The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1856-11-19


the Cemetery, scaled the wall without
much difficulty, and stealthily searched
for the grave till we found it, in the
pitchy darkness-the wind and rain
sweeping past us with dismal howls and
means, that to me trembling with ter
ror, seemed to be the uuearlhiy wailings
of the spirits of the damned. ~ q 70
Here, we are,' whispered Benson to.
me, as we at length stopped at mound
offresh earth, over which one of the par
~ had stumbled. Come, feel round,
Morris, and strike in your spade, and
let US see if you will make as good hand
at exhuming dead body as you will,
some day at killing. living one. with,
physic. - '--iI ".-t rar- ss,fs'l.c,. j,
Il did as directed, trembling in every
limb; but the first spade full threw up,
l started back. with yell of horror,
that, on any other but bowling stormy
night, would have betrayed u.s. It ap.
peared to me as if had thrust my spade
iulO q ldhC vi uTO-lOT td0 III
dirt was all a-glow with living Goals; and
as had fancied the moaning of the
storm the wailings of tormentcd spirits,
1 now fancied I had uncovered small
portion of the bottomless pit itself. -;
'Fool!' hissed Benton, graspibg my
arm with the grip of a vice, as 1 stood
leaning on my spade for support, my
very teeth chattering with terror; AN
other yell like that, and III make sub
ject of you! Are you not ashamed of
yourself, to be scared out of your wits,
if you ever had any, by a little. phospho
resent earth? Don't ou know that it is
often found in graveyards?'
'I1is explanation re-assured me, tho
[ was too weak, from my late fright, to
be of any assistance to the party, who al
fell to with a will, secretly laughing at
me, and soon reached the coffin Split
ting the lid with hatchet, which had
been brought for that purpose, they
quickly lifted out the corpse; and then
Benson and another of tie party taking
hold of it, one al the head and the other
at the feet, they hurried it away, bidding
me follow, and leaving the others to fill
mp the grave, that it might n"t-bc sus-
pccted that the body had been exhum
cd
Having got the corpse safely over the
wall of the cemetery, Benson now called
upon me to perform my part of the hor-
rible business.
Here, you quaking simpleton,' he
said, Il want you to take this on your
back, and make the best of your way to
your room, and remain alone with it all
night If you do this bravely, we will
claim you as one of us tomorrow; and
the first man that darcs to say word
against your courage after that, shall
find foe in me. But bark you, if you
make any blunder on the way, and lose
our prize, it will be better for you to
quit this place before 1 set eyes on you
again. DO you understand me?'
'Yye-ye yes!' l stammeied with
chattering teeth
Are you ready?'
'Y-ye-ye-yes, 1 gasped.
Well, come here, where are you?'
All this time it was so dark that !
could not see anything but faint lire
| of ,rb;ta mich l-no- - H. ,Lo ~
of the corpse; but felt carefully round
| till I got hold of Benson, who told me
to take off my cloak; and then rearing
the cold dead body up against MY back
he began fixing its cold arms about my
neck-bidd;ng me take hold of them
and draw them we'll over, aud keep then
concealed, and be sure and not let go o
them, on any consideration whatever, y!
1 valued my life
1.Ah, the. torturing horror T expert
eDced, as mechanically I followed hi
directions Tongue could not describ
it.
, AT length, having adjusted the corps
so that might bear it off with compar
> ative ease, he threw my long black cloa
yer it, with cord about my neck, an
, then inquired:
New, Morris, do you think you ca
find the way to your room?'
'I-I-do-do don't know 1 gasped, fee
u ing as if should sink to the earth &
the first step.
We'll, you cannot lose your way
you go straight ahead he replie'
} Keep in the middle of the road, and
" will take you to College Green, and the
you are all right. Come, push on, b
70 fore your burden grows too heavy; IL
II distance is only good half mie.'
Il set forward, with trembling nerve
A expec ing to sink to the ground at ev
,. ry step; but gradually my terror, i
"a stead of weakening, gave me strengt
lf and was soon on the run-splashir
through mud and water-with the stor
bowling about nae to fsry, and the co
!, corpse as fancied, elinging to me like
o hidious vampire. ..
,e How I reached my room, l do n
If, know-but probably by sort of
a stinct, for only remember of my bra
being in q wild, feverish whirl, wi