True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-06-20
A Thr illing Sketch.

Ouc OI my fathers Dr0theroj resIdlng
in Boston at the time when the yellow fe-
yer prevailed to such ffghtful extent,
became victim to the pestilencc. When
the first symptoms appeared, his wife sent
the childten into the country, and herself
remained 10 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 tbot him.
These arguments iitadc no impression on
her affcctionate heart. She felt that it
wonld be long life of satisfaction to her
to know who attended to him, if he did not.
She accordingly stayed and watched with
uuremitting 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
chamber, and seen that the end was near.
They now came to take the body. His
wife refused to let it 90. She told Inc she
never knew how to account for it, but tho
he was perfectly cold and rigid, and to ev
cry appearance quite dead, there was pow
erful impression on her mind that life was
not extinct. The men were overborne by
the strength of her conviction, though theil
own reason was opposed to it. "
The half hour again came round, ant
again were heard the solemn words, Bring
out your dead The wife again resisted
their opportunities; but this time the mel
wore more resolute. They said the dut,
assigned to them was u painful one, pbr
the health of the town required punctua
obedience to the orders they received; i
they ever expected the pestilence to abate
it must be by prompt removal of tn,
dead, and immediate fumigation of the in
fected apartments.
She pleaded and pleaded and even knel
to them in agony Of tears, continually say
ing, "l am sure he is not dead" The mel
represented the utter absurdity of such al
idea; but, finally overcome by her tears
again departed. With trembling haste sh
renewed her efforts to restore him. Sb,
raised his head, rolled his limbs in hot fan
mel, and placed hot ones on his feet. Tn
dreaded half hour again came round, an,
found him as cold and rigid as ever. Sh
renewed her entreaties so desperately, tha
the messengers began to think little gen
tie force would be necessary. They aceor
dinghy attempted to remove the body agns'
her will, but she threw herself upon il
and clung to it with such frantic strength
that they could not easily loosen her grasI
Impressed by the remarkable energy ofhe
will, they relaxed their efforts. 10 q
their remonstrahces she answered, "If 20
bury him, you shall bury me with him.
At last, by dint of reasoning on the nj
f cessity Of the case, they obtained from he
promise that, if he showed no signs {
: life before they again came round, 81
f would make no further opposition to Il
: removal.
Having gained this respite, she hung Il
, watch upon the bed-post, and renewed h
f efforts with redoubled zeal. She kept Ike,
: Of hot water about him, forced hot bra
r dy between his teeth, and breathed in
t nostrils, and held hartshorn to his nos
e but still the body lay motionlesS and col
: She looked anxiously at the watch, and
t five minutes the promised half-hour wou
s expire, and those dreadful voices would
o heard passing through the streets. HoI
n lessness came over her-she dropped
l. head she had been sustaining-her ha
= tremblcd violently-and the hartshorn S
T. had been holding was spilled on the pal
d face. Accidently the position of the he
= had become slightly tipped backward, "a
+ the powerful liquid flowed into his nostri
l. Instantly there was short, quick gasp
't struggle-his eyes opened ! and VIII
J. the death men came again, they found b
III sitting up in the bed He is sill ali
Il and has enjoyed unusually good health.
b. Mrs. L. Al. Child. ..
a "FoRaoT HIMSELF IL was conside
l. blV amused on one occasion. when wa