The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1870-02-25
Deacon Isaaes' Fest.

WHEN Spiritualism first made Its ap-
pearance in the village of -, old dea-
con Isaacs, rich man who has stood
by the church for nearly threescore
years, was exceedingly bitter against
all believers in the "devil's work." as
he called it, and denounced Spiritual
lists and Spiritualism in no very gentle
| language. Imagine the deacon's anger,
then, when six months after yards he
found 1t had worked its way into the
family, and not only were his wife and
daughters believers, but one of them
was medium, and possessed full pow
er to converse with the spirits of those
who had departed to that "bourne from
which no traveller returns"
Deacon Isaacs was mad, dreadfully |
mad; but he had wit enough not to |
show 1t, and he bore the taunts of the
ungodly with meek spirit He knew |
it would be useless to declare open war;
for Mrs. Isaacs alone had proved more
than a match for him, and he was sure
10 be defeated. He must "crcumvent
the critter," as he expressed it, and to
this end he set himself to work. He
was a man of sound judgment, and his
worldly experience of fifty years was
not thrown away. From the day it
first came to his knowledge that his
wife and daughters were Spiritualists,
he never spoke word against, nor did
he ever allude to it, except in general
terms in his morning prayers; but any
, one could see that it troubled him; for
he was absent. minded, his eyes wan
dered restlessly, and he looked care
, worn.
The deacon witnessed one or two"sit-
tings" at his own house, and was salts
| fed, that if he possessed a little more
, knowledge, he could get rid of them.
So one morning he started for the city
! determined to thoroughly investigate
! the subject before he returned. After
=, visiting two of the most popular medi-
e ums, and paying his money, he return
r ed home, satisfied that he could see
: through it.
There was Sitting at the deacon s
S house on the night he returned; and
t his daughter Mary-the medium-in-
n vited the deacon to take seat at the
: table, which to her qualification was ac-
cepted. The spirits were in good tune,
u and so exceedingly communicative that
G the deacon was induced to ask few
It questions, which were readily answer
y ed, and his wife and daughters were in
e ecstacies at the thought that fathel
= would be a believer, and urged the dea
If con on in his inquiries.
l. "Has my wife always been true tC
o her marriage vows ?" asked the deacon
o To this question there was no rap il
k return, while Mrs. Isaecs sat transfixet
N with holy horror that such though
a. should enter her husbands mind.
re "How many years have passed sine
IN she was untrue?"
Or Answer by single raps. Then cam
lie slowly and solemnly, one, two, three
y four, and so oD, until it reached twent
h. "How many who claim to be are nc
OF my children ?"
SO Again the spirits rapped-one, two.
in Mrs. Isaacs looked dumfounded.
e. "Mercy?" said Mary.
r. (which are they ?" asked the deacon
lg who now seemed so intent on the sui
ject that he paid no attention to his com
tn panions.
in IN ary, Sarah" raped the spirits
n, the names of the two daughters, til
do older of which was under twenty.
in Mrs. Isaacs could stand it no longe
tn "It's lie! l didn't! it's a lie!' ST.
,rs shrieked, rising from the table. '"The
ed are your children, Deacon Isaacs an
W. God knows it,"
he "But the spirits affirm differently,
r. said the deacon in solemn voice.
"Then they lie !" said the wife.
ry "But if you believe them in ever
Sc thing else, why not in this?"
he "But don't believe in them at al
I'd it is all foolery."
of "Nor l." shouted Mary.
ou "Nor l." added Sarah.
W "Then," said the deacon, while
NE smile illuminated his cOuntenance, "v
will bid them goodbye, and leave tho
things which God has wisely hid fro
us to be revealed in his time"
f The deacon's evening devotions we
characterized with more earnestne
than usual, and the family retired full
'.o satisfied that the spirits and medium
,u did not always reveal the truth.
x
Is Mrs. Isaacs was SO gla / that none
X. the neighbors We're present; but son
at how the story got wind, and so fearf
he were the spirit DANES of N tn
wv t hey might be caught in the same trs
which tie deacon had set, that Spiri
he ualism was driven entirely from Il
he village.