Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1851-01-14
Connected Will the hospital the

WneIe SuCn patients whose cOnStl>
tutions are not strong enough &c
stand the treatment, are deposited
after death for forty eight hours, in
order that their friends may reclaim
their bodies. The maorguc, in this
institution. was directly under the
lecture room, but, as the door was
kept locked, it was regarded as suf-
5ficiently private,
On the day when my intended
fatherin>law was made acquainted
with the clandestine meetings of his
daughter and myself, / had, as
usual, accompanied the class to the
hospital, and, during the delivering
of the lecture, becoming suddenly
very faint, ! was forced to leave the
crowded room and seek the fresh
air.
As passed the door Of tn, dead
houseon my return, l noticed that
it was ajar, and curiosity prompting
me 10 see what was within, |
pushed il open and entered, closing
it behind me. There. were several
bodies, male anu female, Clearly
arrayed upon the table; but t he obs
ject that attracted my attentip on the
most was an infant few weeks old
lying by the side Of its dead moth
er; they were both SO black in the
face that would have suspected
foul play, had it not been accounted
for by the fact that they were me-
groes. Istrove to depart, but sefne>
thing formed a bond of association
between that dead niger baby and
myself, which held me to my place,
my gaze riveted upon it.
| wanted just such a subject
one | could carry up in my private
room and dissect whilst was wait
ing for my meals something to
vile away my tedious hours with;
but how to get it was the thing; the
rules of the college and hospital
were Imperative, and l did not wish
10 be expelled. | could not beg,
borrow, or buy-there was but one
way left, and that was stealing
The plan was simple and easily
arranged. 1t was very cold wealth
err, and under the ample folds of
my cloak the baby would be con
cealed efl'ectually.
Separating it from its dead moth
er's embrace, rolled it, tenderly
as if alive, into as small a space as
possible, and tying it up in my hand
kerchief, | placed IL under my
cloak, and left the dead house.
Had | left Immediately Tor home,
on the baby's absence being discovi
cred | would have been suspected
SO, great as was the
danger, had no other recourse.
than to return to the LECTURE room,I
and await our regular dismissal,
the chances Of detection.
No one, on looking at me then,
would have accused me of feigning
sickness; for, manfully asI stroye to
be composed, the danger of discov
cry unnerved me completely, and
saye me such treinor as would
lave passed for creditable ague.
/ have been often enough in inns
ninent danger Of my life, TO know
what cold sN eat and minutes APP
bearing hours are; but the longest
lie, in the shortest space OF time !
ever led, was VIII ZEN, in the midst of
our hundred students, | sat on
hose hard old benches, with the
lead Niger baby under my cloak
waiting for the lecture to conclude
1t had its end at last; and, waiting /
i'll the class had pretty well dis
'ersed, | sauntered slowly away
owards6my boarding. house, hoping
hat the inclemency of the weather
lad kept Lucy from keeping our
isuaI appointment.
A sleety rain h ad fallen the pre-
edingI night, and, like Mrs. Blen-
erhas Sett's tears, freezing as it fell,
ad covered the paw cement with a
hin co lat of ice, making the walks
lg for pedestrians very insecure.
Surely, | thought, as keen gust
anne round the corner piercing my
barrow with its GOODNESS, her ten.
er frame will not be exposed on
aeh a day as this! tits good thing,
DO; for she would be Mortified if
be found " hat my burden was;- ,
hen her smiling face, with hers
eautitul nose red as an inffamed
Ye, appeared, and told me | did
OF possess aIproper appreciation of
lie strength Of Kentucky gals $
S
Somewhat Yexed, and, for the {
rst time iu INV life. sorry 10 see /