r of the disturbances no longer doubtful, and was considered by
serious clergymen a conclusive proof that they resulted from "Satanic
Agency."

However, to subsequent interrogatories, as to whether the "NICHOLAS" who
scratched in the cupboards was the same as that personage generally
known as "Old Scratch," the reply was uniformly in the negative; and the
cupboard-haunting NICHOLAS was described as not that old one but "the
other."

Several defunct NICHOLASES were then named, and the question was put
with regard to each in succession, whether he was the one alluded to;
but in every case it was declared that the individual mentioned was not
the scratching NICHOLAS.

At last--in a kind of jocose despair--was put the inquiry, whether the
NICHOLAS was the EMPEROR OF RUSSIA. When, to the amazement of all the
hearers, the response distinctly rapped out was "Yes!"

A clue was thus obtained for ulterior investigation, by which it was
elicited that the CZAR NICHOLAS was in the cupboards by force of his
operation on the loaf, of which, by his nefarious proceedings, prompted
by ambition, pride, and rapacity, he had raised the price to everybody
in the nation. The knocking and scratching indicated rage and fury,
combined with irritation and vexation on account of having got into a
scrape.

The sort of ubiquity which seems involved in one individual vermin
infesting so many cupboards at the same time, is declared to be a
mystery, the solution of which is referred to the abstruser laws of
mesmerism. By the assistance of the mediums we learn that NICHOLAS has
remarkable faculties of a spiritual kind, which he partakes of as the
limb participates in the nature of the parent body. Hence, indeed, he is
adored as the deity of the Russians; just as his ancient namesake is
"honoured for his burning throne."

Since the above particulars were communicated, it has been positively
averred, by ladies venerable for their years and other persons of the
soundest judgment as well as the highest respectability, that, on going
to their cupboards late at night to cut a slice of bread and butter,
they have been terrified by the miniature apparition of a gigantic
figure with an inflated aspect, bestriding the loaf in a military
uniform and a pair of jack-boots. So that now, in almost all families,
when any strange noise is heard about the house, it is customary to
refer the disturbance to the CZAR in the cupboard.

* * *