One evening there was such an assemblage of some twenty-five or thirty persons, of whom none were misplaced in such good company. One young Quaker lad, of seventeen or eighteen, had accompanied his father. He was a fine, bright and gentlemanly youth. It was the practice that each person took his turn, as they sat, to address his questions to the Spirits. When the right came to him to ask his questions, he waived it in favor of his older neighbor, who, however, declined to accept it, and insisted on his using his privilege. Accordingly, he wrote his question, screening his paper with a book as he did so. His first question was, "Is my friend John here?" Three raps gave the answer _Yes_. He then asked a second question to which came the reply: "Not quite so bad as that; I haven't smelt any brimstone yet." This elicited a general laugh, and he was pressed to show his question, to which he objected, until he was overborne by his father. It proved to have been, "John, are you in hell?" KITCHEN WORK BY NIGHT. We have been awakened by the most fearful sights and sounds when no human being other than ourselves was stirring in the house. On several occasions I could not rest until I called a policeman in, and had the house searched from garret to cellar. The manifestations were sometimes calculated to excite our sympathy, at other times they have lured us by false representations. I will give an instance. Mother and myself were in the sitting-room on the second floor alone, quite late at night (not far from midnight), when we distinctly heard walking, talking, and opening and shutting of doors. I said to mother, "Can it be possible that the girls are in the kitchen at this late hour?" She replied, "No, I saw them go up over an hour ago, and Susie said good-night to me." I then thought I noticed the odor of cooking from the kitchen. The girls had a habit of sitting up late, and I determined to go down and detect them in their tricks (on one occasion I had found them entertaining a large party, when they had supposed I was in bed and asleep). We started cautiously, listening as we went, and occasionally hearing movements, appearing to us slyly made, as if careful on their part not to be overheard. We took no light with us, as we did not expect to need any. The lower hall seemed lighted from a window opening into it from the front basement, and a bright light shone from under the kitchen door which enabled us to see everything around. I went cautiously to the door, opened it quickly and found utter darkness and silence. As I opened it I distinctly heard a clatter as of griddles, etc., dropping. Judge of our surprise when suddenly we were instantaneously seized and hustled about, and then both transported or lifted to the floor above by an irresistibly powerful "force." I believe that it was a device cunningly conceived by mischievous Spirits at play, to lure us down, and then frighten and bewilder us. "SICH A GETTIN' UP STAIRS."