Part 49 (2/2)

ROCKLAND, _May 3rd, 1891_.

MR. R. HODGSON,--DEAR SIR,--Yours of April 21st received, and I will add a few more lines as to statement of brother Benja's communication.

By calling the alphabet we spelled out:--

”You will find that piece of brick in the cabinet under the tomahawk.--BENJA.”

I went to that room and took the key, unlocked the cabinet, which had not been touched by any one after he locked it and put away the key. There I found that piece of brick just as it had spelled out, and it corresponded with the piece I had retained, fitting on exactly where he broke it off the piece I had. It was wrapped in a bit of paper and tucked into a sh.e.l.l, and placed in the bottom of the cabinet _exactly under_ the tomahawk, as was spelled out by the alphabet.

This is truth, and no power but Benja's could tell that.

Mother is not living; I am the only one of the family that is living.--Yours respectfully,

MRS. WM. A. FINNEY.

ROCKLAND, _May 11th, 1891_.

MR. R. HODGSON,--DEAR SIR,--Yours of 6th received. I will continue to say, in answer to your questions, that the piece of brick was entirely concealed in the sh.e.l.l, so that it could not be seen from outside of cabinet. It was wrapped in a piece of paper stuck together with mucilage and tucked into the end of the sh.e.l.l, then a piece of paper gummed over that, so that nothing was visible from the sh.e.l.l. The sh.e.l.l was on the lower shelf of the cabinet, and only the top of the sh.e.l.l was visible outside the cabinet.

One more little incident I will mention, for to me it is as valuable as the other. He wrote me a letter (about the time he gave me the piece of brick) and sealed it, saying at the time it was not to be answered, but the contents of the letter to be told. I got that in the same way I did the other, by calling the alphabet and the table tipping. It was these words:--

”Julia! do right and be happy.--BENJA.”

That was correct. Just the contents of my letter. I have no particular objection as to giving my name, for I have stated nothing but the truth.

At my home in Kingston I have that little sh.e.l.l with the piece of brick, and if you would like them I will send them to you. Will place the brick into the sh.e.l.l as it was when I found it. Of course, the paper that was around it then is worn out years ago.

The cabinet is disposed of.

JULIA A. FINNEY.

Mrs. Finney further writes:--

ROCKLAND, _June 26th, 1891_.

I send you by express a box containing the letter and sh.e.l.l with the piece of brick. I have placed one piece in the sh.e.l.l just as it was when I found it, so you can see how nicely it was concealed in the sh.e.l.l. The papers that were around it then are worn out. You can retain them if you like, as I do not care for them now.

To me it is a positive truth that he did communicate to us, and our minds could have nothing to do with it.

J. A. FINNEY.

ROCKLAND, _July 19th, 1891_.

...The sh.e.l.l was placed on the same shelf with the tomahawk, and no other sh.e.l.ls on that shelf. It was placed with the open side down, and the tomahawk stood directly over it. I cannot say why he did not tell us to look inside of the sh.e.l.l. We started to look as soon as he told us. It was in the cabinet under the tomahawk. We did not wait for any more to be said.

I am not intimately acquainted with many public people. As to my integrity, will refer you to Rev. C. Y. de Normandie, of Kingston.

J. A. FINNEY.

<script>