Year: 1860




HoGsehotd IN Lafayette, ". y, Visited-the1


Speak, Threaten, Contradict, and Dictate Chairs


and Dishes Changing Places.


Most OF your readers have doubtless heard Of
the operations OF some mysterious and invisible
power on the persons furniture, &c, of the John
son family, residing near Lafayette Square. The
family consists OF an aged couple and their grand
child, little girl about eight years of age. They
are quite respectable people, and the disturbances
which have occurred in their house have been n
great trial to them. The first thing they noticed
was that their salt dish and pepper castor were
filled with water, then dishes commenced breaking:
they would raise from the shelves and come to the
floor with crash; tables would move about, and
when loaded with dishes turn over, DESTROYING eve
rythlng possible, and to such extent has this been
carried that they have been obliged to nail the
table to the side OF the house. Chairs will rise
from the floor in the kitchen and go into the wood
house without any person being near them; pals Of
water are often upset. At one time Mrs johnson
set an empty pail on the flOor and on crossing the
room 1t followed her; much vexed she gave it a
push, eXclaiming, ego back where YOU came
from" 1t obeyed, but Immediately returned tC
her again, crossing the room three or four times
While cooking their meals the kettles will be upset
and their contents landed quietly on the floor
much to the indignation of the household One
day as everything seemed to be breaking up Mrs
johnson thought she would put some of her most
valuable articles of glassware in pail and tie
them to the side of the house with rope While
attempting to do so, co1eepot came from the
pah'i dCloeS NHG IoOHl, nGf on the Dack.
Calling the little girl she told her to hold it down
to the floor while she tied the pail the child en-
deavored to do so, but her hands were twisted
around, causing her such rain that she was obliged
to let go, when the coffee pot again hit Mrs John
son, and as it came to the floor the handle came off
Mrs. johnson then threw it in the stove, excaim-
ing, "Ill see If | cannot burn the witches out OF
It,. One particular bed seems especially subject
to strange Influences; the clothes will be taken off
rolled up and put under the bed; and as for keep,
ing straw in it, it is utterly impossible, it will be
thrown all over the room. At one time Mrs John
son sewed up the bed with double twine and with
much satisfaction went to put away her needle; on
returning, what was her dismay to find the sewing
taken out and the straw flying about the rOOm.-
at first they were not much disturbed Sundays or
evenings, but about two weeks ago, Sabbath
morning, when Mrs. johnson was alone, she sat
down and began to read aloud in her Bible Pre-
sently she heard rapping on the stove. Having
become accustomed to all sorts of disagreeabe in
terruphons she determined not to notice it, but
raising her voice, commenced reading in a louder
tone, but the rapping became also louder, and
increased to such degree that, finding her voice
wholly drowned in the uproar, she at length de
sisted, when a voice said: 81 will burn your
Bible will burn your Testament, | will break
your stove to pieces, | will break your windows,
will tear up your floor" The Bible is often taker
from the stand and hurled to the floor with such
force that there is scarcely whole leaf LETT Since
the first voice spoke audibly, TIVE other voice:
have been heard speaking, in contradiction to eacl
other. At one time voice sad sit is the spiri
of this child's mother who is doing all this Ano
ther voice said, 'nO, it is the devil" Still another
| voice said, sit is one of your neighbors." Thes,
singular occurrences of course attract crowds o
people Being an acquaintance of the family
| their niece handed the above communication t
| Inc, expressing wish for its publication. | there
| fore submit it to you for consideration.


Mrs. j. F. CLARK.