The native American., 1838-04-14

corpse. Where was the magic of this wonderful
being! watched him like an eagle, but there
was ever the same subdued manner about him.--
lie glided across the floor like a woman in a sick
chamber; he looked at you, and your very soul
bounded and leaped beneath the swimming glance
of the philosopher. His habits were secluded
and studious. He pored over large tones and
rlch-clasped books, and at times his brow would
darken as If tempest of wrath was brooding over
him, and again his color would revive, as if ideas
like rose leaves, had expanded in his soft and en-
chanted soul. became regular attendant at his
rooms, and witnessed some strange scenes in the
course of his practice.
1t was weird and ghastly occupation, that of
this early magnetizer He so calm and melan-
lcholy-the patient pale, haggard and ghostlike
and there / have seen him stand gazing on the
pallid face until the tears would rush into his ewes,
and his whole frame would lremble as with an
ague fit.
From deep interest in the philosopher, / be-
came warm student of the philosophy. 1t ex-
cited and filled me with visionary thoughts, but
had never allowed myself to be magnetized.-
An awful dread of putting on the semblance of
death prevented me. | did not wish that man
should see how | looked when should be laid
out on the final plank-for knew they would
tell Imogcn, and her heart would be filled with
horror. A shudder would benumb every fibre of
my body at the idea of the experiment, and an
indistinct shadow waved me back. But | totter-
ed towards the trial; longed with an eager de-
sire which maddened me to restrain, and vet
dreaded the result Was it the secret influence of
that mysterious man, conveyed through those
strange and gloomy eyes, that swayed me to and
fro? fanced that frequently saw him gazing
at me with an earnest look. AT this singular pc
riod of my life, old impressions returned upon me
with renewed force. One in particular, which
from its horror, and from the effect it now exer-
csed, | will relate. 1t stalked before ME whenev-
er entered the magnetizer' 81 heard its c!ankng
bones-I smelt its odor of the grave.-When
was boy some ten years old, an uncle who was
a medical man, lived in my fathers house, and
was addicted to the relation of marvellous stories
many which have been since published. He
would talk Of goblins and spectres until the blood
Of both old and young would tingle in their veins,
and he completed his conquest over my magma
ton. slept in small bed at the foot of my un-
cle's, and long after the family had retired, he
would continue to pour into my ears his dreadful
adventures. On one night in winter, we had all
been shivering with the cold and my uncle stories
that kissed my parents and without light went
TO my uncle's room. There were few chunks
burning in the hearth, sufficient to light the fright
cned boy to bed. was soon undressed and stood
over my little bed, and as | made the attempt to
hide beneath the bed-clothes, struck against
something hard-t ratified with a hollow sound,
and starting back, the ruddy light of FIRE stream
ed full upon the spectacle. | sprung upon the
floor, rushed down the stairs, and bursting into
the room, shrieked, . The Skeleton! the Skele-
ton!'' My uncle had placed this object in my
bed had laid it out with all its bones and eyeess
skull and sinking skin scarce dry, to frighten me
How strong then was the impression of that OBJ
iect upon my mind, when after seeing others in
the palid sleep, leave to your Imagination.
Morbidly aroused to penetrate the science, |
continued to pore over every work that touched
upon the subject. thought frequently that
might unveiI the awful art by tracing it to magic,
and the character of its professor would have given
color to the charge. He seldom or never spoke
to the crowd, but there was stern and naughty
reserve, that forbade familiarity and inspired the
spectators with something akin to fear. TO me,
however, he was generally kind, but no informa-
tion would he impart. Inscrutable-darll and OBJ
scure, he stood among the crowd, and exercised
his power as he pleased.
Meantime my love ran on smoothly and with
greater depth and fervor, without those common
distractions, deemed requisite to give its monoto-
nous glory pquancy and zest. OF course you
on the engrossing subject of magnetism, and she
listened fearfully to my comments upon its subtle
mysteries.
One evening we determined to visit the magne-
tiers together, though did not remember at the
time of forming the engagement, that had made
professional appointment with sick friend. |
told her the urgency of this visit, and proposed
that she should 60 to the magnetizer's with her
cousin Ernest, where | would meet her in an
hour. We parted, and ere that hour had flown
away, had closed the eyes of an old and dear
companion--he had died in torture.
| Filled with the gloomy impressions from the
melancholy scene through which had just pass
ed, and whose horrid details will not shock you
with repeating, | directed my steps to the room
of the magnetizer. The torches were lit along
the streets, and the mighty wing Of night hung
heavily above-a few stragglers passed me, and
hastenel on. The cool air in part revived me. |
saw the light shining through the tall windows OF
the exhibition room. 1t his gala-night, on
which he proposed to exercise to the full the pow
ers that he possessed The skeptcs had dared
him to the combat--he was to strike into trance
Ithe body and the soul, and rushed onward with
a feverish anxiety to witness the grand and crown
ing scene Of the sorcerer.
| Suddenly heard the notes of soft and vo-
Il