Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-03-02
Thrilling Sketch.

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One of my fathers brothers. reslding IN
Boston at the time the yellow fever prevailed
to such a frightful extent, became q victim 70
the pestilence. When the first symptoms aP-
peared, his wife sent the children In the eOun-
try, and herself remained to attend upon him.
Her friends warned her against suchrashness.
They told her it would be the death Of hes and
no help to him for he would soon be too III
to know who attended him. These arguments
had no effect on her adeetionate heart. She
felt that it would be q long life Of satisfaction
to her, to know who attended upon him, II ne
did not. She accordingly stayed. and watch
ed with unremitting care. This, however,
did not avail to save him. He grew worse,
and finally died. Those with the death-carts.
had visited the chamber, and seen that the
end was near. They now came to take the
body. His wife refused to let it 60. She tuld
them that she never knew how 60 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 other conviction, though their
own reason was opposed to it.
The half hour again came around, and a.
gain was heard thesolemn words, bring out
your dead" The wife again resisted their
opportunities bu this time the men were
more r~esolute. 7 y said the duty assigned
to them was a painful one, but the health of
the town required punctual obedience to the
orders received; ifthey ever expected the pes
thence to abate, it must be by a prompt re-
moval Of the dead, and immediate fumigation
of the infected apartments.
She pleaded and pleaded, and even nelt to
them in agony and tears, continually saying,
" l an sure lie is not dead" The men repre-.
sented the utter absurdity of the 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 put hot onions
on his feet. The dreadful half hour again
came around and found him as cold and rigid
} as ever.
She renewed her entreaties so desperately
mat tho messengers began to think q little
gentle force would be necessary. They accor
dinghy attempted to remove the body against
her will, but she threw herself upon it, anC
chung to it with such frantic strength tina
they could not easily loosen her grasp. tt
: all their remonstrance she answered them
I 1t you bury him, you shall bury me with
= him" AT last, by dint Of reasoning on tn,
necessity Of the case they obtained from hel
! the promise, that if he showed no sign. o
: life before they again came round, she woulC
i make no further opposition to the removal.
Having gained this respite, she hung tn
watch upon the bed-post, and renewed he
efforts with redoubled zeal, forced hot brand,
between his teeth and breath into his nostrils
and held hartshorn to his nose but still tn
body lay n.0tionless and cold. She looked AMI
iously at the watch, and in five minutes th
n promised half hour would expire, and thol
o dreadful voices would DO heard passing thrt
the street. Hopelessness came over her
she dropped the head she had been sustainin
her hand trembled violently. and the hart
,e horn she had been holding was spilled on Il
as face. Accidentally, the position Of the hes
had become slightly tipped backwards, ar
the powerful liquid flowed into the nostril
Instantly there was q short, quick gasp
struggle-his eyes opened, and when Il
~ death men came again, they found him 81
!" ting up in bed +! He is still alive, and has e
II loved unusual good health.-Mrs. L.. M Chill