Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-09-08

Il While | was In the house noticed many
manifestations of the presence of that pow
er called spiritualism. Chairs and tables
were moved and removed, billets of wood
thrown upon the fire, and doors opened
and shnt without any apparent agency. /
heard struggles and unaccountable noises,
too, and felt an unusual sensation, caused
no doubt, by the mysteries which surroun-
ded and Knocked me-
II Noticing my manner the patient OBJ
served:
| Its nothing. You must get used to it,
Doctor"
Il should not be content unless could
1explain them, as well as become Indifferent
ito then,' replied.
Il This opened the way to long conver-
sation, during which | probed my patients
mind to the bottom, but without detecting
a shadow Of belief. Speaking of his wife,
he said:
'You heard Ellen promise to warn me
Of my time to die q
4 did-but do you believe here"
mo! If it is possible, she will keep her
word, in spite of heaven or hell But it is
simply impossible. She promised to come
in body and speak to me. shall accept
I no other warning from her, save the literal
!, meaning of her words"
! "And what then 2"
1How much of her body is there left
even now, Doctor and she has not come
yet. She promised to come from the grave.
f Can she do it? No, no T; it is all humbug
!. "a delusion. Poor Ellen! Thank God,
Doctor, the devil which so haunted her
life, and stood between her soul and mine,
cannot reach her now"
, 'But if she should come. You NAV be
deceived"
81 cannot. Others must see her, too,
and hear her. shall believe no specter,
if there are such things. Her body as it
is, or will be, let that speak if it can r'
S From that day up to the hour of his
E death ] was with him almost constantly,
! and was daily introduced to some new and
startling phenomenon. The neighbors had
: learned to shun the house, and even the
vicinity, as they would the plague; and
strange stories travelled from gossip to gcs-
: sip, acquiriog more of the marvellous al
il every repetition. Nevertheless my prac-
e tice increased.
On the morning of March 20, called
u earlier than usual During this visit, the
t manifestations of supernatural presence
e were more frequent, wild and violent than
I ever before. / was informed that they had
been exceeaIngiY- -ElalA..--l------y- Ss
es. and the rattle Of tinware, there were
frequent and startling sounds, as OF wins,
pered conversation, singing and subdued
q iauohter-all perfect limitations OF the hu-
man voice. but too low to enable me to de-
o tect the words used, if words there were.
4 Still. however, none of these unusual sounds
{ had entered the sick room. They follow
% ed the footsteps of Mrs. Green like de
= mon echo, but paused on that room, as
It debarred by superior power from enter
r ing there.
1t ine very fast. He had past bad nigh
h Doubtful whether he would survive to Sc
n another morning, | left him, promising
Z at call at evening and spend the night wit
h him. resolved, in my secret thoughts, to
ain at the death" If there was to be
M ohostly warning, meant to hear 1t, and
he possible, to solve the strange enigma
to =
rd- The day had been exceedingly cold al
All stormy, and the night had already set
dark and dismal, with fierce gale and
MIR. driving storm Of rain and hail, wher
ere again stood beside my patient, The II
ment looked at him / perceived un9
IN taxable indications of the near approach
Eyes death upon his features. He was free If
'uth main. his mind perfectly clear; but his
the was ebbing away with every feeble bre;
reat like the slow burning out OF an exhaus
~ lamp.
Meanwhile the storm rose to temp
and the gloom grew black as death IN
she wild night without. The WIND sweP
MIN tremendous gusts through h the adJo.l
there forests, rafting the icy branches OF
oubt, trees. and came wailing and shrel
through every crack and Granny OF
iiaue : building. =,
d by All that had been said or sung, write
form dreamed, of ghostly visitations, was
BRAN and there enacted. There was the
ct IN ing of bells, moving of furniture, era
that dishes. whispers, howls, crying, laug
:siveiyy whistIng, heavy and light footsteps,
ul ct, wild music, as if in very mockery o.
ulated internal regions. All these sounds
lie fea- wilder with the rising gale, and tc
'n the midnight they were almost lnsutteral
AS for us three-the patient, Mrs.
and myself, not word passed our Il
Of his teri o'clock. As for the state of our
On God only knows. Mine, in the wild
Id him Of thought and event which followed
at the got all the past, save what have re
If as and penned, bit by bit, above. ! r.
rienced her oply hooking for the final catast
nothing which VIII grew rapidly nearer, with co
. He endeavor to concentrate all my facu
nd find mind and sense upon the Pheno
which /, at least had began to believe
10 Doc herald the loss of my patient !.
,;led nv All GREW closer up II O'Clock, Il
! him a the striking Of that hour had my th
fixed themselves for the expected
present stration, my agitation became 50 gr'
,en. who lii was with extreme dItfcuity col
zen play troll myself. a. g.
r. w. in Nearer and nearer grew the ia
in. The mentor fatal l perceived it wou
!, time-lthe patient, at least-and at last,
conds trembled on the brink OF m
and with tbe clock began to strike-one