He see by my mean that I wasn’t skairt, and he went on and continued:
“Yes, I am a lecturer on spiritualism,” and says he, “Do you believe in spirits mom?”
“Yes,” says I “some.” And I added in a cautious tone for I didn’t like his looks a mite. “What spirits do you mean, and how many?”
“Why spirits,” says he, “common spirits.”
“Well” says I “I believe in the spirit of true Christianity, and the spirit of the age, and on bein’ in good spirits all you can, and when you see meanness a goin’ on, in bein’ sort o’ proud spirited; and I believe in spirits of turpentine, and—”
But he interrupted of me. “I see Madam you are ignorant of our glorious spirit manifestations. Oh what a time we had last night.”
“What did they manifest,” says I calmly, “and how many?”
“Why,” says he, “Elizabeth Browning tipped the table over nobly last night. I never see Elizabeth do better. She would catch our hats off, and grab hold of our hands; I tell you Lib was lively last night. And George Washington! I never see George git friskier than he did. He would ontie us, jest as fast as anybody would tie us up; George would.”
“Well,” says I calmly, “the Bible says ‘we shall be changed,’ and truly I should think as much, though I can’t say as the change would be for the better if George Washington haint found no better employment for his immortal soul than ontyin’ tow strings. And truly the change in Mrs. Browning is great, if she feels like catchin’ off men’s hats, and grabbin’ holt of their hands, and foolin’ round.”
Says he rollin up his eyes: “That unseen world, the land we come from so lately and will return to so soon, is very near to us; it is all round and about us; only a breath divides us from it. Who dare deny that we get tidings from it? Who dare deny that voices of warning, or greeting comes to us, exiles from that true fatherland, home of the soul?”