The native American., 1838-03-17

frolic, and expired during the fit with his limbs
all knoted together by the fierce muscular action
incident to his disease. In Albany at that time,
the Dutch custom of several friends of the de-
ceased remaining all night in the same room with
the body, and keeping their vigil until the mo-
ment of interment, was always strictly observed.
Coffee, and mulled wine, with dote or dead cakes
and other refreshments being generally provided
Iby the nearest relatives to cheer the gloomy duty
Of the watchers. Dirk Hell Tor Helldirk, as he
was as often called), though wretched vagabond,
had still some whom he called friends, among the
reckless and gambling crew with whom he chiefly
and, as the landlord Of the inn where
he died could not well refuse the customary re-
freshment Of liquor upon an occasion like this,
these idle hangerson Of the establishment readily
consented to honor the obseques of Dirk with the
usual vigil. The dead man, in the meantime,
was duly laid OUT but the distorted shape which
his body had assumed in the death-agony, made
it necessary to great force in Strengthening out
the corpse, and recourse was had to cords to bind
down his limbs to the decent form it was desira-
BILE they should assume. This disagreeable task
being accomplished, the three friends Of the gamb
|ler, when night came on, took possession of the
apartment where he was laid out. With charac-
teristic recklessness they had brought pack of
cards into the chamber of death, and after taking
la glass Of liquor all around, and drinking the me-
mory Of their comrade with some unfeeling au-
sion to his sudden fate, the three profigates sat
down to game of cards upon the foot of his bed.
Four hands were then dealt; that of s'dummy"
falling almost upon the feet Of the corpse, and the
[other three upon the opposite sides and extreme
end Of the bed around which the players were
thus arranged The game proceeded apparently
10 the satisfaction of all parties; each Of them by
gambling had carried them deep into the middle
watches Of the night. Some slight dispute, how
ever, now occurred as to who should play the
next dummy. Words waxed high, and the two
Opposite players both attempted to seize upon the
vacant hand at the same time, while the third,
impatient at the contention, exclaimed, II wish
to Helldirk would spring up and take
the cards from both you!" The wretch had
hardly uttered the wish, before the cords which
bound the corpse gave way, with sharp, crack
ing nose the struggle about the feet having proba
bly, disarranged thenl--and the distorted body re-
leased from its ligatures, bounded forward in re-
suning the form under which life had left it, and
seated itself upon its launches, with knees drawn
up to his chin, arms akimbo and hideously dis
tended Jaws in the midst of the appalled, and dis
concerted trio. The three worthless were said
never to have played a game of cards afterwards.
In the second series of the Great Metropolis,
Just published, is the following anecdote touch
ing former member Of the London Stock Ex-
change:
AS illustrative of the sudden and singular vi
cissitudes of fortune which men sometimes un-
dergo in that place, may mention curious in
stance in the case Of Mr.. F., the present pro-
prietor of one of the most extensive estates in the
county of Middlesex. He had been for some
years a member of the Stock Exchange, when,
on becoming unfortunate, he had to suffer the
indignity of having his name chalked on the black
board an indignity to which poverty more tre-
quenty than dishonorable conduct is subject.
The loss of handsome fortune. coupled with
the treatment he had received from the commit
tee worked his feelings up to such state of
frenzy, that CHANGING to pass London bridge a.
few days after the battle of Waterloo, he, in des-
pair, threw the last shilling he had into the
water.
That moment, but for the crowds of persons
who were passing and repassing, he would have
thrown himself over the parapet of the bridge,
and end his woes by ending his existence.
From that instant he did form the purpose of
committing suicide; and he began to move slowly
towards home with that view. Before he had
reached the other end of the bridge, he was met
lby Frenchman with whom he had been on
terms of great intimacy. He would have passed
by the Frenchman, so absorbed was he with the
Iwrechedness of his condition, without recognizing
| him. The latter, however, advancing towards
MIR. F., seized him by the hand, and inquired
how he was He managed to lisp out an ''Oh,
how are your
'rhs is most important affair for both coun-
tries, said the Frenchman.
'What AFFAIR." inquired the other, partially re-
covering himself from the frightful reverie to
which he had been giving way.
.Why, the great battle, observed Monsieur.
| srhe great battle! What great battle'
| .rhe battle of Waterloo. Napoleon is signally
defeated
| Mr. F. felt as if he had started from deer
sleep. He felt as if he had become new man
The advantage to which such important nteli
gence might be turned on the Stock Exchange
the scene Of so many disasters and so much de-
graduation to him, Immediately shot across his
mind.
| And the battle was an important one!'