We had been warned, in the spring, when I was there in company with Mrs. Grover and Mrs. Granger, that a death would take place in our family. The words were written on a block of wood corresponding exactly with those the children had brought from the new house which was being built by my father, within speaking distance of brother David's home. The communication, written in plain letters and thrown through the open window in broad daylight, read as follows: "One of your family will die. She will be happy with the angels; mourn not for her." I believed it would be mother, as she was so broken down and unhappy. We feared that she would not endure it much longer.
The writing on the block had always troubled me. I was in the room when it was thrown in, and knew that no human power could have thrown it in at that window and escaped instant detection.
VENTRILOQUISM--"PROCLAIM THESE TRUTHS TO THE WORLD"--THE CALL FOR THE ALPHABET--VOICES IN RAPS--GOD'S TELEGRAPH BETWEEN THE TWO WORLDS--AN EVICTION--COMMITTEE OF FIVE--NO MONEY ACCEPTED--IMPROPER QUESTIONS TO SPIRITS--"DONE"--STRUGGLE AGAINST THE "UNCANNY THING"--BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.
Mother and Maggie returned in about two weeks to Rochester, expecting to remain with us until the new house was finished. But "a change came over the spirit of our dream." Things in spiritual matters grew from bad to worse. Our kind friend, Mrs. Vick, had died suddenly during mother's absence, and the family soon gave up the house. It was rented by a new tenant, a diminutive, sickly-looking man who could not stand the "racket." His wife complained to him, and declared that she was afraid to remain at home with the children while he was absent. One day, while they were eating dinner, they heard knocks on their table. He was furious in his irritation at this, and coming up to me said: "You are ventriloquists, and I will put a stop to your doings. I will have you arrested if I ever hear any noises in my house again." I doubt if he had finished eating his dinner. He was very pale and trembled with excitement. My neighbor, Mrs. Bush, a very intelligent and talented lady, had called on me, and took up the argument in my behalf herself. She said to him: "Inasmuch as the sounds have been in your house, which have disturbed Leah all the morning, I think, if any one is arrested, you should be the one."