The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-09-27
H. wooDsFIELD SATURDAY. SEPTEMBER H. 1915.

sned tnelr memories, and that their images were
with him Oh his dying bed. He ieIt that he could
not, and calling his attendant to him, he asked il
she could furnish him withimpements for writing
With what" asked the old woman.
Paper and pen; any thing that can write with,
Dear me, if you aint goin' to write, an you
just dyin.' It's some awful black confession, Pm
bound, Tor may be he is out of his head, and
thinkin' of viii; ha, ba, ha) well there haint a
pen in the house, nor nothing like t,people doesn't
use such things here.
DO, my good woman, see it you cannot furnish
me withsomething of the kind
well, just to ease your conscience, III try and
muttering something about the dead returning
from their graves, unless they died with quiet con-
sciences, she disappeared. After some delay, a
substitute for the article he required was brought
to him, and he succeeded in tracing with his fee
BILE hand few lines o: deeply breathed affection for
his mother and Marion.
This he handed to his attendant, with the request
that she would enclose it in the miniature which
she would find upon his person, and give them to
his physician, to be sent to his friends with the in
formation of his death. She promised compliance
and Arthur turned his thoughts from the things
of this world, and ere the day was gone, with a
smile of peace uron his lips he lay cold in the en-
brace of death.
sMercy on me!' exclaimed the old woman as she
snatched the miniature from the lifeless breast on
which it had lain for years. who'd thought
that such poor cretur carried a jewel like this
about him; just see here, Susy,'
Susy, who was the old woman's only assistant
in preparing the dead for burial, was soon at her
side, and gazed upon the fair young face, and the
iewelled casing around it, with astonshment equal
to her own.
sHe's been gentleman some time, I'll lay my
life he has-I always thought so. What pity
hadn't known it BEFORE; and she thought what ben
eft 1t could have been to her if she had known it
But the miniature was such prize as had never
fallen into her hands, and she felt disposition to
relnuuish it now. Therefore after few moments
consideration, and mutterng to herself she procee-
ded:
He gave it to me, Susy, because took so good
care of him; but don't you say word aboutit or
they'll try to get it away from us. 1t will buv us
many dainty bit, if you'll keep mum To this
proposition Susy readily assented, and the mlnia-
ture, with the letter he had written, which the old
woman thought proper also 10 withhold, because it
MIGHT say som METHrNG about it, was consigned
by her hands to place of concealment
The city cemetery, which we have describedn in
such close proximity TO the abode of paupers, as
to induce the suppos,tion that it had been placed
there purposely, in order that the poor man might
be borne by short conveyance,
ITO the softest couch,
And easiest pillow he had ever had, =
was plot Of ground of some extent sloping lit-
tie to the South and West The more elevated
portions of it were adorned with many white
stone, and letteIed monument; over which the
mourning willow leaned, and wept; and it seemed
pleasant spot in which to reposc after the trials
of life. Yet there was one thing for which the
eve sought in vain: it was those vaults beneath
whose iron bars the bodies of the halowed dead
may rest secure fiom molestation, in their dream
less Sleep On the lower side there was spot
which seemed devoted to the resting places OF
those who had occupied humber stations in life;
for many of the graves were marked but by sim
pie marble slab, while others seemed to have been
wholly neglected.
was in this part of the grave yard, that an aged
sexton stood leaning upon his spade on the morn
ing of the day subsequent to that whose close we
have just meutioned. Beside him was an open
grave which he had prepared for some sleeper.
His hat had fallen off in the toll, and the morning
air was moving lightly amohg his hoary locks with
which his head was frosted. He was looking over
lhe garden of graves and thinking Of the changes
he had seen since his spade first touched the soil
upon the spot. The flush of early youth was then
upon his cheek, aud the inhabitants of the now
had grown old among them, and day by day, he
,ad smoothed the narrow couches of their dead and
eft them to repose. And now though The furrows
If age lay deep on cheek and brow, he still wlel-
led the spade with steady hand, and stood firmly
IN the brink of the grave in wbich he had lain the
,oung and beautiful to rest While he yet medi-
ated, a sound of harsh voices broke upon his ear,
md looking up he saw three or four men from the
,oor house, fastening toward him with arough
'oard coffin, which they sat down beside the grave
md then proceeded with many light word and
lDtimely jest, to deposit there. When this was
lone, they moved away and left the sexton to per-
orm his task. No fond one fingered with the
asst long look upon the loved features Of the desd
10 tear drop rnolstened the sod upon that coffin,
nd no funeral prayer breathed above the soil in
which they left him to repose. Travellers who
ad wandered far among the uncivilized nations
{ the earth, have written feelingly of witnessing
uch unholy committals of the human body to the
rave as this, but they need not have gone SO far
D search of such scenes--we have them in our !
wn midst. ~ a!ist3sise