On the Divining Rod. 103 



My class-mate, the Rev. Mr. Steele, of Bloomfield, N. 

 Y. called on me, a few weeks ago, and, in conTersation on 

 the subject, informed me that the rods would " work" in 

 his hands. We made the experiment. A twig of the 

 peach was employed for the purpose. It was at once man- 

 ifest that it bent, and often withed down from an elevation 

 of 45° to a perpendicular, over particular spots; and when 

 we had passed them, it assumed its former elevation. At 

 one spot in particular, the effect was very striking, and 1)6 

 at once said there must be a very large current of water 

 passing under that place, or it must be very near the surface. 

 I informed him that a large perennial spring issued at the 

 distance of perhaps fifty rods, and requested him to trace 

 the current, without informing him of the direction of the 

 spring. He did so, and it led him, in nearly a direct line, 

 to the spring, which was so situated as to prevent his dis- 

 covering it till within one or two rods of its mouth. The 

 mode of his tracing it, resembled that of a dog on his mas- 

 ter's track, crossing back and forth, and he proceeded with 

 as little hesitation. The result, however inexphcable, re- 

 moved all my doubts. It was in vain for me to reply 

 against the evidence of my senses, by saying. How can this 

 he? and why should not these rods operate in the hands of 

 one as well as another.'' 



On a journey I have since taken to the south-east part of 

 New-Hampshire, I was pleased to learn the practical use 

 which has been made of these rods in that region, for a 

 year or two past, in fixing on the best places for wells. I 

 was informed, by good authority, of a man, in that vicinity, 

 who could not only designate the best spot, but could tell 

 how many feet it would be needful to dig to find water; and 

 that he had frequently been employed for this purpose with- 

 out having failed in a single instance. I w^ill recite one case 

 out of a number v/hich were told me. A man who had 

 dug in vain for a good well near his house, requested his 

 advice. On experiment of the rods, the best place was 

 found to be directly under a favorite shade tree in front ol" 

 the house ; and there the proprietor was assured he would 

 find abundance of water at a moderate depth. But on re- 

 flection, he was loth to sacrifice the tree, and concluded ii 

 would answer as well to dig pretty near it. He dug; and 

 frftcr sinking the s'haft much deeper than had been directed.. 



