THE BURsTED BUBBLE.


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ImDlDeS With dire dOcllity the wrong
Who but remembers to have seen, hard
or read something of that great impotor
Joanna Southcote-she who could lare-
facedly assert that it was her lot and dTine
commission TO give birth to the Messiah. the
Son of God and by fearless audaclty Sed,ce
thousands to become her followers2 Speak
ing of this impostor, brings to mind a story
| which we remember to have heard from an
| authentic source.


1t was Joanna's doctrine, that all VINO be-
lIeved in her should never fall victims to
death; but that they would be severally call.
ed for and carried to heaven by an angel.
One OF her proselytes was the wife ofa hard
laborIng honest man, who lived in the vi.
cility OF Manchester. Continually did this
woman harangue her unbelieving husband
about her newly imbibed religion. His
breakfast was disturbed by the relation of
her ridiculous dreams; his dinner he either
prepared for himself, or did without it, for
his wife was literally a totLOaoer of Joanna
Southcote Each evening was made un-
quiet by the continual W arning, that an an
gel would come that very nigh: and carry
OIL his better half (O, consummation de,
voutedl ly 10 be wished, no doubt The poor
man. at last wearied beyond all endurance,
concluded that It was necessary that the an
gel should call soon; and accordingly sought
means and opportunity TO accomf lish his
desIre.-Long after they had retired one
nigh:. the good woman's sermon was put an
end 10 by loud rapplng at the door.


There's the ANGEL cried the wife.


Nonsense, ansx xered the husband.


Oh. but it is, and must 60


Lay still, you silly thing, Till see who it
is2


The husband put his head out of the win
dow and cried. Who's there2


An Angel! answered coarse voice.


The devil cried the husband


No zur, a regular angel, come after your
wife,


Thought so. cried the wife: farewell, John,
| must go. Thus saying, she jumped out oil
bed.


But you wont go though. will you Zukey7
anxiously asked the husband


Wont though2 Oh, Johnny. Johnny
why didn't you believe and you'd gone too2
Good bye Johnny. good bye. the ungePs
waiting.


Well, if you must, you must; it can't be
helped! cried the husband. Thereupon the
wife hurried down stairs, where she found





ing with a donkey. She was soon comfort.
ably seated behind her angelic conductor,
and the two rode off Now the good spirit
had conveyed his charge to about the dis
tance of three miles from the house, when
suddenly he stopped short and babe her a
light, asserting that he had to go and bring
another passenger who was going the same
homeward way.


ha ln,,o rr11I NJ Aporal For
it's awful cold on this ere snow bank will
you2


Oh mol good Mistr ess Mortality, shan't
be over two or three--9et up Dobbln,
and the Angel rode away.


The poor woman waited long time and
began to imagine tha. two or three minutes
waxed two hours. The old clock of Man
chester had tolled one. the wife could just
Distinguish the sound as it foated on the
stiffness of the night. She sat musing on
heavenly things. and ever and anon, gave
vent to a sigh for her poor sin suffering hus>
band The clock struck two l-Doubts
began to work in the woman's brain, family
at first, but gathering thicker and darker as
time waxed away. good deal (as the poet
would say) as twilight brings in its train the
gloomier hours. Now did she seriously
begin to envy the comfortable situation
which she supposed her husband to be en-
| ioying Could it be that she was deceived
The clock struck .hreel Yes, in her heart
she actually denounced Joanna Southcote
and all of her doctrines; and trudged her
way home, with a settled determination to
| pour boiling water on as many angels or
devils as should call her from well warm
ed bed. She arrived at her house and knock
ed several times very loud at the door.
Who's here2 cried the husband at last
putting his head on; of the WINDOW.


Obi Johnny. do let me inl answered a
voice.


Let who in2


Your dear frozen dying wife.
Go away, GO away, you have got to the
wrong house You mistake me for some
other miserable fellow.


Oh no Johnny. Johnny. Pm your pool
wife do let me in.


Get away with your nonsensel tell "
there's no such bad news. An angel car
ried off my wife to heaven thank his kind
ness


tell you Johnny. its no such thing, n
was an impostor. I'll never have any thing
more to do with any of those creatures
gain. Johnny, nor any OF 'em.


Are YOU sure of that? cried the delighted
husband. :.


Oh YES. indeed. if you'll only let me II
| I'll promise you anything said the imPio
ring wife. The husband took the poor wo
man at her word and admitted her on coha