tualism is a wonderful thing," said the Observer in a
retrospective tone. "As a source of valuable information, it beats the
Encyclopedia Brittanica in an easy hand gallop; the tonsorial artist
is not in its class and even the 'Intelligence Office,' pales into
innocuous desuetude beside it.
"Had it not been for a recent visit to a medium, I should never have
learned many important truths which affect me very closely. In the
first place I should not have known that I have a little brother and
sister in 'spirit life.' I had always considered myself an only child
and all of my relatives and friends cherished the same illusion. You
may imagine my astonishment, then, at receiving messages from Brother
Charley and Sister Ida, both of whom the medium described with
marvelous attention to detail. They told me not to worry--that it
would all come right, and that they were always with me, which is
comforting and shows how affectionate children can be--even in spirit
life.
"The next revelation which came from the 'other side' was the
statement that a dark cloud which was then hovering over me, would
soon pass away. This was interesting as well as instructive and, as
I was idly speculating as to the exact location of the cloud, I was
suddenly startled to learn that two beautiful young women--one fair
and wealthy, the other dark and poor, but accomplished--had won my
heart and that I was hesitating as to which one I loved the more.
"This was somewhat distressing and wholly unpremeditated on my
part. I caught myself hoping, with a vague sense of guilt, that my
wife wouldn't hear of it, for I knew it would worry her and bring
about complications between us. Perhaps this was the dark cloud,
I ruminated, and felt cheered by the assurance that it would soon
pass away. The spirit that told me these things was evidently in
a communicative mood and had, no doubt, looked up my case very
carefully.
"'You are very sensitive,' she told me--I use the word 'she'
advisedly, for no masculine spirit could possibly have ferreted out
all these facts. 'You touch many natures closely and benefit by
this faculty.' I had just borrowed a little money from a friend and
wondered if anything personal was intended by the word 'touch.' But I
cast this thought aside as unworthy--no spirit would resort to slang.
"'Do you often hear voices, indistinctly?' continued the spirit,
'strange voices which seem to call you and then sink away?' I thought
of the
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