Four Ghosts - No2 - Farmer Giles

[Diana E. Backhouse]

The old man slumped into his favourite chair and slipped out of his work boots and gaiters. Lighting a taper from the roaring log fire, he drew on his clay pipe, that he had filled with tobacco from his leather pouch, until a plume of smoke filled the air with its pungent aroma. With a contented sigh, Farmer Giles relaxed after a hard day's labour, the woven willow seat of his chair creaking in response.

                            *****

 

When we moved into our part of the 17th century farmhouse,my mother bought the old chair for us from an antique shop.When the children were young, the ghost of Farmer Giles often visited his favourite seat, making the basketwork creak when no-one else was sitting on it.

 

The story of the old man grew up around the creakings, so much so that ,in the end, we could almost smell his tobacco smoke; Farmer Giles is very much a well established member of our family!

 

[Diana E. Backhouse]

I'm pleased to have pleased, Stephen.

[Stephen Torelli]

A pleasing ghost tale... I like this.

[Diana E. Backhouse]

Gita - we have a list of people who have lived here or owned the house since 1615, but we don't know whether that was the year in which it was built. It is built of brick. When we did an archaeological dig under our living-room floor, we found we were sitting on the remains of a much earlier dwelling.

[Gita]

the house was built in the 1600s? My god, what is it made of to last so long? Houses here last 200 years at best.

[Diana E. Backhouse]

Thanks for your comments, Beth. The basket seat of the chair creaks with climatic changes. Ghosts nos 3 and 4 were more creepy as there is no explanation for them.

[Beth Overmyer]

Nice imagery, Diana! I felt like I was in the room with Farmer Giles :) Creepy, that second part.

[Diana E. Backhouse]

Ravi - The only fact here is that the chair creaks and still does. The story around it is purely fiction.

We have no intention of selling 'Farmer Giles'.

[Ravi Bedi]

Is this your own story? Is the chair still creaking? I'd put it on sale!

[Diana E. Backhouse]

That almost makes me wish Farmer Giles was much more than an old chair with a creaking basketwork seat.

[bolton carley]

i know.  it's perfect.  we used to mow the lady's yard for her before she passed away.  and now my sis still gets to talk to her.