The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-10-12
Aunt James Ssanco,

Aunt Jane was very much exercised be-
cause new family that had been settled in
our neighborhood were 'tspirituallsts. 1t
was all the more vaxatious to her because
she had "neighbored" with them in her
slngle-hearted. motherly way, and when
she heard some hints about their peculiar
views" she wouldn't believe them, for she
said, "they are real nice folks, and don't
believe one word of it," -....
But the talk about them increased, and
1t was young woman, "a medium" and
now the little country village was alive
with interest. The girl was watched and
commented upon as if she had been an
escaped "What-is-it," and the school chill
dren, all who dared, went to and from
school that way. Every thing about the
plain little white house was so mysterious.
although 1t was like several dozen other
houses in town. If the curtains happened
to be up they wondered why they were not
down, and If one of the curt aims happened
to be down or the blinds to be closed, then
1t was very strange, e,-although the next
door neighbors might have one or two or three
without being particularly noticed
At first Aunt Jane wouldn't believe what
she heard, but when she saw they never
went to 'mcetln'," and took no interest in
either Of the two churches, she suspected
there might be some truth in the gossip
and when she heard about the "mediumn
she made up her mind she would know
whether they were spirtualists or not. So
she went over to make a neighborly after
noon call, with her knittlng-work in a bag
on her arm. She was gone long while !;
1t was almost tea. time when she came home,
and when she came she was very SILENT
we called 1t cross and rendered what had
happened. She solemnly announsed at the
tea-tab.e that they were spirituaists, and
no mistake. 1t semed that they had been
explaining some Of their "vlews'' to Aunt
Jane and she was little vexed that she
had listened 30 graciously; her conscience
troubled her for not telling them right up
and down what she thought of it all. They
had given her very polite invitation to a
"seance," which she had emphatically de-
clined, and now she felt sorry she hadn't
accepted it, so that she might know how
far they carried their "nonsonoe.
She had another opportunity however, a
few weeks after,-she was invited again TO
''seance," and this time she accepted.
The man Of the house, Mr.. Wilkins, was
away from home, and this seance was a
very private one. There was no ono in
the room when Aunt Jane went in but
Mrs. Wilkins and the ''medium," a slight
young girl about 10 years old "a niece of
Mr.. Wiikins), and boy who had lately
come to live in the Wilkins family. Soon
after Aunt Jane arrived the light was turned
down to properly solemn pitch, and they
all sat in stately silence. Presently Mrs.
Wilkins asked - t|..
"Do you teel anything strangei" IS
mo-" said Aunt Jane sharply, IL
DON'T" ~;,1r.e.t
Presently she noticed that'.t girl acted
strangely, and she became wholly absorbed
In watching her. She would rub her hands
wildly and jerk from one side of her chair
to the other and 80 through vorious mo.
tions which Aunt Jane thought were all
done for effect. But as she watched her
sho grew startled, for the girl seemed in
pain, and when she finally settled back
rlgidly In her char, Aunt Jane sprang up
with "TirD up that light instantlyi'
The boy instinctively dDeyed but Mrs.
Wilkins hurriedu up to the table to turn Il
down again. "Why," said she, "lt is a