Nightly visitor has homeowner spooked

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Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: I just moved into an old house and think I have a ghost. It’s a man and he comes and sits on the edge of my bed. He just sits there while I quiver and quake, and a voice says, “Don’t be afraid, dear. I’ll only stay a minute.” Then he’s gone and only the smell of his pipe tobacco lingers. Nobody smokes pipes anymore. He must be from long ago. Who is he, and why does he sit on my bed?

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Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 17/11/2015 (3972 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: I just moved into an old house and think I have a ghost. It’s a man and he comes and sits on the edge of my bed. He just sits there while I quiver and quake, and a voice says, “Don’t be afraid, dear. I’ll only stay a minute.” Then he’s gone and only the smell of his pipe tobacco lingers. Nobody smokes pipes anymore. He must be from long ago. Who is he, and why does he sit on my bed?

— Scared to Sleep, Wolseley

 

Dear Scared: I’m one of those people who doesn’t know where I stand on these things, although I lean towards the cynical. Still, I can see why these events would scare a person. What some people do is dig into the history of the house they’ve acquired to see if there were any deaths under its roof. Older residents of the street will often give you all the free information you want, with some tasteless gossip thrown in. Then, there’s news archives, obituaries and looking up younger relatives of all the people who owned your house for their stories.

For now, try sleeping in a different bedroom, and call in ghostbusters (if you believe in that). You could also re-sell the old place if you have to. Then there’s the moral issue, which didn’t bother the people before you, to tell or not to tell.

 

Please send your questions and comments to lovecoach@hotmail.com or Miss Lonelyhearts c/o the Winnipeg Free Press, 1355 Mountain Ave., Winnipeg, MB, R2X 3B6

 

Miss Lonelyhearts

Miss Lonelyhearts
Advice Columnist

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