Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1822-03-16

with al the 5cestainy which characIerises
this insiduous foe OF the human family 4
There was, fifteen years ago, and, IS
perhaps at this time. an opinion prevalent.
among the inhabitants Of this town, that
the body Of person who had died Of a
consumption. was. by some supernatural
me ans. nourisbed in the grave from the b :
dy Of some one living member of the Ia
mily; and that during the life OF this per-
son, the body retained, in the grave. all
the fulness and freshness Of lite and
health. s.
This belief was strengthened by the
circumstances, that whole families tre-s
auenty fell a prey to this terrible dis
ease.
Of one large family in this town con-
sisting of fourteen children. and their ve--
nerable parents, the mother and the young
est SON only remained-the rest within .
year of each other had died Of the con-
sumption.
Within two months from the death of
the thirteenth child, an amiable girl of a.
bout Is years OF age, the bloom which
characterised thu whole of this family,was
seen to fade from the cheek OF the last
support of the heart-smitFen mother, and
his broad fat chest was occasionally con-
vlsed by that powerful deep cough With
attends the consumption in our Atlantic
states.
At this time. as II to snatch one Of this
family from an early grave, it was resolved
by few of the inha bitants OF the village
TO ties! the truth of this tradition which !
have mentioned. and which the circuin
| stances OF this afflicted family seemed to
confirm, should have added that il was
believed that it the body thus unnaturally
nourished in the grave, should be raised
and tuned over in the coffin, its depreda-
ton upon the survivor would necessarily
cease. The consent of the mother being
obtained, it was agreed that four persons,
attended by the surviving and complain
Ing brother should, at sunrise the sext day
dig up the remains OF. the last buried Sis
ter. At the appointed hour they attended
IN the burying yard, and having with much
exertion removed the earth. they raised
the coffin and placed it upon the ground;
then, dspIacing The Eat lid. they lifted The
covering from her face. and discovered
what they had indeed anticipated, but
dreaded to declare Yes, | saw the Vi
sage OF one who had been long the tenan:
of silent grave, lit up with the brillianey
of youthful health. The cheek was ful to
dimping, and rich protusion OF hair sba
ded her cold forehead, while some of its
richest curs hoated upon her unconscious
breast. The large blue eye had scarcely
lost its briIiancy, and the livid fulnsss OF
her lips seemed almost TO say, " loose me
and let me go"
In two weeks the brother, shocked with
tho spectacle he had witnessed, sunk un
der bis disease. The mother survived
scarcely year, and the long range Of six.
teen graves, is pointed out to the stranger
as an evidence of the truth of the belief o.
the inhabitants.
The following lines were written on |
recollection OF the above shocking scene |
saw her, the grave sheet was round her,
Months had past since theylaid her in clay;
Yet the damps OF the tomb could net wound her, |
The worms had not siez ed on their prey.
O, fair was her cheek, as knew it
When he rose all its colours there brought; |
And that eye. did teal then bsdew it?
1t gleam'd like the herald of thought.
She bloom'd though the shroud was around her
Her locks DER her cold bosom wave,
As if the stern monarch had crown'd her.
The fair speeches. queen of the grave.
But what lends the grave such lustre,?
Ger her cheek what such beauty had shed ? |
HI life-blood, who bent there, had hurst her,
The husng ras food jor the dead! C.