Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1845-02-06
THE BuRsTED BUBBLE.
The mind Of mortals in pcrvcrscness,
Imbibcs with dire docility the wrongs


Who but remembers to have seen, heard or
read something OF that great impostor, joan
ma Southcute-she who could barefacedly as
sert that it was her lot and divine commits
sion to give birth TO the Messiah, the Son of
God! and by fearless audacity seduce thou
sands to become her followers? Speaking of
this impostor brings to mind story which
we remember to have heard from an au,hen-
tic source
II was Joanna's doctrine that all who be-
leved i'll her should never fall victims to
death but that they would be severally call
ed for and carried to Heaven by an angel.
One of her proselytes was the wife of hard
aboring, honest man, who lived in the vicini
ty of Manchester. Constantly did tins wo-
man harransue her unbelieving husband about
her newly imbibed religion. His breakfast
was disturbed by the relation of her ridicu-
lous dreams; his dinner he either prepared
himself or did without it, for his wife was lit.
terly .follo,cer Of Joanna Southcote. Each
evening was made unquiet by the continued
warning that an angel would come that uery
night and carry off his better half, ~ con-
summation devoutedly 10 be wished, no doubt.
The poor man, at last wearied beyond all ell
DURANGO, concluded that it was necessary that
the angel should call soon, and accordingly
sought means and opportunity 70 accomplish
his desire. Long after they had retired one
night, the good woman's midnight sermon
was put TO an end by loud piping at the
door.
'There's the angelo cried The wife.
Nonsense answ ered the husband
ooh, but it is, and must go'
Lie still, you silly thing, till see who it is.
! The husband put his head out of the win.
dow and cried, who's there p
'An Angel answered coarse voice.
THE Deviln cried the husband.
No, Eur, rcg'lcr angel, come after your
wife,
Il thought so,' cried the wife; farewell
John, ! must CO. Thus saying she jumped
out of bed.
but you won't go though, will you, Zu-
key !" anxiously asked the husband.
Wont thought o Johnny, Johnny,
why didn't you believe, and you'd gone
too Good bye, johnny, good bye, the angel
is waitingp
'Well, If you must you must, and it can't
be helped y cried the husband.
! Thereupon the wife hurried down stairs
where she found dark looking man. IAN an
gel, no doubt waiting with donkey. She
was soon comfortably seated behind her an.
! gelic conductor, and the two rode off. Now
the good spirit had conveyed his charge tic
about the distance of three miles from The
house, when suddenly he stopt short and bad,
her alight, asserting that he had to 90 an,
bring another passenger who was going III,
bomeward way.
You won't be long, good Mr.. Angel. 70
it's awful cold on this ere snow bank. will
you p
ooh no good Mistress Mortality, shan
be over two or three get up, Dobbin.
and the Angel rode away.
The poor woman waited long time, an,
began TO imagine that The two or three min
uteS waxed TO hours The Old clock Of Man
chester had tolled one; the wife could JUS
distinguish tive sound as it hoated on In,
stiffness of the night. She sat musing OF
heavenly things, and ever ard anon, gave ven
to sigh for her poor sin-suflering husband
| The clock struck two, Doubts BEGAN I,
work in the woman's brains, family at first
but gathering thicker and darker as time wan
ed away, good deal Gas the poet would say
as twilight brings i'll IFS train the gloom,
hours.-Now did she seriously begin TO en-
w the comfortable situation which she SUP
posed her husband to be enjoying. Could i
be that she was deceived? The clock srucl
three Yes, in her heart she actually de
nounced Joanna Sonthcote and all her doc
trincs and trudged her way home, with tn,
settled determination of pouring water on al
many angels or devils as should ever call he