Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1823-12-17

Der and friendly recommendation to ge
my head shaved, and betake myself tC
some7place of safe custody with as littlt
delay as may be. In the arrogance o
my supposed wisdom, | should myself
only a few weeks ago, have probably
adopted one of these courses toward
any other similar delinquent, which will
secure me from any splenetic feeling
however boisterous may be the mirth
or bitter the irony, with which Emay be
twitted and tainted for the following
narration.-l bayeano sinister purpose;
to answer, particular creed to advo
cate, no theory. TO establish; and writing
with the perfect conviction of truth, anc
the full possession of my faculties, an
determined Motto suppress what | con.
scientiousB believe to be facts, merely
because they may initiate againstreceiv.
ed opinions, or happen TO be7inconsistent
with the ordinary course of human ex-
Derience - *
1t may not be unimportant to remark,
that so far from my being subject to the
blue devils and vapours with which n.y.
pochondriacs and invalids are haunted,
possess that happy physical organiza-
ton, which ensures almost uninterrupt-
ed health of body and mind, and which,
in the elasticity and buoyancy of my spir-
it, renders the sensation of mere exist
ence an enjoyment. Though ! reside
in the country, winter has for me 20
gloom, nature has prepared herself for
its rigors; they are customary, and eve
ry thing seems to harnonize with their
infection; but for the same reason that
the solitude of town is desoating and
oppressive, while the Loneliness of the
country is soothing and grateful, | do
feel the sadness of perpetual fogs and
rains in July, although they excite no
melancholy feeling at the,season oftheir
natural occurrence. lose ones favor
lite flowers laying down their heads to
die; ones plantation strewed With leaves
not shaken off in the fitness of age, but
beaten to earth in the bloom of youth :
here a. noble tree laid PROSTATE; and
there a valuable field of corn lodged in
the swampy soil (Which we're familiar
objects in July las0 is sufficient to ex-
cite melancholy associations in the most
cheerful temperament. Confessing that
mine was not altogether proof against
their influence, and leaving TO the cavil-
Ter and the sceptic the full benefit of this
admission, proceed to simple state
ment of the fact which has elected these
preliminary observations.
Actuated by the dulness of the scene
TO which have alluded, ] bad written to
my friend, Mr.. George Staples, of Exc
ter, requesting him to walk over some
day and dine with me, as wcllknew bis
presence was an instant an'idote to men,
tai depression, not so much from the pos
session of any wit or humor, as from his
unaffected kindness and amiability, the
exuberance of his animal spirits, the in
exhaustible fund Of his laughter, which
was perpetualIy waiting for the smallest
excuse 10 burst out Of his heart, and the
contagion of his .hilarity, which had ar
instant faculty of communicating itself to
others. On the day following the trans.
mission of this letter, as | was sitting in
an alcove to indulge my afternoon med
itation, | found myself disturbed by wha
/. imagined to be the ticking of my re,
Peater; but, recollecting that had lef
itin the house, discovered the noise
proceeded from that little insect Of nau
spicious augory, the death watch. Des
pising the puerile superstitiohs connect
ed with this pulsation, / gave it no fur
Their notice and proceeded towards The
house, when as passed an umbrageou
plantation, l was startled by aloud wall
ing shrek, and presently screech ow
flew ont immediately before me. 1t wa
the first time one of those ill-omenet
birds bad ever crossed my path; | com
! bined II with the mcmento mora | hat
just heard, although blushed at my owl
weakness in thinking them worthy of as
ISOLATION; and, as | walked forward,
encountered my servant, who put let
ter into my hand, which observed to b,
sealed with black wax. 1t was from tn,
clerk Of my poor friend, informing m,
that he had been that morning struck b,
an apopletic Mt which had occasioned hi
Observation-Disclosures death The reade
may spare the sheer that is flicker
upon his features; I,draw no inferenc,
whatever from the omens that precede,
this intelligence; | am willing to con
slider them as curious condolences, total
ly qnconnected with the startling appar
ition which shortly afterwards assaile,
me. ...,.