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more wells, of good, living spring water, whicli were so many standing 

 monuments to the truth of the theory. But how to account for it was 

 the mystery ! Science, at that time, had not investigated the matter, and 

 he concluded that it was a merciful and benevolent provision of the Crea- 

 tor, to supply the human race with this very necessary beverage. These 

 facts, and his deductions therefrom, the Doctor published in a pamphlet 

 for the benefit of others, a copy of which fell into my hands some forty 

 years since, and from my recollection of which, I make this statement. 



About the same time, last mentioned, I saw a communication from a 

 Quaker in the interior of the State of New York, taken, I think, from 

 the Albany Cultivator, the substance of which was as follows: The 

 writer owned a large farm, under a high state of cultivation, having fine 

 brick buildings, orchards, shrubbery, &c., but no living water. He had 

 dug several wells, some of them ninety feet deep, but no good water could 

 be found, and it being difficult to obtain water from such depths, he be- 

 came discouraged, and offered his farm for sale at half its value, or cost. 

 A friend of his, on a visit to his house, was admiring the farm, buildings, 

 and other improvements, when the owner informed him of his willing- 

 ness to sell at half price, for want of water. His friend inquired why 

 he did not dig? "I have;" said the owner, "but no good water can be 

 obtained, and what I do get is at such a depth, that it is costly getting it. 

 "Why don't thee get a water philosopher, to tell thee where to dig?" 

 asked the friend. "Because I don't believe in such nonsense," was the 

 reply. "But thee may believe it, for I can assure thee that a good gen- 

 uine philosopher can tell thee where to find water ; and if thee will get 

 one, and follow his directions, if thee does not find water, I will pay thee 

 all the expenses thereof." Uopn this, the owner, to gratify his friend, 

 agreed to try the experiment. He did so, and was informed by the oper- 

 ator, that water was abundant, within twenty feet of the surface, and 

 near the corner of his house, fixing a mark by which to dig. He paid 

 the operator a dollar, having come some distance, and said to him: "I 

 have done this to please my friend, not because I have any faith in thy 

 skill ; But if I find water as thee has said, I will give thee fifty dollars." 

 The well was dug, and water found as indicated ; the operator got his 

 fifty dollars, and the farm was valued at double its price three or four 

 days before. 



But the reader is probably impatient to know the why and wherefore 

 of this mysterious business — how it is that the rod will work in the hands 



