The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1875-05-13

GETTING ntp 81 raE srIHgrs
When spirltuaism hrst made Ga appear
auee Ia the village OF ---, old Deacon
lsaacs, a wealthy mau, who had stood hy
the church for nearly three score years,
was exceedingly bitter against alt bcliev.
er, in the devils work, as hc called Il
aud denounced spiutualisls aud spiritual
ism In no very gentle language Imagine
the Dcacou's anger then, when six months
afterwarl he found It had worked ils way
into his own family, and not only were
his wife aud daughters believers. but ono
of them was q medium, and possessed full
power to converse with the spirits Of
those who had departed to that "bournc
from which no traveller returns"
Deacon Isaacs was mad -dreadlully
mad but he had wit enough not to show
It, and hc bore the tauuts Of the ungody
with a meek spirit, Tie know that il
would be useless to declare open war, for
Mrs lsaacs alone had always proved more
than a match for him, aud he was sure to
/ be defeated. He must "circumvent the
criter," as he expressed il, aud to that
end he set himself 10 work, lie wasa
man of sound judgement, and his worldly
experience Of tifty years was not thrown
away, From the day 1t first came 10 his
knowledge that his wife aud daughters
were spirituaists, IA never spoke word
against, nor did he ever allude to Il, eX-
cept in general terms in his morning
| prayers; but any one could sec that Il
troubled him, for he was absent-minded,
his eyes wandered resllessly, aud bis
countenance looked caroworn.
The Deacon witnessed one or two "s.t.
tings" at bis own house, and was satisd-
ed that if he possessed little more knowl-
edge he would get rid Of the annoyance,
So one morning he started for the city,
determined to thoroughly investigate the
subject before he returned. After visit
ing two Of the most popular mediums,
and paying his money, he returned home
satisfied that he could "see through IT,"
There was "eitting" at the Deacons
house on the night he returned aud his
daughter Mary the medium--iuyitcd tho
| Deacon to take a seat et the table, which
to her qualification was accepted. The
ceedspirits we're in good tune, aud 80 ex.
ingly communicative that tho Deacon
was induced to ask few questions,
which were rapidly answered, and wife
and daughters were in ccstaces At the
thought that father would be believer,
and urged the Deacon on IN bis inquiries.
elias my wife always been true to her
marriage vowsp asked the Deacon.
TO this question there were no raps in
return, while Mrs. lsaocs sat transfxed
with holy horror that such a thought
should enter her husbands mind.
GLOW many years have passed since
she was untruep
"Answer by single raps" Then came
slowly aud solomnly, one, two, three,
four aud so on, until they reached TWEEN
tys
GLOW many who came TO be are not
my childreup
Again the spirit raped one, two.
Mrs, lsaacs looked dumtuunded.
"Mercy I" said Mary.
(Which are they" asked the Deacon,
who seemed so intent on the subject that
he paid no attention to his companions.
"Mary-sarah," )" raped the spirit-tbe
names Of two daughters, the oldest Of
whom was under twenty.
Mrs. lsaacs could stand II no longer.
dts liel dldn'll It's Iie!" she
shrioked, rising from the table. "lhey
are your children, Deacon lssacs, aud
God knows It,"
"But the spirits affirm differently"
said the Deacon IN solemn voice.
"Then they lie, p" said the wife.
"Butif you believe them in everything
else, why not 10 tbIsf'
"But don't believe them at all; it's
all fooIery."
"Nor y" shouted Mary.
"Nor / 20 added Sarah.
"Thcp, said the Deacon, while a smile
Illuminated his countenance, Eve will
bid them good bye, and leave those things
which God has wisely hidden from az TO
be revealed To- Ills time"
The Deacon's evening devotious were
characterized With more carncstness than
usual, and The family retired fully salts.
fed that the epjdts aud mediums did not
always reveal the truth.
Mrs, lsaacs was glad that none Of the
neighbors were present, bat somebOw
the story got wing, an1 80 fuful we're
tbe .prit danes Of ~ that lIle} might
had sci, was driven entirely IRON tlo yil-
agc,