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eadily made out。 With one; a stolid personage of disbelieving type; every attempt failed; until at last the spirits signified by knocks that he was a disturbing agency; and that while he remained all our efforts would fail。 Upon this some of the company proposed that he should leave; of which invitation he took advantage; with a skeptical sneer at the whole performance。
As he left us; the sergeant leaned over and whispered to the medium; who next addressed himself to me。 ‘‘Sister Euphemia;'' he said; indicating the lady with large eyes; ‘‘will act as your medium。 I am unable to do more。 These things exhaust my nervous system。''
‘‘Sister Euphemia;'' said the doctor; ‘‘will aid us。 Think; if you please; sir; of a spirit; and she will endeavor to summon it to our circle。''
Upon this a wild idea came into my head。 I answered: ‘‘I am thinking as you directed me to do。''
The medium sat with her arms folded; looking steadily at the center of the table。 For a few moments there was silence。 Then a series of irregular knocks began。 ‘‘Are you present?'' said the medium。
The affirmative raps were twice given。
‘‘I should think;'' said the doctor; ‘‘that there were two spirits present。''
His words sent a thrill through my heart。
‘‘Are there two?'' he questioned。
A double rap。
‘‘Yes; two;'' said the medium。 ‘‘Will it please the spirits to make us conscious of their names in this world?''
A single knock。 ‘‘No。''
‘‘Will it please them to say how they are called in the world of spirits?''
Again came the irregular raps3; 4; 8; 6; then a pause; and 3; 4; 8; 7。
‘‘I think;'' said the authoress; ‘‘they must be numbers。 Will the spirits;'' she said; ‘‘be good enough to aid us? Shall we use the alphabet?''
‘‘Yes;'' was rapped very quickly。
‘‘Are these numbers?''
‘‘Yes;'' again。
‘‘I will write them;'' she added; and; doing so; took up the card and tapped the letters。 The spelling was pretty rapid; and ran thus as she tapped; in turn; first the letters; and last the numbers she had already set down:
‘‘UNITED STATES ARMY MEDICAL MUSEUM; Nos。 3486; 3487。''
The medium looked up with a puzzled expression。
‘‘Good gracious!'' said I; ‘‘they are MY LEGS MY LEGS!''
What followed; I ask no one to believe except those who; like myself; have communed with the things of another sphere。 Suddenly I felt a strange return of my self… consciousness。 I was reindividualized; so to speak。 A strange wonder filled me; and; to the amazement of every one; I arose; and; staggering a little; walked across the room on limbs invisible to them or me。 It was no wonder I staggered; for; as I briefly reflected; my legs had been nine months in the strongest alcohol。 At this instant all my new friends crowded around me in astonishment。 Presently; however; I felt myself sinking slowly。 My legs were going; and in a moment I was resting feebly on my two stumps upon the floor。 It was too much。 All that was left of me fainted and rolled over senseless。
I have little to add。 I am now at home in the West; surrounded by every form of kindness and every possible comfort; but alas! I have so little surety of being myself that I doubt my own honesty in drawing my pension; and feel absolved from gratitude to those who are kind to a being who is uncertain of being enough himself to be conscientiously responsible。 It is needless to add that I am not a happy fraction of a man; and that I am eager for the day when I shall rejoin the lost members of my corporeal family in another and a happier world。
End