The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-06-18

Of an intolerable weight could neither turn my
head, nor stir hand nor foot. My eyebals were
fixed on spot on the white wall above my head,
and could neither turn them draw down the
lid In vain strove 10 novel was perfectly stiff
and torpid, and without the power Of notion,
There seemed 10 be some appalling disconnection
between the will d tho muscular sys,em-between
the mind and the body, as if my living soul was
chained Mezcntius>ke to dead body. There
WINS no pain-only fearful .sensation as if the
whole air had concealed into firm, transparent /.
amber, which held mo strictly imprisoned.
Suddenly, like the swift track ola failing star,
the thought shot across my mind thai was dead.
Yes, that could be the only solution of this dread
ful enigna-l was that was dead, but o was
this death ?-Had we been always mistaken, and
did the soul remain thus to haunt the body without
the ability TO cast il of? Was death only sus-
pension Of the fbrous mass, and these finely organ
lied senses, and nicely adjusted muscles? Only
the breaking Of one link in the subtle chain that
connected all the faculties and powers with their
Instruments Perhaps the soul was never freed
until The body had rotted off little by little, into
mass of corruption and exhaied or fallen to dry
dust and destined TO inhabit this living
house land fee II slough away from me and perish
ere could emerge into light aud beauty of re,
newed life. This had never dreamed Of, and all
the Joy and luxury Of existence, all sense of light
and sunshine and fresh air, all tho thousand-foId
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 theTsoul
had looked upon a mild, glorious world, as through
clear glasses, would change until they were .oath-
some aud corrupted. Oh the agony of such
thought Nothing | had imagined equaIed
it in terror! And when recalled the dead faces
OF those whom had loved and buried, and remem
bered the benign and placid smile which shons
upon them, like the last prints Of the freed &c
rejoicing spirit as il fed heavenward. and which
seemed to betoken the recognition by the soul of
a divner sense,as it was leaving its clay tenement
= and thought that, perhaps, even at the very mo.
ment while was bending them to take a
last farewell look, with this feeling in my heart,
they were enduring the fierce burning tor
mentsthe same feelings Of horror and despair that
now gnawed me like burning worm il seemed
to mo as 6 all the joys had ever known on earth
would not counterbalance dreadful doubt.
heard my name called from below made an
other effort, but my tongue was torpid and dull as
lead. Still could not resign mysefto the thought
that was dead. / inwardy declared that would
but in vain IL could not take my eyes from that
spot on the wall, which had become accursed be.
cause must see it. Sidewise through my eyes 7
felt the pleasant Ugh: Of the glowing into tho
room; and over my head The busy flies humned
and buzzed necessarily, and crept now and then
across my face.
How long and tedious seemed the moments; they
were years to my excited mind land one came.
An oc al IN baya 4
bea,d light tap at my door, could not answer
it. Again heard 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 approached the bed. She
looked moment at me and touched mel did
speak, but lay motioness with my eyes strained
at that Internal spot. She paused moment and
then, utterng piercing ran to the door &
called for my other Instantly the horror of tho
cry brought the family to my bedside. They lifted
m hand and il fell again the coverlid. They
felt of my heart-there was not fuiter of pulse,
for all that il seemed to as If hell itself could
not be worse than the torment that was enduringI
heard quick ,convulsive sobs,and felt hand smooth
my hair rom my forehead. Some said-"Ha
must have died in a fit and yet how calm his face
is. eyes was the answer che probably suffer
ed no pain and died almost neutrality-suspicious.
in his Sleep Then the voices grew more distant
and murmurng, and some one left the room. Soon
the door opened and the face OF the family physi-
ci an intercepted The spot for moment Now,
thought +, he will know that am not dead, and
will relieve me from this situation. He felt ofmy
heart and pulse for moment, and then heard
him say in answer 20 anxious inquiries-"Yes,
madam, am sorry to say he is entirely gone. My
art can avail him nothing" The voices then be-
came lower, and listened in vain. }a.s
IT was a long, dark pause--then the shutters were
closed and persons irod lightly the floor and
spoke to each other in an under tone, as If the
place were sacred. That silent awe, which per-
vades the chamber Of death, and bushes the voice
as il the senseess clay could hear had passed
their spirit like breath stain upon glass heard
the low and confused voices drone through the
darkened chamber. Now and then the door open
ed, and some one bent over me, and gazed at me,
while scaldng tears fell on my face. Then tho
room emp,ied Of all persons,aDd was left alone
Il Late cd ar