st that was
written of each class, they in most cases referred to the same spirit.
He waited till the investigator had affirmed the coincidence, before
proceeding; for he did not like to write a communication, appending to
it, for instance, "Your Uncle John," when it ought to be "Your Father
John." The reason he did not desire inquirers to write the surnames of
their spirit-friends, was this: almost all Christian names are common,
and he was familiar with the motions which the hand must make in writing
them; but there are comparatively few people who have the same surnames,
and to determine them would have been more difficult. No fact was
communicated that had not been surreptitiously gleaned from the
investigator.

An old gentleman, apparently from the country, one day entered the room
of this medium and expressed a desire for a "sperit communication."

He was told to take a seat at the table, and to write the names of his
deceased relatives. The medium, like many others, incorrectly pronounced
the term "deceased," the same as "diseased"--sounding the s like z.

The old gentleman carefully adjusted his "specs" and did what was
required of him. A name and relationship having been selected from those
written, the investigator was desired to examine and state if they
referred to one party.

"Wal, I declare they do!" said he. "But I say Mister, what has them
papers to do with a sperit communication?"

"You will see, directly," replied the medium.

Whereupon the latter spasmodically wrote a "communication," which read
somewhat as follows:

"MY DEAR HUSBAND:--I am very glad to be able to address you through
this channel. Keep on investigating, and you will soon be convinced
of the great fact of spirit-intercourse. I am happy in my
spirit-home; patiently awaiting the time when you will join me
here, etc. Your loving wife, BETSEY."

"Good gracious! But my old woman can't be dead," said the investigator,
"for I left her tu hum!"

"Not dead!" exclaimed the medium. "Did I not tell you to write the names
of deceazed relatives?"

"Diseased!" returned the old man; "Wal, she ain't anything else, for
she's had the rumatiz orfully for six months!"

Saying which, he took his hat and left, concluding that it was not worth
while to "keep on investigating" any longer at that time.

This same medium, not long since, visited Great Britain for the purpose
of practicing his profession there.

In one of