The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-11-27
Vol, II, No. 10. Whole No. 500,

tnkon sickly for their practices? Did Simon
Mugus make anybody sick? Did the sor-
ccrcsa, or bluck-art girl, that ST. Paul con
yuWcd, carry disease in her train? No; Tor
she had brought her mns:er good deal Of
money iy telling folks fortunes; when, ifslo
bad brought sickness and judgments upon
them, they would have given him more mon
cy 10 have kept her away. Nor was there
any such misl0urtunes connected with the
witchcraft in the old Bay State. Doctor
Mathcreycn IN his book, don't say go for !
have beard it read. The lSwitchcd, accord
ing 10 his story, only acted ard appeared az
wild and deyiish. But iiLis hook had said
this, il would amount TO nothing; for don't
believe, ifthc old Nick himself should turn
hool.-ma,;cr TO day, and sit down, with his
old yellow, hrinstouc-tempercd steel pen,and
do his hest, for II month, hc could get more
the real csscuCc oflalschood between the
two lids ola hook, than can he found in the
book have mentioned. And if ever that
learned doc.or--!or bo wna accounted pious
gets within the wells ufIhe New Jerusalem
he will find, fear, when he comes TO SEQ
what suffering, death, and crime, We're
brought about through his influence and cX-
annie, Gs we'll MS he might mcan.--thnt hcNv-
en- win BIO rathcr an uneasy place for him.
But, surprising the judgments ofscknees,nnd
so on, did attend such doings, what them
How world il stand in the present case?--
Why the master by the very art that was To
produce the misfortune would follow his at
tempt to teach il. And do you think lie
would try it, when he knew it would bring
sickness and trouble on his school, ;iiat QlusI
break il M, cost him the loss ofnll his wages,
AL hat Is more, send him off with a char
rcter that would for ever prevent his getting
.rotLer ecnGpI? Would he he such stupid
f,ol rs to do this? Never! and you all now
src and know il, There is thought nuinber
tTo for YOU.
"Ouco more. In what have said, lave
taken you wholly on your own ground; so
That you should not say could meet you on
~ on my own dunghl. ! will now make
you come on to my ground, and see If You
can stand fire any better there. And this is
my ground:-I say that this black art, rs yo1
understand 1.-THE faculty OF foretelling events,
with sorcery, magic or witchcratt and every
other art that lays claim 10 any such faculty
by the aid of Figures, or any thing else, is al
mooHshiuc, imposition, and lalsehood. And
don't want 10 set before you but one single
idea TO make you know and feel the truth of
my assertion. Now follow me. Did you ev-
er know or hear of n rich f0rtnne-teIler,
bIuck-art-worker, or coljurei? Speak outfit
You ever did. a single one that was rich, |
say. You don't speak? No; for you can't
say you ever did hear of such an one. You
all well know that they are n set ofpoor bog
carly rascals from beginning TO end Well
now, what prevents thomas said OF our mas
ter here, if they have this faculty &C looking
or figuring into ftlturty, from seeing aud sei$'-
ing upon every lottery ticket that is to draw
Il good prize; from buying every article in the
markets lhot is about TO rise greatly in price:
What prevents them from doing this, and
making their fortunes at blow? Tell me,
You, or you, or you. This istl.ought num-
Der three for you.
CHOW my number first pinned an argu-
ment upon you-oyen allowing you your
own false prcmises-with nothing but
wooden pin, that you could not break. My
number second, still giving you the same ud-
vantage, put in beard nail, that, win or
without iIc pin, not one OF you could twist
or move. aud my number third puts doHb-
lie ton clinChcr uponIlo whole, that all ofyou
together can never start. Now stand forth
and gninsay it, We prosecutors Of tic best
teacher we ever had in the district, or for ev-
or hold your peace! No one speaks; and
pronounce the master guitlcss, and acquitted
Of your foolish charge.
But although the master is no way blame
able, yet that an unusual number Of the schoi-
airs are sick, and nearly all dropping, fl am
rightly Informed, AMI not going TO deny.
Aud there is some cause for il, which we
must try to discover, that we may stop the
evil. lfit is not the starting point of some
epidemic disease that is about to spread oveF
the country, why, ihcn it must be owing to
something wrong about the school house.
by taking up the possibilities, one after n
mother, probably could thini. it out myself
within twenty four hours. But hero ism
man. continued the speaker turning tow
ards the Doctor ''Who has been in the way
Of thinking ofsuch thugs hnlfof his life, lot
us have his opinion. DR., Lincoln, will yUu
favor lis with your views on the subject OF
iuquiry?o
The doctor, who had nttcntyely listened
TO tie whole debate. much of which he had
appeared to enjoy with tic highest zest, now
rose, and observed that he had already made
UP his mind TO offer his opinion on the mat
ter in question, before called on; and he
would now proceed to do so. lie bad some
secret suspicion oftho cause of the gcherdt
uNhoaltliuess ofthO school, on first learning
the fact; aud having come to the meeting,
mainly with the view of satisfying himself
in relation to the matter, his attention, during
the time he had heGn here, had been particu-
larry directed to the subject: and he wus now
prepared TO say that what was before q mere
suspicion with him was now confirmed o.
pinion. The cause, and sole cause, Of this nv
IIeatliness was the want of ventilation; and,
from what he had suffered himself since in
the room, although the door had been fro
quCntly opened, he WAS only surprised thn
the condition of the scholars was not inf,
uiteiy worse than he understood il was,
Though not wishing it to strengthen his own.
convictions, yet, as it might better convince
others, he would proceed to set the matteF
is a stronger light before them.
The doctor. then, while every car and eyr
We're regarding his words and movements
with intense interest, called on Locke to as
certain tho number of cubic feet containes
in the empty space ofthe room. a carpen-