Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-05-17


until the house was burnt down, and the fune-
raj rites properly performed by the sisters of the
deceased emperor. 1t isasserted by ancient wri-
ters that the souls of the dead are unable to re-
pose until after the body has been entirely con-
sumed but Huet informs US that the corpses
Of those excomunicated by the modern Greek
Church are called Toupi, word signfying "a
drum" because the said bodies are popularity
supposed to swell like drum, and to sound like
the same, if struck or rolled on the ground -
Some writer's have supposed that the ancient
idea Of Harpies gave rise TO the modern idea of
Vampires.
Traces of the Vampire belief maysbe found
in the extreme north--even in remote Iceland.
IN that curious piece cf'old Icelaudius history,
called the Eyrbggja-saga, Of wliss 4 Walter
scott.has given "a sstastrael, wei slalEas
lsans which, though not identicai WITH tie mod
ern Greek conception Of Brucolacs, have GER
tainly considerable affinity with il. The first Of
these stories is to the following effect ,-Thorolf
Bmgifot, or the Crookedfootcd, was an old Ice
landc chieftain Of the tenth century, unenviably
notorious for his savage disposition, which in
volyed him in continual broils, not only with
his neighbors but with hs own son, who was
noted for justice and generosity. Having been
frustrated in one of his knavish designs, and
seeing no farther chance open to him, Thorolf
returned home one evening, mad with rage and
vexation, and refusing to partake of any sup
per sat down at the head of the table like
stone statue, and 80 remained without stirring
or speaking a word. The servants retired to
rest; but yet Thorolf did not move. In the
morning, every ono was horrified to find him
still sitting in the same place and attitude; and
it was whispered that the old man had died af-
ter manner peculiarly dreadful to Icelanders
though what may be the precise nature of
this death is very doubtful. 1t was feared that
the spirit of Thorolf would not rest in its grave
unless so ne extraordinary precautions were Ia
KEN and accordingly his son Arnkill, upon
being sent for approached the body in such "a
manner as to avoid looking upon the face, and
at the same time, enjoined the domestics to OBJ
serve the like caution. The corpse was then re-
moved frem the chair, in doing which, great
force was found necessary; the face was conceal
ed by veil, and the usual religious rites were
performed. A breach was next made in the wall
behind the chair in which the corpse had been
found and the body, being carried through it
with immense labour, was laid ina strongly
built tomb. All in vain. The Spirit Of the
malignant old chief haunted the neighborhood,
both night and day killing men and cattle,
and keeping every one in continual terror. The
pest at length, became unendarablc; !; apd Arm
kill resolved to remove his father body e some
other place.
On opening the tomb, the corpse Of trhorolf
was found with so ghastly an aspect, that he
seemed more like devil than man; and other
astounding and fearful circumstances soon man
ifested themselves. Two strong oxen were yok-
ed to the bier on which the body was placed ;
but they were very shortly exhausted by the
weight of their burden. Fresh beasts were then
attached; but, upon reaching the top of steep
hill, they were seized with sudden and uncon-
trolable terror, and dashing frantically away,
rolled headlong into the valley, and were KILLED
At every mile, moreover, the body became of a
still greater weight and it was now found i'm
possible to carry it any farther, though the con-
templated place of burial was still Distant
The attendants. therefore, consigned it to the
earth on the top of the lillian immense mound
was piled over it-and the spirit of the old mar
remained for q time at rest. But latter tht
death of Arnkill," says Sir Walter Scott
." Begifot became again troublesome and walk
cd forth from his tomb, to the great terror anc
damage Of the neighborbood, staying both herd
and domestics, and driving the inhabitant
from the canton. 1t was therefore resolved tt
consume his carcase with fire !; for. like th
Hungarian Vampire, he Or some evil demon il
his stead, made use of his mortal reliques as
vehicle during the commission of these enormi
ties. The body was found swollen to hug
size, equalling the corpulepco OF an OK. 1t wa
transported to the sea shore with difficulty, an,
there burned to ashes" In this narration W
miss the blood-sucking propensities of the gen
uine Vampire; but in oil other respects tb
resemblance is complete.
The other story from the same source has re
lation to a certain woman named yhorgunna
This excellent old lady having. short time pre-
vious to her death, appointed one Thorodd he
executor, and the wife of the said Thorodd hav
ing covetously induced her husband to preserv
some bed-furniture which the deceased particu
lrrly desired to have burnt, series of ghost
visits ensued. Thorgunna requested that he
body might be conveyed to a distant place calle'
Skalholt; and on the way thither her ghost up
peared at a house where the funeral party pu
up. But the worst visitations occurred on th
return of Thorodd to his own house. On tn
very night when he reached his dOmicile, me
teor resembling halfmoon glided round tn
apartment in direction opposed to tho apparen
course of the sun an ominous sgn,) and re
mained visible until the inmates went to bed
The spectral appearance continued Throughout
the week and then one of the herdsmen wen
mad, evidently under the prosecutions of evi
spirits. At length he was found dead in hi
bed; and, shortly after, Thorer, one of the in
mates of the house, going out in the evening
was seized by the ghost of the dead shepherd
and SO injured by blows, that he died. II
spirit then went into partnership with that
the herdsman, and together they played som
very awkward and alarming pranks. A pest
lence appeard, of which many OF the neighbol
l;od and nro ovo,,ipr aonathinp in tho sha |,