The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1864-03-16
From the New York Mercury) -'''
STORY OF A SPIRITUAL
eIST.
BY EDWARD wILLETT.

4 must premise by saying that the ger
tleman who told me this story waHan al
/ dent spiritualist, and had been not onl
witness, but an exponent of some of il
, wonderful and mysterious phenomen;
He believed in spiritualism, ard believe
in the truth of the story which he relate
to me. Perhaps you think L believe
myself. Well, perhaps do, and perhap
[ do not; you may believe it, or you ma
not; l only tell it as it was told to me
and as nearly as [ can in his own words
Speaking of spiritualism, l can tell 20,
of strange occurrence that came .unde
!! my observation; and when you have hear
lit, | am sure that you cannot fail to be
lieve that there is something extraordina
ry, if not unearthly, in the manifestation
that we hear and see in our circles.
! "Perhaps so, said; 81 am abundant
/ ly able to listen, even if L am not prepared
to believe and he proceeded:
s'I was boarding at No. 164-street
in New York. The husband of my land
lady had held position in the Custom
House. He was very respectable man
and had a good salary. One night h'
was missing, and the next morning it was
ascertained that he had been drowned
how, or when, we could not learn, though
there were suspicious of foul play. Mrs
Brewer, my landlady, was in terrible agony
for three days, for she only knew that he
had been drowned; and after the most
vigilant search, his body could not be
found. She called in a friend of hers
who was a medium and a clairvoyaRt
The spirit of her husband spoke to her
through this medium, and told her that
at mis- ght while standing on pier near the
battery, watching steamer that was com
ing in, he had been knocked down and
robbed by man in a red shirt, blue pan
falcons, light felt hat, aand wearing heavy
light -colored side whiskers. who, after the
robbery, had thrown him into the river.
His body, he said, had washed ashore at
Staten Island, just below an old and ruin
ed dock. He described the place, and
Mrs Brewer, as an experiment sent down,
and the body was found at the place, and
in the position which had been described
by the spirit of her husband through the
medium es e7z
She lodged an information at a police
office against man in red shirt, blue
pantaloons, ETC.; but the atter-of-fact
officials were unwilling TO admit the testi-
mony ofa spirit, and advised her to with
draw the charge, as they were absurd
enough to consider it indefinite and un-
supported by evidence, @ld
But this is only a prelude to what I
wish to tell you. Mrs. Brewer, from that
time, was an enthusiastic spiritualist.
From that time, also, dated my belief in
this new and wonderful dispensation, al
though | did not become a firm believer
until l. had witnessed the wonderful de-
velopment which l am about to relate to
you. Mrs Brewer, having become con-
vert to spiritualism, had regular circles
at her house; and they served to pass off
AN evening very pleasantly. Among our
boarders was a Mr. Porterfeld, very
accomplished and highly educated young
gentleman to whom We were ali much at
tached, was generally supposed to be the
lover of Miss Allen; and, if he was not.
he certainly acted the character very we'll.
Both had become believers in spiritual
ism, particularly. Mr.. Porterfeld,l who
appeared to be deeply impressed with a
sense of its reality, although he was not
a medium himself.
I Well, Miss Allen, who was music
teacher, had an offer to go to New Bruns-
wick, in New Jersey, to teach three girls:
in a pleasant family. at good salary. and
she had accepted it. She had senton her
luggage by express. and was to leave Us
on Friday evening. a Friday afternoon, /
mean, tor she insisted to stop on the way
at a station, the name of which l have
forgotten, to call On some friends.
She went, and we bade her an affection
ate but sad good bye. That night we had
circle at the house, and the manifesta- :
tions of the spirits were better than we
had had them in long time. In the
circle was Mary Brewer, daughter of our
land -lady's, who was an excellent clair
voyant medium After the circle had
been fully established and harmonized,
and few manifestations had been made,
Clara Blewer1 became Impressed by Il
spirit and Porterfelds knowing her clair
voyance, and being anxious about Miss
Allen, was rash enough to ask her about
that young lady. ''-,.,.
With her eyes Shut and her whole
frame trembling, Clara rose to her feet,
stretched forth her hands, and spoke:
ssI see her now, with the blue veil
hanging on her arm. How bright and
happy she seems And yet there is: a
shadow resting above her, which she can
not see. Would to God could brush it
away .->...-1....-
Mr.. Porterfeld started up with an ex-
preston of intense anxiety, but resumed
his seat, looking as if he awaited further
developments. Clara continued:
"Sbe is crossing the Jersey City Ferry
How she seems to enjoy the fresh air that
comes UP the harbovt How beautiful
and glad she seoms!s o God! can no one
scatter that cloud that hoyers over her
head9skt ~ s..s......
"Ah! the train. stops at some little
station-only station house, and nc'oth-
er house near; and She is getting out,
still bright and beautiful as ever, but it
seemsato me that that cloud has grown
blacker and heavier than before. =.
yes" said Mr., ,Porterfeld, terribly
excited: "that is the station at which she