Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-09-23

foremost rank, and without intruding herself
forward as the arbilress OF any other person $
opinion, she in reality gave a tone to that Oh
the whole-for those, who could not be con-
WINGED by the strength OF her reasoning, were
always ready to admire the manner in which 1t
was delivered and were always wiling to be-
lieve that her eyes said less than her arguments
Boosting, one evening, how little she was
subject to the impressions of fear, 1t was re-
solved, by her thoughtless Juvenile associates,
that an attempt should be made 10 expose what
they considered vanity in the extreme. With
this view, after the consultation, they resolved
to introduce into her bed a portion OF an human
skeleton, with its head reclining upon pillow,
imagining that, when the unfortunate subject OF
this memoir should undraw the curtains OF her
bed, an involuntary scream would expose that
even her fears could be easily worked upon
They listened, when she had retired from the
dance, with no ordinary silence; but for such an
exclamation they listened in vain; no scream,
not the least sound was heard; the light OF the
lamp, too, was extinguished, after a seemingly
long interval, and all was apparently buried IN
a profound, uninterrupted silence. Concluding,
therefore, that the fearless maiden had seen the
skull and removed it in silence, they retired with
some little disappointment, al the i'll success OF
the plan they had laid to alarm her. In truth,
Mary Mcleod had not seen the horrid specta-
Gle; she reposed in the same bed with a human
skull, total v ignorant Of the presence OF so APP
palling a sight, and slept as sound as innocence
always will, in peace, by its side. The moon,
rising during the night, shed IFS rays through
the window Of her room, full upon the head OF
the skeleton, pre- senting an object barely visible
TO the eye, and, for that reason, more horribly aw-
ful than language could attemptto describe;more
especially as there were no objects distinctly pre-
sent to the eye, which could dispel any dreadful
illusion, which such a spectacle, under such
circumstances, could give rise to. Upon this
scene, arranged by an Unfortunate occurrence OF
events, as if laid out by the hand OF a demon,
beamed the bright eye of Mary Mcleod, as
she awoke from a dream-fell like the spark
ling eve Of an angel lowering over chaos. The
shock was too exquisitely horrible to be endur-
ed; her fine spirits could not Withstand the blow;
and but a few minutes sufficed to convert the
soaring spirit Of her, whose wit had lately abash
ed even the most presumptuous into that WHO
horror stricken essence, which directed the wild
motions ofa beauteous, unfortunate maniac.
LISTEN said the wife of the worthy host,
to a physician Of long practice in the most be-
"nevolent of the sciences; " listen to that curious,
long continued laugh! it is surely the laugh OF
your f~ayori'e, Mary McLeod!" In a few mi
nutes all the inmates Of the house were assem-
bled at the door Of the room, which contained
the beauteous formfrom whence this wild laugh
ing emanated; il paused for a few moments, and
then again proceeded--aga!n II ceased, and all
became silent as the grave. Again the laugh
went on-no entreaties could stop it-all ques-
tons passed away UNDECIDED. 1t sounds" said
one Of the servants, "as if it was approaching
the window" This suggestion reused the weep
ing energy of the worthy doctor; he hastily
burst open the door, and rushed into the roon;
but his benevolence came too late, tor the unfor-
tunate object Of the story had precipitated her
self to the ground, and was borne back by her
agonized companions more dead than alive
The doctor soon foresaw that the injury she
bad received would render all care useless
death had marked her for his own The inces-
SAINT care, however, which was bestowed upon
her, brought her from a state OF torpor to some
little feeling Her half dead attendants had yet
a hope for the best; but death came on apace:
no balm could cure an injured frame, whose
angelic spirit was, if possible, still more dread
fully wounded Her days of suffering were
therefore few; and on the morning, in which
she fled into the fields where folly never riots,
the bright spark of reason returned to her once
again-all powers oil mind came back with re-
newed strength; and calling around her the
weeping group, with whom she had parted but
a few evenings before, she begged of them to
forget her fate as completely as she iorgavc
those who were the uninlentional cause OF her
death. edo not imagine" said the retiring
angel; " do not for one moment believe that |
am sorry that the period shall come when
shall be set free from a pilgrimage, which
might, perhaps, have ended still more %unfortu-
nately. and might not have afforded so useful
an example Of the dangers Of working upon the
fears Of any one; nor should ] have been So tri-
ed had not my vanity laid claim to what no one
ever possessed--a total absence OF all fear. In
all future periods, amid the gay scenes OF LIE,
when anger shall prompt you, may you recol-
lect to forgive others, as Mary Mcleod for
gave you; and, if ever my spirit shall be depn-
ted again TO visit the earth, | shall, perhaps, be
that very attendant spirit, "ho, at that very mo-
ment, will bring back to your recollection the
fate of Mary Mcleod.
From the New York DAILY Advertisey.
COMMERCE OF LAKE ERIE.
Since the oDpninr of the whole line of the