Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-01-17
/, THURSDAY, JANUARY II, 1850.

]
ry. Some one, however, in the house, prob
ably the nurse, who wished the forfeiture Of
the shawls to be confirmed, chose to con-
sider me unequlvocally defunc,, for | heard
the servants closing the shutters In the 9TH
er apartments, and was made aware of va
riOus past norton proceedings, to which |
listened with conflicting feelings that battle
all description The house was now quiet,
hut occasional sounds still fell upon my ear
with an ominous and narrowing signidcan-
cy, for every passing hour announced by the
hail clock seemed to be passing-bel that
ratified my decease, and brought me so much
nearer to the appalling moment when |
should be buried alive. 1t intervals other
sounds were disiiugusha5le and as
caught the grating of wheels on the road,
the whistle Of a railway train, the clatleF-
iug and chatlerIng Of my servants at their
dinner, Ii seemed to me both unfeeIing aud
unnatural that, on the very day of my sap
posed death, the world should be pursuing
lis ordinary occupations, and my own ser
wants reEaling themselves with their Gus
tomary appe;tes, as if 10 such catastrophe
hal occurred
Thus remained, with no other complu-
ION than my own sad thoughts, TIL the eve
mug, when my daughters maid and the
housemaid, having soIemnIy pledged them
selves to stand By each other, whatever
might happen, and gra>ping each others
hand to ensure the performance OF The con-
tract, stole OH tip;oe into the chamber 10
have peep at me, neither of them having
ever seen a dead man. Peering a, me fur
lively and aslaHce, as if afraid of being
scared by my ghost, they agreed, whisper
mglY, thlt | look ed for all the world as II |
were asleep, although nurse had maintain
ed that was dead as a door-nail. Both de-
clared that | should be no real gentleman
if | had not remembered all the servants IN
my will; and as mourning was matter OF
course, one Of them had resolved that her
dress should be made to fasten IN front, and
the other knew OF most becoming pattern
for her white muslin Cap. Bat their con-
yersation was not limited to such frlyolltles
for the lads maid declared, Oh the author
ny st her mistress, that DR.. Linnel before
he went away, had written To Mr.. George,
stating that he must return Immediately;
that Miss Sarah had sad she hoped he
would arrive the very next morning, aud
TINT tie doctor himself was expected back
on the day after; wheFeaPon they stole a.
way, win their hands stili locked together.
Ia these tldILgs there was 40 small COM
tort. Should revive, my son would have
an instant opportunity of clearing himself
from all sI-pici u touching the Restorative
IA which | sui felt a hope rather than
L. 4. 4. L
mv trance continue, there was no fear of
my beng buried alive, for Llnnel would a.
gam be ut ny bedside long bef're tie time
If my ntefment. and he was too skllllu
iad experienced ID physician not 10 disIiH-
-Ii-h between real aud apparent DEATH
Ny most appalling and revolving terror be-
~ thus removed, patiently counted the
clock till NY usual bsd-time, hoping that /
ml = ht then fail asleep, aud 50 escape the te-
liunl oi d long wlkeful night. But sleep
is provision Of nature for repairing tie
DAYS wear aud tear IN my cataleptic site
there had been no such expenditure Of cor
pareai euer1y, aud consequently there was
30 requirement of repose. Perhaps my
mlld WAS still o mu IA agltated to settle III
to any >uTt Of obivion perhaps it would
never be otherwise, aud my traEcc-eX,st-
eace-Hi at be perpetual Consciousness,
and consequently an angaEled misery. Sach
state mu>t soon lead to madness; but how
aid a man be mad aid motonless. a ma
niac and statue! What Uncomfortable
misery to feel your brain ray.ng aud ragtg
with an insanity which can find no vent for
rs lufj, either by the explosions of the
voice or the conrulsIvc violence OF the limbs
la such sad Thoughts, weariiy aad dreamy
d.d the ir,t nlghl Of my living death drag
lis slow length along.