N. Y. COACH-MAKER'S MAGAZINE: Messrs. Dear Sir-The September number of your Magazine contains an article upon what you call a Clip King-bolt, and that Messrs. Stivers & Smith, of this city, are the first to adopt this plan. In this respect you are in error. Stivers & Smith were not the first to adopt the plan. My father is the inventor of this, as well as some other trifles in the line, for which he has never received credit. About two years since I built a light skeleton wagon, with the king-bolt exactly as you describe it, under the directions of my father, which was the first I ever saw or heard of it, and, I believe, the first that ever was built of the kind. He talked then of getting a patent for it, but has neglected it until now. He may, however, do so yet, if not too late. Since then I have built numbers of them, and have now, in my shop, two of them, with a stay underneath, as in ordinary king-bolts. It is, undoubtedly, the best plan ever invented for light work. Honor to whom honor is due. Yours, respectfully, J. N. REYNOLDS, 182 Suffolk street, N. Y. [The above letter takes off somewhat from the originality we credited to Messrs. Stivers & Smith, by this prior invention, by the father of our correspondent. We think, however, that the good nature of the parties-all of whom we are happy to number in our list of friends-will settle this questio vexato, without resort to "shooting-irons." We know that a smaller matter than this has produced a long and bloody war; but fortunately we live in an enlightened when plough-shares are more in use than spears, and when the cause of truth may be successfully vindicated with weapons bloodless as the quill.—ED.] age, DESIGN FOR A BAR AND STAY FOR THE CLIP KING-BOLT. H MR. REYNOLDS, whose communication in relation to the Clip King-bolt we give above, sends us the accompanying design for a "bar and stay" to the same. We think this addition very necessary, in order to relieve the strain on the king-bolt and to prevent the axle and bed from "turning under." We have had the cut done in conformity with the design furnished us, but we think an easy and graceful turn of the drop-stay, after leaving "the bar" or coupling, would greatly improve it, and besides make it less liable to break, as all iron-work, turned as in our example, is apt to be "galled " in the process. AT Aberystwith, England, in the churchyard of St. Michael's, is the following characteristic epitaph, in memory of David Davies, blacksmith: "My Sledge-hammer lays reclined, My Bellows, too, have lost their wind; My Nails are drove, my work is done." IN last contribution I gave you some hints concernmy ing priming, which subject I shall now follow up, with a few remarks on what may be properly termed "leading." After a body has been primed a sufficient length of time for that coat to become perfectly hard, lead-color is the next thing in order. This time you may use a little turpentine and dryer, enough to harden in three or four days. If the job is not hurried, apply the paint as thick as it will work freely; but, if you have not plenty of time, mix thin and put on an extra coat. Two thin applications will dry clear through quicker than one when plastered on heavy and thick. The next operation is puttying; and if the reader is not acquainted with an approved method of preparing putty or hard-stopper, as it is often called, he will please refer to the "Paint Room" of the September number. In applying priming and the first coat of lead, it is well to be particular about crowding the paint into all holes and inequalities needing puttying, as it will not adhere well to naked wood or iron; it will, also, in a great measure, prevent it from shrinking or bulging out. When filling holes, always allow the putty to protrude a little, it gives room for shrinking during the process of drying, and will cut down level when you rub the filling or "rough-stuff." Plastering for open-grained wood, should, I think, be mixed with keg-lead, thickened with whiting; add a little japan or litharge, to dry it. VARNISH. WHAT Strange antics varnish does cut up, when it takes a notion. Who is there among the craft long-headed enough to explain, satisfactorily, by what curious hypothesis these freaks are caused. I have heard innumerable theories advanced, and very ably argued, and yet my experience has proved each and all of them fallacious. One declares that, when the air is heavily charged with electricity, you should not varnish. Very plausible! But I have time and again put on a first-rate coat of varnish, when the very earth trembled with the violence of a thunder-storm, and the sky was lurid with darting lightning. Another warns you to beware of varnishing while it rains, or when the atmosphere is damp. While still another is of the opinion that hot dry weather is unfavorable, and extreme cold, ditto. Humbug! all of it. That there is some subtle influence in the atmosphere, which is the cause, there is not the shadow of a doubt, but what that influence is, or how it can be guarded against, are questions which will require the labors of an investigating committee of scientific men, ere they can be answered. It is but a few days ago that a case came under my observation, which was the strangest I have ever seen. Two bodies were varnished in different rooms, in the same building; the varnish used on both was drawn from the same can; there was no perceptible difference in the temperature of the rooms, and yet the varnish on one of them looked like the skin