Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1854-12-27
JnigrrllLl1lfnllG.
DoEsTIcKg SEES The SPIRIT RAPPERs


Being satiated with the ordinary common
place things of every day life, and having
heard great deal about the mysterious com
munications telegraphed to this our ignorant
| sphere by wise and benignant spirits of bliss,
through the dignifed medium of old chairs,
washstands and cardtables, We three (who met
AGAIN. determined TO put ourselves in com
munication with the next world. to find out, if
| possible, oar chances of a favorable reception
when business or pleasure calls us in that di-
rection. Up Broadway till we came tosan IL
luminary three cornered transparency, (Which
| made Bull Doggc smack his lips and say coy
! sters, which Informed US that within, large
assortment of spirits were constantly in atten-
! dance, ready to answer inquiries or to run on
erands in the spirit world and bring the ghost
of anybody's defunct relations that classic
/ spot for controversial purposes, all for the
moderate charge Of twenty five cents. dam
| phool, who had been there before, said That
those :.delicate Ariels'' were the spirits of de-
! parted newsboys who had been thrown ont Of
their Legitimate business, and strive to get an
honest living by doing these eighteen-pe
! .io5s.) Entered the room with becoming grayi-
| ty and orercoming awe. Two old foozles in
white neck cloths, and no collars, returned
I Californian in an Indian blanket, two peaked
nosed old maids, good looking widow, with a
| little boy, our own trio, and the s:medium,
/ composed the whole OF the assembled multi
tude. The 'smedium . aforsaid was vinegar
complexoned woman, very ruby nose. mouth
the exact shape of the sound hole to violin,
WAC wore green spectaces and petticoat Of
equivocal purity.
The furniture consisted of several chairs,
no carpet, a small>sta a large dining table
and. in one corner of the room a bedstead,
wash stand, and bookcase, with writing desk
on top. After some remarks by the medium,
We formed the magic circle by sitting close
| together and putting our hand on the table
Bull Dogge took big drink before lie laid
his ponderous fists by the side of tie otlsssTs.
After short length of time the table began
TO shake It's ricl1ety legs, to flap It's leaves af-
ter the manner of Wings and to utter onnious
squeaks from its crazy old joints. Pretty
soon, s:knock,'' under Damphool's hand; he
trcmbled and turned pale, but on the whole,
stood his ground like man. Knock ka0cSc
i'm any immediate vicinity-looled under the
table but couldn't see anyhody--knoc!i, itiloct,
KNOCK, KNOCK directly under Bull Dogge's
elbow. He frightened, jumped from his seat,
and prepared to run, but sensible to the last.
he took drink, felt better-toosl Of, his hat
and said :Sd-n it''-and resumed his seat
Knocking became general-medium said the
spirits were ready to answer questions-asked
if any spirit would talk to me-yes. Come
along, I remarked-noisy spirit announced its
advent by series of knocks, which would
have done honor to dozen penny post1nen
''rolled into one" Asked who it was-ghost
of my uncle-(ncver had an uncle)-inquired
| If he was happy-tolerably. What are you
! about ?-principal occupations are. hunting
wild-bees catching catfish, chopping pine lum-
Der, and making hickory whip stocks How's
You wife ?-sober, just at present. Do You
have good liquor, up there ?-yes, (very en-
phatically.) What is your comparative stu
alton ?-am in the second sphere hope soon
| to get promoted to the third, where they only
work six hours day, and have apple pump
lins every day for dinner-good bye-wlfe
wants me to come and spank the baby. One
of the old foozels now wanted to talk spirit;
NdS StdtthSu ny the f0utdlnSi Oh MS maternal
grandmother, who hammered out in series
of forcible raps the gratifying intelligence
that she was very well contented, and spent
most of hertime drinking green tea, and sing
ing Yankee Doodle.
/ Dampheoi now took courage, and sung out
for his father to come and talk to hin-(when
the old gentleman was alive he was one of
| 'em)-on demand, the father came-interest-
! ing conversation-old man in trouble-lost all
his money betting on a horse race and had
| just pawned his coat and spare shirt to set
him up in business again, as q popcorn mer
chant-( Damphooi sat down exausted, and
| borrowed the brandy bottle.) Disconsolate
widow gets communication from her husband
that he is great deal happier now than form
| erly-don't want to come back to her-no
| thank you-wonld rather not. Old maid in
quires if husbands are plenty-to her great
JOY is informed the prospect is good. Little
boy asks if when he gets into the other world
| he can have long tailed coat-mother tells
him to shut up-small boy whispers, and says
| that he has always wore short jacket, and he
expects when he gets to Heaven he'll be a
bobtailed Angel.
J. Damphool's attention to the bottle has reas-
sured his spirits, (heis easily effected by bran
kdy--one glass made him want to treat all his
friends-when he has two bumpers in him he
owns deal of real estate and glass No. makes
him rich enough to buy the Custom House,)
and he now ventures another inquiry of his