The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1869-06-23
Testing the Spirits. !,

When spirtuallsm first made it's an.
pearance in the, village, ,os --------,, old
Deacon Isaacs, rich ,Sman who .bas
stood by the Church for nearly three.
score years, was exceedingly bitter
agams. all believers in the "deyil's
work." as he called it, and denounced
splrltuallsts and spirltualism in no very
gentle language. Imagine the ;deacon's
anger then, when six months afterward
ne found 1t had worked its way into his
family, and not only were his wife and
daughters believers, but one Of them
was medium, and possessed full power
TO converse with tho spirits of those who
had departed to that "bourne from
which no traveller returns.",
Deatce n ,lsaacs was mad, dreadmlly
mad, bnt he had wit enough, not to show
IT. and lie bore the taunts of the ungod-
ly with a meek spirit, lie knew It
would be useless to declare enen war :.
tor Mrs lsaacs alone had proved moro
than a match for him, and ho was sure
tn be defeated. He must "circumvcnt
the he. crlttcr" as he expressed il, and to
this end he set himself to work. He
wasa man OF sound Judgment, and his
worldly experience Of fifty years was
not thrown away. From tho day it
first came to his knowledge that his
wife and daughters wers spiritnalists he
never spoke word against it nor did
he ever allnde it, except in general
terms in his morning prayers; but any
one coula see that it troubled him: for
he was absent.minded, his eyes wander.
ed res'lessly, and he looked care
worn.
The deacon witnessed one or two
"sit'ings" at his own house, and was
satisfied that if he possessed little
more knowledge ho could get rid Of
them. So one morning he started for
the city, determined to thoroughly in.
vest'gate the subject before he returned.
After visiting two Of the most popular
mediums, and paying his money, he
returned home, satisfied that he could
see through it,
There was "sit'ing" at the deacon's
house on the night he returned and lis
daughter Mary-the medium-invitcd
the deacon to take seat at tho table,
which to her qualification, was accepted.
Tho spirits were in good tune, and SO
exceedingly communicative that. the
deacon was induced to ask few ques.
tons, which were readily answered, and
the wife and daughters were ia ectacies
at the thought that father would yet be
a believer, and urged the deacon on in
his inquiries. 81. os 7. ..a ID
"Has my wife always been true to
her marriage vows2", asked the dea-
con. f'h u.''H
TO this question there were no raps
IN return, while Mrs. Isaacs sata trans.
fixed with holy horror that such
thought should enter husbands mind.
How many years have passed since
she was untrue2"
Answer hy single raps. Then came
slowly and solemniy, one, two three,
four, and so Oil, until they reached
twenty. ~
"How many who claim to be are not
my children?' u,.. ,.t.4
Again the spirits raped -one two.
Mrs. Isaacs looked dumbfounded.
mercy |" said Mary. "4,@
(Which are :hey 2" asked the deacon,
who now seemed so intent on his sub-
ject that lie paid no attention to his
companions. s''.' ..'o.' '''' '-
"Mary,. Sarah," raped tho spirits,
the names Of the daughters, the elder. Of
which was under twenty. ID ,. g.
Mrs. Isaaos could stand in no lon>
ger 50" aa..la eu aaA
"l's a lel didn't! It's licI' she
shrie<ed, rising from the table. "They
are your children, Deacon Isaacs; and
God knows it.' a7sssss,a-r ia IL.
But the spirits affirm differently"
said the deacon in solemn voice. 7' -
"rlien they lie !" taid the wife.
But, if von believe them in every
thing else, why not IN this"
"Bnt | don't believe in them at all;
it IS all foolery.",.s ne4aa 81 sf ays'
"NorI !" shouted Mary,
Nor / T. added Sarah. 's,sFs ,ss.
"Then," said the de. icon, while n
smile Illuminated bis countenance, "we
will bid them good,b by, :, aud leave those
things winch God ,has wisely Ind from
us to be revealed in his time" i,
The deacon's evening .dcvotions were
characterized with more earnestness
than usual. and the family retired, fully
satisfied that The spirits and mediums
did not always reveal the .trnth.
Mrs. lsaacs was so glad that none Of
the ne ghbors were present; but some.
how Tho story go: wind, and so fearful
weresstho spirit danes Of n that
they might be caught in the same trap
which the deacon hrd set, that spiritual
ism was driven entirely from Tie = vii
lagc. - ~ g As = H@@ = s5F
The HOUSE OF LoRDs---"By yield.
ing now" says the London Times, ,"the
reputation and authority Of the House
of Lords will be established firmer than
ever" Its funny, that The authority
of the House Of Lords Is always shown
in the same way-byy It's Yielding to
what ig against ,ts Will bv n comn,,),,,