of a person badly scarred by small-pox, while the other was bright and smooth as the surface of a mirror. It is true that cases of this kind do not often happen, yet their occurrence is quite frequent enough to merit investigation at the hands of all who are interested. The cause once ascertained, measures may, no doubt, be taken to prevent the effect. Who will solve the problem? In consequence of the crowded state of our columns, we have necessarily been obliged to leave out Mr. Scott's article on Striping, until our next issue. ORIGINAL ORNAMENTAL DESIGNS. Illustrated on Plate XXII. No. 1. This design was sent us for the Magazine by Mr. J. C. Norris, of Canada East. The eagle should be painted to imitate nature, of course, the scroll drop-lake, showing marine blue, tips of leaves touched with silver white, the central shield with blue, the lines gold color, dots white. We think this a very pretty design, and will look well on a coach or Rockaway door quarter, if rightly executed. No. 2. This and the next design are from the pencil of Mr. Ferdinand, heraldic painter, of this city. The mermaid to be laid on a gold ground, the lower portion of the body shaded with ultra-marine, the scales and outline black, and the upper portion with some flesh-colored paint. The water scene dark blue, with light and yellow tinge. Surrounding ornamental work should be gilt, shaded, and would be much improved by a few judicious touches of light colors. No. 3. Surrounding ornnmental scrolls, gilt and shaded, shield red or blue, the initials gold. Trimming Room. GEOMETRY OF CARRIAGE TOPS.-No. 2. BY M. G. TOUSLEY. AFTER obtaining the measure of the bows, by means of the scale given on page 74, the question next arises, what kind of bow-slats are the best and cheapest? Some manufacture them from wrought iron, at a cost of from $1 to $1 25 per set, and more, if plated. Others use the common malleable slat-iron and cover the ends of the bows with a socket. This socket costs, in labor and material, from 50 cents to $150 per pair. No stitched socket can be made by hand for less than $1, and must be plain at that price. From these figures it will readily be seen that the covers, which are needed to conceal a clumsy and cheap malleable iron slat, will cost just about as much as a finely-made and plated slat-iron; so that the cost of the cheap slat-iron is a dead loss instead of a saving. The manufacture of single sets of neatly-constructed wrought-iron slats is a loss of time, and cannot compete with an article that is systematically manufactured. Finding this to be true, many different forms of slat-irons have been invented, and their manufacture covered by a patent. For a cheap and durable iron, the Smith's patent has been received with considerable favor. Shelton & Tuttle's patent is used in many parts of the East, where cheap work is manufactured, as the socket end of the iron can be made to receive the bow in such a manner as to allow the whole to be finely finished with paint, instead of being covered in the ordinary way. All of these styles are good, and can be recommended for the purposes for which they are designed; but, for a fine slat-iron, strong, handsome and convenient, the Cook's patent has no superior. The japanned iron is strong and finishes up to the bow neatly, while the plated ones are accompanied with capped nuts and plated screws, and the cost of a full plated set is less than that of the cheapest malleable ones covered with a respectable socket, and a carriage will sell quicker, if not better, with the former applied. The superior convenience of the Cook's patent is no inconsiderable item, as the bows can be covered separately, or the covers stitched by a machine and slipped on, and the irons inserted afterwards. Others may differ with me in my views, but this is no puff, as that is an article which finds no place in this department. In writing this series, I must be allowed to speak freely of all the inventions which enter into the composition of the part under consideration, as I intend to dissect a carriage top, and treat of it in all its parts, candidly, with the intention of advancing many useful hints, and of eliciting some from others. Having disposed of the subject of "bow slats," which seemed to stand between measuring and setting bows, I shall proceed, in the next article, to give a new method of applying the measure (obtained from the draft) to the bow, in cutting it off and attaching it to the iron, which I believe to be not only original but very useful. NEATNESS AMONG TRIMMERS. Order is Heaven's first law, and in no department of our business have we found less of this law than in the trimming room. Some workmen will have their work-bench filled with tacks, knobs, buckles, chalk, paste-in short, a sorry hodge-podge of here a little and there a good deal of the evidence of slovenliness on the part of the occupant. Then, again, the patent leather is unrolled and kicking about the floor, the moss-nobody uses moss now-a-daysand curled hair are everywhere, and the paste is sticking to everything in use. We have seen trimmers, whose jobs have been "turned out" with such a variety of paste shading, about the top and other parts of the leather, as to almost entirely spoil it. Such workmen are not fitted for their profession. The old adage, "an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure," was never more appropriately exercised than in the trimming department. We all know that leather, once soiled, can never be made to |