mals; and many will whisper, that at such a
time of night, returning from some neighbouring market, they have met
with the evil one in the forest, in such and such a spot, where the two
roads cross each other, or where the old oak has been blasted by
lightning.

The boy grows to manhood, but these family traditions are deeply
engraved in his memory, and when alone, in the solitude, near the
"haunted places," his morbid imagination embodies the phantoms of his
diseased brain. No wonder, then, that such men should tamely yield to
the superior will of one like Joe Smith, who, to their knowledge,
wanders alone by moon-light in the solitude of forests, and who, in
their firm belief, holds communication with spirits of another world.
For, be it observed, Smith possesses all the qualities and exercises all
the tricks of the necromancers during the middle ages. His speech is
ambiguous, solemn, and often incomprehensible--a great proof to the
vulgar of his mystical vocation.

Cattle and horses, lost for many months, have been recovered through the
means of Joe, who, after an inward prayer, looked through a sacred
stone, "the gift of God," as he has asserted, and discovered what he
wished to know. We need not say that, while the farmer was busy at home
with his crop, Smith and his gang, ever rambling in woods and glens,
were well acquainted with every retired, shady spot, the usual abode of
wild as well as of tame animals, who seek there, during the summer, a
shelter against the hot rays of the sun. Thus, notwithstanding his bad
conduct, Smith had spread his renown for hundreds of miles as that of a
"strange man;" and when he started his new religion, and declared
himself "a prophet of God," the people did not wonder. Had Rigdon, or
any other, presented himself, instead of Joe, Mormonism would never have
been established; but in the performer of _mysterious deeds_, it seemed
a natural consequence. As the stone we have mentioned did much In
raising Joe to his present high position, I will here insert an
affidavit made relative to Joe Smith's obtaining possession of this
miraculous treasure.

"Manchester, Ontario County, N.Y., 1833.

"I became acquainted with the Smith family, known as the
authors of the Mormon Bible, in the year 1820. At that time
they were engaged in the money-digging business, which they
followed until the latter part of the season of 1827. In the
year 1822, I was engaged in di