The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-12-08
ATHRILLING SKETCH.

One OF my fathers brothers, residing in
Boston at the time when the yellow fever
prevailed to such frightful extent. be-
came victim to the psstilence. When
the first symptoms appeared, his wife sen.
the children into the country. and herself
remained to attend upon him. Her friends
warned her against such rashness. They
told her it would be death TO her, and no
benefit to him; for he would soon be too
i'll to know who attended upon him.
These arguments made no impression on
her affectionate heart She accordingly
stayed. and watched with unremitting
care. This. however, did not avail to
save him. He grew worse and worse,
and finally died. Those who went round
with the death-carts had visited the cham.
Der, and seen that the end was near
They now came to take the body. His
wife refused to let it go. She told me that
she never knew how to account for it, but
though he was perfectly cold and rigid,
and to every appearance quite dead, there
was a powerful impression on her mind
that life was not extinct. The men were
overborne by the strength Of her convic-
ton. though their swn reason was oppos.
ed to it.
The half hour again came round. and
again was heard the solemn words, "Bring
out your dead" The wife again resisted
their opportunities; but this time the men
were more resolute. They said the duty
assigned them was painful one, but the
health Of the town required punctual ODE.
dience to the orders they received; if they
ever expected the pestilence to abate, it
must be by a prompt removal of tho dead,
and immediate fumigation of the injected
apartments.
She pleaded, and pleaded, and even
knelt to them in an agony of tears, con-
tnually saying, III am sure he is not
dead" The men represented the utter
absurdity of such and idea; but finally
overcome by her tears. again Departed
With trembling haste, she renewed her
efforts to restore him. She raised his
head, rolled his limbs in hot flannel, and
placed hot onions on his feet. The dread
ed half hour again came round. aud
found him as cold and rigid as ever She
renewed her entreaties so desperately,
that the messengers began to think a
little gentle force would be necessary
They accordingly attempted to remove
the body against her will, but she threw
herself upon it, and clung 10 it with such
frantic strength, that they could not easily
loosen her grasp. Impressed by the re.
markable energy Of her will, they relaxed
their efforts. To all their remonstrances
she answered, ''if you bury him, you shall
bury me with him." At last, by dint Of
reasoning on the necessity of the case,
they obtained from her promise that,
if he showed no signs Of life before
they again came round, she would make
no further opposition TO tho removal.
Having gained this respite. she hung
the watch upon the bed. post, and renewed
her efforts with redoubled zeal. She kept
kegs of hot water about him, forced hot
brandy between his teeth, and breathsd
into, his nostrils, and held hartshorn to his
nose; but still the body lay motionlsss
and cold. She looked anxiously at the
watch, and in five minutes the promised
half hour would expire, and those dread
full voices would be heard passing through
the street. Hopelessnsss came over her
--she dropped the head she had been sus.
taining-her hand trembled violently
and the hartshorn she had besn holding
was spilled on the pallid face. Accident.
ally, the position Of the hsad had become
slightly tipped backward, and the power
fulliquid flowed into his snostrils. Instant
-ly there was q short quick gasp--a strug-
gls--his eyes opensdl and when the
dsath-msn came again they found him
sitting up in bed! He lie still alive and
hasenjoysd unusally coed health
Mrs. {. M Ckilds,