Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1866-06-23
CHOICE MISCELLANY.
TT- II zsE7=TFFTTT-
Getting Rid of the Spirits.

When spritualism first made l.s appear.
ance 10 the village Of NJ, old Deacon
Isaacs, 3 wealthy man who had stood BY
the church for nearly three score years, was
exceedingly bitter against all believers 10
the devil's works, ss he called it, and de-
uouncsd ali spirisualis.s aud spiri,ualism la
10 very gcnsis language. iImsgias The
deacons anger, theu, when six months AZ
tsfvard, rhsi fouad it o bad ~ esk ed aiis way
into his family, snd 1wsre not ouly bis wife
and daughters believers but ono Of them
was d media@, And eossssaed tda power to
converse with the spirits Of those who had
tdepaEtuistoatmts + bourRe from tMb ieha no
traveller TetiTntsf:a tsfa,iH vi 's '''s ''i''a' .nr
Deacon IsaacS was mad--dresdfully mad
but be had wit euough not to show it, and
be bore the tauuts of the ungodly with a
meek spirit. He knew it wonld be useless
to declare open war, for AIRS. Isaacs alone
had always proved more a han q match for
him, and lie was sure TO be defonted. He
must clFcumvent the critters, as he expressed
it, and to this end he set himself at work
lie was man of sound Judgment, aud his
worldly experience Of fifty years was no!
thrown away. From tho day it first came
10 his knowledge that his wife aud daugh
teTs were spiritunlists, be sever spoke a
word against it, nor did he ever allude to
it, except in general terms in morning
prayers, but any one could see that it trou-
bled him, for he was absent minded, his
eyes wandered reStlessly, and his counte-
nance looked careworn.
The deacon witnessed Que or two sittings
at his own house, and was satisfied that il
be possessed q little more knowledge he
could get rid OF, them. q, So one morniug be
started for the city, determined 10 thor
ouehlV investigate the subject before he
returned. After visiting two Of the most
popular mediums, and paying his mouey he
returned home satisfied hat he could see
through it. .-.
There was sitting at the deacon IS
house on The night that be returned, and
bis daughter Msry-the medium-invted
the deacon to take seat at the table,
which to her qualification was accepted
The spirits were in good tame, and so ex-
| ceedlngly communicative that the deacon
was Induced to ask few questions which
were readily answered, and the wife and
daughters we're in ecstacies at the thought
that father would yet be a believer, and
urged the deacon on in his inquiries
Has my wife always been tue to her
marriage vows ? asked the deacon.
TO this question there were no raps 10
return, while Mrs 1saacs sat transfixed
with holy horror that such thought should
enter her husbands MUD.
How mnny years have passed since she
was untrue Answered by single raps.
They came slowly and solemply. one, two.
three, and SO on until they reached twenty
How many who claim to be are not my
children? -'.aft. r~e0r
Again the spirit rspped-one, two.
Mr. Isaacs looked dumbfounded.
Mercy said Mary.
Which are they Z said the deacon, who
now seemed SO intent on his subject that be
paid no attention to his companions. ai.i
f9JMary--Sarah. raped the spirit, the
names of the two daughters, the Older Of
which was under twenty. -.v
| Mrs. Issacs could stand it no longer.
| It's lie didnti It's lie she
shrieked, rising from the table, they are
I your children, Deacon Isaacs, and God
knows it2 .-. ..-bte
But the spirits affirm differently, said the
deacon in a solemn voice. .., 4.
I Then they liel said his wife.
But ifyou believe them in everything else,
! why not in this2 rs.ss, aad ...a e..
But / don't believe them at al; il is ell
ffoclery. a-a
! Nor /, shoutcd d Mary.
Nor l, added Sarah.
Then, said the deacon, while Smile H.
| dominated his countenance, we will bid them
gooi~bye. and leave those things which God
has wisely hidden from US, to DO revealed
| 10 his time. ..-.
The deacoas evening dsvoiions were
charscterixed with more oarnsstnsss than
usual and the family retired fully satisfied
that The spirits and mediums did not always
reveal the truth. ~ sHa1 90 b., ,ss ,...a a-
r .Mrs. Isaass WAS 60 glad that none Of
the psjghbora were present; but some how
the story got Wind, AVID 50 feasfal 'wsro Abe
spirit danes Of N--thAt they might
be caught in the same trap which oibe dea;
con hsd Set, that spirituslism and its con-
comitant evils were driven entirely from
sass 'lpHsseis asA ,s.s.8 % 4. 80 .Lr 2
II H' -fsrT -TrFssEE .E5T 6Eal .tipgA
A little ragged urchiD, begging in the
city the other day, was asked by lady
who filed bis basket, if his parents were
living9 ls st Il q J.. ~
Only dad marm, said the boy.
Then you have enough in your paper TO
feed the family for some time, said the lady
o, no, haven't neither, said the lad.
for dad and me keeps five boarders; he
does the housework, aud do the market'n