Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1856-12-26

ly, 'you ought to have seen what W
did tonight. The spirits say grea
many edifying things. Why they dt
say that everybody has got spiritua
partner, somewhere, either in this worlt
or the next, and that those that dom
marry here, will find their companion ir
another sphere as they say
'Pretty stuff for spcrets to be telling
That shows to my mind, that they arc
from Satan, for don't the Bible say tina,
in heaven they neither marry nor are
given in marriage, but arc as the an.
gels
Aunt Hap pretended to be very angry,
but VIC could all see she was pleased
with the idea of spiritual partner for
she is terribly cut up to think she has
never married. She talks about the
girls nowadays terribly, and is just as
hateful to the young men as she can be.
That night, about twelve o'clock,
happened to wake up, and I heard some
thing in aunt Hap's room like somebody
talking SO | woke Kate, and we both
listened We couldn't either of us
make out what it was so we got up
very quietly and opened her door little
crack and took peep.
There sat aunt Hapzibah, straight up
in bed, with her great ruffled night-cap
on, and an old shawl around her should
ers, staring with her eyes as big as
saucers at the foot of the bed. Pret-
ty soon we heard noise like some
body rapping with little stick upon
the footboard.
is it the spirits > asked aunt Hap.
Rap, rap, rap. came the answer.
THAT means yes suppose solilo-
quized aunt Hap. 'rve heard EN- say
they give three raps for yes.
The rapping continued.
SIS it my father:' she asked.
Rap, rap
That is no. said aunt Hap, to hers elf
is it my mother :
Rap, rap
is it any Of my brothers OF sisters :
Rap, rap
There was pause, during which aunt
Hap seemed gathering all her powers for
some for tremendous effort. At last
she interrogated,
is tiny spiritual partner p
Rap, rap, rap.
'Oh +. Lordy mercy calculated aunt
Hap, who'd ever have thought that
my husband, that is to be. was dead
man: why I'm cen amost as good as
widdcr.'
Rap, rap, rap, rap continued the
spirits.
'Can you tell me your name y asked
aunt Hap.
Rap, rap
A pause.
Rap. rap, rap, rap
We'll, says aunt Hap, I'm very glad
to see you, no, to hear you. I'm very
glad you've come, but | think you'd
better go away now. for you sec amt
quite clear in my mind that it's proper
for you to come here into my room at
this time o'night. l amt used to havin'
men around in my room, and it kinder
illustrates me-
With that I thought Kate ard should
have died. We stuffed our handkcr-
chiefs into our mouths, and held our
breath till we almost burst blood ves-
sci, but if we had laughed | don't be-
lieve aunt Hap would have heard us,
she was so intent upon listening for her
'speretual partner.
Rap, rap, rap, rap. went the noise
all the time, a succession of little fire
explosions, like pace of fairy fire.
crackers going off.
Il know what it is whispered Kate
DO you see : She has left her window
at the foot of the bed open by mistake,
and the stiff paper curtain keeps rat
Ting. that's ALL
Surely enough said I. We'll, il
this isn't joke. 1t is a pity AL can t
enjoy it with us
Never mind, we'll tell him in the
morning, replied Kate, 'and how he will
laugh
Don't say word that will lead her to
mistrust anything said AL, when we
told him, but be sure to have the win.
dow open and the curtain down again
down again tonight. and I'll manage tc
see the sport myself
You may believe Kate and didn',
sleep much that night, but wrapped ir
good warm shawls, we stood listening al
aunt Hap's door. By-and-bye the old
window curtain began to rattle.
i Rap, rap, rap.
Are you here ? said aunt Hap.
Al
I'm afraid it aint't proper for you te
come nights so. think you'd better
come in the day time
No reply.
Did ever know you in the flesh y
Rap, rap, rap
Was your first name Johns'
rap, rap
WAS it Georges'
Rap, rap ..I
i Was it James ?
Rap, rap, rap
! oh. deary me, I do believe it's jim
I4arned. l thought when he married
Sarah Casswell he d better a had me-
Rap, rap, rap
Mrs. Larned always did set herself II