Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1830-08-19
TIE PEsTILENCE.

scene, 10 which my pen IS unequal.
THE Pk.STiLENCE.
In my mind, the arnbueial OF the aneicnts
has always sacTedly aad pleasantly assoeia
ted. The clean, white marble containing the
purified remains Of all we have loved. IS an
object around which affection still loves 10
hnger; but the damp, dark grave, with its 81
lent, loathsome work OF corruption Is "A re.
voting subject of contemplation, even
where love il stronger than death Then
there is the fear OF being buried before the
vital spark is extinct aud of returning TO
CONSCIOUSNESS, with the weight of the earth
upon you, and the fresh air Of heaven shut
out forever To me this idea is SO terribly
distinct that II IS The spectre Of my waking
hours, and the night a.are of rny dreams.---
Perhaps the vlviancss oil the impression is
owing To the remark frequently heard from
an aged relative, while | was yet very SMALL
ehl.si, shat hundreds were buried before
they were dead, when the yellow fever ragged
So terribly in Boston, That period is well
remembered by our fathers, when peslllencc
walked abroad at MONDAY, and the hearth
stone was silent, and areaFy as the tomb ~
The death carts went their continued round
through eyery hour Of the day and night
aud unshrouded and uneoilined, the newly
dead we're hurried to their last honc. /
knew man, who during this time Of peril
was snatched from the grave merely by tho
perseycriug affection of his wife OF the
correctness Of the Story there is 40 doubt,
for have often heard it repeated bv both
pal.ies concerned This awful visitation Of
God came upon them when they were new
ly married, when existence was happiness,
aud separation worse than death 1b.
young husband became victim 10 that dis
ease, which was breathing destruction over
the city. The friends Of his wife urged her
to seek ielu-e IN the country, and not lose
her own life IA useless attempt to save his.
But no persuasion could laGuee her TO leave
him; night and day she was by his bed side:
and IN the anguish Of her heart. she prayed
that the pestilcnce might likewise rest upon
her but her praysF was not ans3ered
surely and rapidly il did its work upon MI
her heart held dear: bat TO her, death would
not come, though she prayed for ID and
sought il with tears She had inhaled the
breath Of her dying husband; but 90 her it
was harmless, and IN the madness OF despair
she rupined ID the mercifll DEGREES Of Hea-
ven. No one WAS with her in the house -
she was alone with the dead Suddenly the
silence Of the deserted streets was interrupt
ed by tho rnmbllng of The deatk carts, aud
she knew tiIey had come To fake him from
her sight for ever; with the thought, ID sud.
denly dashed into her mind that life might
be in him Her entreaties excited compss
sion, and she was permitted TO keep the
corpse one half hour longer. The isspres
sion made upon her mind had the streagth
Of Inspiration; and though every restorative,
which ingenuity could devise, had failed 60
produce ELECT, she would no; rehnquish hope
Again the carts came round, and the solemn
sound, Bring 1.-THE dead disturbed the fear
fal stluness. Again The young wife, miieafsi.
went and Seieancd--fhc hearts Of tie men
whose dreadful employ iaea; accustomed them
TO DC firm la the discharge Of u,fiF duty.
and thai they had already disobeyed strict
orders, and they dared not do il agais, that
the hope Of restoring iin was mere insaniiy;
it was evident he had long been dead
Whea shs found they would not be moved
by her prayers she threw her arms around
the bsdy, and chung TO il with the strength
of madness, declaring if they buried one,
they should bury both The menafter few
gentle attempts TO remove her, dashed the
tears from their eyes, and saying, 1--WE ean
not separate them,' left her another half
hour OF fiepe.--Ihe moments Of that interval
bad value, Of mortals under ordinary cir
enmstanees can form 40 conception Resto s,
f1tifS AttNI kFSAofdAtS DNs
vain-With sickening anxiety she fastened
her eye upon the watch and then on the still
cold form beside her. The bali hour was
nearly gone in FIVE minutes they would a
gain come TO claim the dead, and she felt
Chat she must resist no longer. She bresth
sd into his nastris she moved her hand up
on bis chest 70 sestore the action CT the lungs
--butno change came oven biz rigid features
She ba,hed bis topples and snoistened his
lips with sal rolaiils The terrible ruulblsng OF
the carts was heard in the distance and 10
the trembling eagerness Of the moment she
spilled the contents Of the vial in his nos
trils--a sudden consudsion passed over ths
face Of the dead Ia shos.., quick gasp and
the eyes heavily speed,
The men ,estb ...le death carts wsee ste rtIeu
by loud sl..riil shrek, itas sounded as y I
tor s'..nder soul frcss Nhich i cam Whes
ss>-, entered. they found the dead hfins ana
g.ving senseless.