The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1834-12-17
LAUGHARLE INCIDENT
Phil AUam

Two English gentlemen on their travels, arrived
at Branden and put up at a house where a German
count had died, and then lay corpse. In the mid
die of the night, one of the two, not being able
to sleep and growing weary of bed, arose i'll order
to amuse himself in the kitchen, where he heard
some people talking.
After dverting himself there for some time, and
wishing to return his bed, he again up stairs
but, instead of entering his chamber, went into
that of the deceased count, over whose head they
had only thrown n cloth. There is not much
ceremony used in France, III the management of
their dead, in this country, for they satisfied
with showing their affection to the living The
Englishman, after having put out his candle lay
down boldly by the defunct; when creeping to him
as close as possible, in order to warm HIMSELF and
finding his bed-fellow colder than he, began to
ter; what the d is the matter, my friend said
he you are as cold as ice. I'll lay a wager, mum
as yOn are, you would have been warm enough if
you had seen the pretty girl below stairs. Come
come. you may take my word for it, added he and
pulling him by the arm, POUNDS, stir, I'll engage
you'll be pleased with her,
While he was holding this fine conversation
with the dead, who, detached from the things of
this world did not give himselfhe trouble ofmaking
reply the chamber door was opened, which made
him raise his head from the pillow, to see who was
coming III, but Judge what must have been his sur
prise, when he saw servant lighting In JOINER
who carried coffin his shoulder. He at first
supposed he had been in a dream but looking
about and seeing the visage of one who had not
spoke word-a visage overspread with mortal pale
ness, he made but one jump from the side of the
corpse into the middle of the chamber. The joiner
and the maid, Immediately persuaded that it was
the corpse, who being unwilling to be shut up in
coffin was playing his gambols their legs were
able TO move with swftness proportonable to their
fear and the joiner, maid, coffin, and candlestick
rolled over each other from the top of the stairs
down to the kitchen.
Zounds what you all about cried the land
lord is the d flying away with the dead man I!
Mercy on us cried the maid, quite chop fallen, it
is rather the dead man that would run away with
us. I'll be hanged, said the joiner, if that dead el
low there has any more occasion for a coffin than
have why he has just struck up a hornpipe. He
has : said the landlord, taking a light faith well
see that.
When the family trembling, and getting up
to follow the master of the house, the English no.
bic man, who had again found his chamber, slipped
into bed out of breath: and his friend having asked
him where he had been, he told him he had Just
been lying with dead body.-'Sblood! dead body !!
1t had perhaps the plague, cried he, jumping in his
turn, out of bed, and running to the door for light
The landlord the landlady, and servants, who were
passing through the gallery, no sooner saw him
than they imagined it was the dead that appeared
again and down they came, much faster than they
went up, heels over head from top to bottom, with
the candlestick rolling after them.
During this confusion, joined with their shreks
and clamors, the Englishman, terrified at the hid
eous noise, made for his room, and slipped in
to bed to his companion, without the least fear of
catching the plague.