Page:Dealings with the dead.djvu/176

 it seemed to me that I held converse with the ghosts, but for a long time was totally unable to realize that they were human spirits. Much of the history of my psychical life has for years been before the world, and therefore need not be repeated here; consequently we will pass over several years, to the date of the first occurrence of the "Rochester Knockings." At the first opportunity that offered itself, I went to Litchfield, Michigan, at which place were two females in whose presence the strange noises were said to occur. I heard them, believed they were produced by a power outside, and independent of the girls, yet could hardly realize that human souls, disembodied, were the makers of the sounds. The result was an increased and intensified study, not only of the soul itself, so far as was possible by aid of an active intellect and quickened intuition, but also of its modes of action, its phases, and its moods. And, O, how my spirit loved to dwell upon its possibilities! Was there any person in the country reputed to have a wealth of knowledge on matters pertaining to the spirit, I spared neither trouble nor expense; but went forthwith to glean what I could from his or her precious stores. Of the "rappers," "tippers," and "table-turners," I soon became wearied; for, as a class, they amounted to but little, and, with one or two exceptions, proved unworthy of confidence.

At last, I went to visit a city in New England, where was published a paper devoted to the illustration and diffusion of spiritual light, the editor of which soon became interested in me, (for people said that my ghost-seeing faculty was real, and that I had given incontestible proofs, not merely of the power indicated, but also