The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-07-12
n. BELL, Editor and Proprietor.

| horror, when found l could not move. NV
body and limbs seemed rigid as marble of an
! intolerable weight. could neither turn my
head, nor stir hand or foot. My eyeballs
were fixed on spot on the white wall above
my head, and could neither turn them or
draw down the lid. In vain strove to move
Il was perfectly stiff and torpid, and with
out the power of motion. There seemed to
be some appalling dsconnection between the
will and the muscular system-between the
mind and the body, as if my living soul was
chained Mezentius-like to a dead body
There was no pain-only fearful sensation,
as if the whole air had CONCEALED into a firm,
transparent amber, which held me strictly
imprisoned.
Suddenly, like the swift track of a falling
star, the thought shot across my mind, that
/ was dead. Yes, that could be the only So
luton of this dreadful enigma was sure
that was dead, but o was this death Had
we been always mistaken, and did the soul
remain thus to haunt the the body, without
the ability TO cast it off? Was death only a
suspension of the fbrous mass, and these
finely organized senses, and nicely adjusted
muscles? Only the breaking of one link in
the subtle chain, that connected all the fac
ulties and powers with their Instruments
Perhaps the soul was never freed until the
body had rotted off little by little, into cor
ruption, and exhaled or fallen to dry dust?
and was destined to inhabit this living
house, and feel it sloug n away from me and
perish ere could emerge into light and beau
ty of a renewed life. This had never dream
ed of, and all the JOY and luxury of existence,
all sense of light and sunshine and fresh air,
all the thousand-fold delights with which
| God has strewed this pictured world, were
not worth such price. Upon these lips the
worm should feed, and could not drive him
away; these eyes, through which the soul
had looked upon mild, glorious world, as
through clear glasses, would change until
they were loathsome and corrupted. Oh the
agony of such thought. Nothing had ev
er imagined equalled it in terror! And when
recalled the dead faces of those whom had
loved and buried, and remembered the be-
nign and placid smile which shone upon
them, like the last oot-prints of the freed
and rejoicing spirit as it fled heavenward,
and which seemed to betoken the recognition
| by the soul of a dviner sense, as it was lea
wing its clay tenement-and thought that,
perhaps, even at the very moment while |
was bending over them to take last fare
we'll look, with this feeling in my heart they
were enduring the same fierce burning tor
ments-the same feelings of horror and de-
spair that now gnawed me like burning
worm: it seemed to me as if all the joys had
ever known on earth would not counterbal-
ance so dreadful doubt.
heard my name called from below
made another effort, but my tongue was tor
pid and dull as lea1. Still could not resign
myself to the thought that was dead. | in
wardly declared that would novel strove
with almost superhuman exerfions but in
vain;-I could not take my eyes from that
spot on the wall, which had become accur-
sed because must see it. Sidewise through
my eyes felt the pleasant light: of the sun
glowing into the room; and over my head
the busy flies hummed and buZZed incessant-
ly, and crept now and then across my face.
How long and tedious seemed the mo-
ments; they were years to my excited mind
and no one came. An age of torment
seemed to have passed when | heard light
tap at my door-l could not answer it. Again
| heard a louder knock; knew it was my
sister, for she spoke and called me by name
The door opened and she came forward
cautiously and again spoke as she approach
ed the bed. She looked a moment at me
and touched mel did not speak, but lay
motionless with my eyes strained at that
internal spot. She paused moment and
then, uitering piercing scream, ran to the
door and called for my mother. Instantly
the horror of the cry brought the family to
my bedside. They lifted my hand and It
fell again on the coverlid. They felt of my
heart-there was not flutter of pulse, for
all that it seemed to me as ifhell itself could
not be worse than the torment that | was
enduring heard quick, conclusive sobs,
and felt hand smooth my hair from my
forehead. Some one said--"He must have
died in a fit; and yet how calm his face is. F"
EYES," was the answer, '.he probably suffer
ed no pain and died almost Immediately
perhaps in his Sleep" Then the voices
grew more distant and murmuriug, and
some one left the room. Soon the door
opened, and the face of the family physi-
clan intercepted the spot for moment
Now, thought |, he will know that | am
not dead, and will relieve me from this sit
uation. He felt of my heart and pulse fol
a moment, and then heard him say, in
answer to anxious inquiries madam,
am sorry to say he is entirely gone. My
art can avail him nothing" The voices
then became lower, and listened in vain.
1t was long, dark pause-then the shut.
tiers were closed, and persons trod lightly
across the floor, and spoke TO each other in
an under tone, as if the place were sacred.
That silent awe, which pervades the cham.
Der of death. and bushes the voice as if the
senselsss clay could heat. had passed ovel
their spirit like breath. stain upon glass.
heard the low and confused voices drone
through the darkened chamber. Now anc
then the door opened, and some one BEN
over me, and gazed at me, while scalding
tears fell on my face. Then the room wal
emptied of all persons, and | was left alone
in the darkness and stiffness. listened
! for voices. or any thing was better thar
this dreary stiffness but in vain spell
was on the house its sounds of laughter
its rapid footsteps, its hustle and noise wers
gone every step was careful and slow ane
. every voice whisper So went on houl
after hour and still lay helpless, and long
ing for the moment when should be able
10 move and loosen myself Fl om the close