The Wreck of the South Pole and Other Strange Tales — page 148: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

What Shall She Do? 14! to settle the noises, the two arose at once and declared that it was flying in the face of Providence to suggest such a thing and that they would not stand it. At last our little company became so completely de- moralized that one morning after breakfast, at which the steak had come up burnt black and the coffee bitter and cold, I turned to my aunt and said: “Aunt Chris, I begin to fear we will have to give it up.” But my aunt, who is a woman of spirit, replied: “No, James, we will not give it up. Turn off the women and we will run the house ourselves; or, rather, send them away, and we will have only ourselves to wait on.”’ Like many another innocent male victim, I had never thought of getting along without these faithful incum- brances. But, as I always do, I assented ta my aunt’s plan, and the servants departed. It was:now getting along toward the holidays. In the early autumn, when we first thought of this winter resi- dence, we had rashly invited a company of friends to spend some time with us. They, not being aware of the supernatural visitants of our home, and the present de- fenseless condition of its inmates, we passed a day in writing to them and explaining the situation. Being of sound minds, they all came. We drew lots for rooms, and each bound himself or herself to wage unceasing warfare upon all spiritual vis- itants, and in the last night of the holidays to gather in the great dining room, heap up the table with nuts and ECORAIE OOOKS (SO)