The north Iowa times. [volume] (M'Gregor [i.e. McGregor], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1857-05-15

monlcon In win n5 which had Just
bought. l took il into our Spirit room
that evening, and we all agreed no one
should strike upon it until the Spirits
had, when the light was put out, after
noisy time with the little ones shouting
Happy New Year" ETC., and the Spir.
its rapping in response. One Of them
asked the Spirits ii they had seen the
New Years gift father had brought in.
to the hall, vixen Immediately the har-
rnonicop was struck, aud after playing
the scale up and down few times, the
tune of "Pop Goes the Weasel" was
played on it, every note being correct.
The same tune was sthen played on the
dulcimer, and in the same correct s;vle.
They made good dead of music for us
that night, altogether. without accom-
pauiment. as Jimmy who plays the vio-
lin was absent. sst5.ii a{4s8 ,asssi i,s
! will now give you some account of
he Spirits speaking in HSston's circle.
They told Poston that If ne would geta
common horn. thcy could make vocal
sounds throagheit. He procured the
only horn in a tin shop, which. Of course,
precludes the idea of any popularity in
its construction. / was called into
Pos!on's circle against their will, when
I was a skepi'. BY "Old King" and a.
ways sit with them when am in the
same house. You may well suppose
we are good friends now. When the
Spirits Indicate that they will speak to
us, the horn is laid on. the table. After
it is raped on the table few times,
suppose to let US know that they have
hold of it, they will take it up few
feet from the table. and we generally
frs. hear current of air rushing through
1t. Then comes GOOD evening,
frie lds," and then good evening to
each one individually, calling us by
name. The discourse is about what g
sensible man would anticipate from a
human spirit. Occasionally they will
be guilty of witticism, and when the
circle, would laugh, they would blow the
horn as loud as they could. a
The speaking with the first horn was
like loud whispering. Then they told
US to get them common speaking trum-
pet which they now use, and speak much
louder. They speak loud enough to be
dist nelly heard throughout the room.
Many times when questions are asked
which they do not wish to answer, a
whistLCg will be made through the trum-
pet. ! will give you few examples of
their conversation with US.
After the usual .'Good," etc., the
Spirit said, "Cathcart, what have you
done with Balam's old assg' Ircplied,
| have given him good name and let
him go. Iasked. have you really nosic-
ed the article published in the Spiritual
Telegraph, and did do the faithful old
fellow justice? "Certainly," says the
Spirit, Il have noticed your article, and
am well satisfied with it, Ithen said,
Honor bright! King, was it you that
was running my table about for ne?
Now" says he. Charley, won't
tell tales out Of school," There is an
ignorant bisot, who is a lame apology
for a preacher, in our neighborhood,
who has been in the habit of black guard.
ing us through the press overan anony-
nous signature. His course was 50
intolerably base that we--bo:h Poston' s
family and ny own-despise~ him as
much as We could thing 50 near a
moral abortion. The children had a
nickname for him, and once, when no.
body except our two families was in the
room, my little Henry, when it came
his turn to speak to the Spirit { he al
ways desires word with each in rota-
tion), said. king, wi.s@ikbout-,"
calling the nickname. Little Henry"
said King. don't use that name--call
him brother-." Ny wife then
spoke and said, Had not the children
better say Mfr" King replied,
Upon the whole, Mrs Cathcart, Mr..
would be more appropriate" then
turning to me, he said, '.Cathcart, do
not treasure such malicious feelings
awards that man. Can't you learn to
return good for evil?" / then said,
Ought not to retort upon him through
the press?" He said, mo, no.-Con.
slider the source from whence this
abuse has come and besides, he al
reaiyis getting ASHAMED of himself
Take my advice" says he, land | will
warrant YOU" and then turning to Pos
ton, he said, "Poston, you have heard
what | have said to C;.thcart; take ii
all to yourself, and l viii warrant you
too" And for the first time in my lite
l have resolved to let a debt go unpaid
King frequently uses such expressions
as this: 20, my friends. purify your
life by the goodness Of your conduct,
that you may come to the Spirit. land,
its beauties are to you ineonceivable. -
Upon one occasion, the tambourine
and bell being both played at once.
little Henry, who sat next to mo, sFi1.
"Father, King has the tambourine, an d
Cook the bell.', asked tho Spirits II
the child sew them They raped an
affirmative. The child then said,
"Thers, Father. woman is pointing
tho horn at YOU" and a voice from it
said, "Cathcart. this is your mother ;
o my dear son. which was repeated
several times, when felt q hand laid
on my right arm, which was ON the
back of my boy s. chair, | laid my left
hand upon this hand. and grasped.it
gently. Twas as perfecta a hand as !
eyernx telt--had natural degree OF
warmth, aud soft and smooth rs a lady S
hand could be. After holding it a short
time, it passing in the meanwhile down
my aAn, il seemed to melt out of my
grasp. Iasked my child to describe
the Spirit; but the only description
could got from him was that she was
very Yreity, and looked so happy! t