beads, glass mirrors, pieces of human skin, with many other matters,-a medley shocking to the sight, and offensive to the smell. A portion of the ingredients was burnt, a sort of chant was held over the fire by some members of the delegation which seemed to be confined to those who could keep time in singing. Then deep breathings and low moans were heard. At times the voices were raised to higher notes. Some threw themselves on the floor, as if in agony. This was continued for two hours, during which time the sick man was stretched by a fire in another room, and entirely deserted by those making up the charm. In their absence a physician of the city came in, at the request of the host, and succeeded in relieving the patient. When the charm was wound up, an Indian woman, the only one accompanying the delegation, crept slowly towards the sick man. His eyes were opened; he spoke; the spell had succeeded,—in an instant the roof resounded with the yells of savage joy. Who could dispute the power of the charm with those sons of the forest? This same charm, or one near allied to it, is now practiced in the Sandwich Islands. We need not dwell on this part of the subject, for one half of our quack medicines are legitimate descendants of these superstitions. Diseases of the mind are prolific of superstitious deeds. Saul did not consult the witch of Endor until he was in despair; nor did Brutus see the ghost of Cæsar, or any other spectre, until his hands had been stained with blood, and his nerves had been agitated in contemplating the fate of himself, and his army. The thoughts of bloody deeds are often accompanied with superstitious omens. When the deed of death first darted into the mind of Lady Macbeth, she said, in soliloquy, "The raven himself is hoarse, That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan When Macbeth had been braced up to Duncan's death, the dagger appeared before him, palpable as that he wore. "It is the bloody business, which informs Thus to mine eyes. Now o'er the one half world Whose howl's his watch, thus with stealthy pace, For a while he could hear Lady Macbeth's advice "Things without remedy, Should be without regard" for Duncan was dead; but Banquo and Fleance were still living; but when one had twenty mortal murders on his head, and the others had fled from his murder. ers, he could not any longer forbear consulting the "Secret, black and midnight hags, That keep the word of promise to our ear Feeble minds under the influence of supposed guilt, are more likely to be effected by superstitious feelings than strong ones, full of deeds of blood. Sickness, fatigue, and hunger would have made Hercules a whining child, as chills and fever did the mighty Cæsar; but a sound mind in a sound body, with a good education and a clear conscience, will never fear the charms of superstition, the spells of witchcraft, nor the power of magic. The seeds of superstition are too often sown in the nursery, and cherished in our youthful days. Bugbears are too often mingled with lullabys, and raw-head and bloody bones with the first tales given to amuse infancy. The household divinities should all be pure, kind, lovely characters, having countenances of beauty and tongues of truth. The stories of the fireside should be free from all hobgoblins and monsters. If it was thought proper to surround the altar of Hymen with forms of taste for effect, surely it is of as much importance to keep the in-fant mind clear of all monsters. Seen by the light of philosophy and sound sense, all the marvellous deeds of the magician, the astrologer, and the whole tribe of those who attempt to deceive the people, sink into those of common men, and we only admire their wisdom and skill while we are relieved by the investigation from all dread of enchantments, talismans, and spells, which thicken in almost every page of the early history of mankind. It is astonishing that the press, at the present day, should teem with quartos and royal octavos, upon the occult science of astrology. A splendid volume, called “The Astrology of the Nineteenth Century," has just been laid upon our tables. The compiler, or author, is vexed to find that the very useful subjects of which he treats do not attract more attention from the learned! But the subject ensures the sale of the work, and probably his ends are answered by this alone. The curious may look into this work to smile; to see how learning can put on a fool's cap, and talk of conjurations and apparitions, and all the unmeaning words, letters, and ceremonies of an Abracadabra. Modern witchcraft is now only an amusing tale, and may be read for the purposes of a gentle sensation after dinner, when other things are dull. Our countrymen never made a charge against any one for being a wizard. This term is from the same root as the word wise, or wisdom; while the word witch, is from a Saxon word, meaning wicked, and is used as a noun of common gender. Do not understand me, that while I would, as with a spunge, wipe out all traces of superstition from the human mind, all records of our early days, when we trembled and half believed the well authenticated tales of some honest neighbor, who heard his grandfather say, that he had heard the famous Cotton Mather say, in public and in private, that witches were an abomination, and that they ought to have been cut off when the foolish people saved them; that I would prefer a cold, selfish unbelief for my guide. No: I should prefer the highest extent of credulity to such a state of mind. That apathy which looks on all worlds, visible or invisible, as a subject of doubt, or unbelief, may be free from pain, but there can be no pleasure in it. There are, perhaps, many things in our history, and even in our natures and our hopes, hard to be understood, and some portion of them that the Great Author of our race never intended that we should be fully acquainted with in our present state of existence. A sound mind will very readily comprehend enough of its powers and capacities to teach it never to strive to attain what is above human reach, or to sink with fear at that which it cannot readily explain. There is a belief "that casteth out all fear;" a belief that gilds the joyous season of youth; a belief that is a、 light to the warrior in the hour of battle; that beams in the sage's eye, and breathes from his lips; a belief that sustains the martyr in the agonies of death; that brings beatific visions around the head of the dying saint; and one that takes from death his sting, and from the grave its victory. "In the deep windings of the grove, no more Or chase the shade that blots the blazing orb of noon. "Many a long-lingering year, in lonely isle, |
