Demoine courier., 1856-06-05
Monk Lcwis's Stories.

l. In Monk lie wis's writings there is a
deal Of .bad taste, but stili. he vas . man
Of genius. III tell you two stories
which: he: wac very fond Of :.repea.ing
(and Witch Windham used 10. ake.j-.
phe. irsfis: -.
TiE S~KELEToN IN THE CliuRCH-PoRcH
:.-Some trayelers were suppMg. at az
ion in Germany and sent for <he landlord
to give him a glass Of wine..l In The course
OF conversation The landlord remarked
,has.s certain person whom they HAPPEN
ed to speak Of. was obstinate as the Sksl-
eton in the Chsrch porch: VIVA. ssis
,ha,!' they inquired: The landlord SAID
tina, he alluded to 8 Skeleton which j,
was impossible to keep under ground;
.ha, he has twice ar thrice assisted ID
layin it in the charnel, but that always
the day after il had been buriiedit was
found lying 10 the church porch. The
travellers were greatly. struck by thts &C
count; and they. expressed an eager desire
see the refractory skeleton. At last, a
young serving woman coming into the
room, they asked her if she, for q re:
ward. would 90 to the church porch and
bring the skeleton 70 them. She al frs.
refused to DO 60; but eventually The trav.
elers offered a sum Of money WHICH she
could no. resist. Be it particularly ob.
served tina, the young woman was then
big uiih child. Well off she set to the
church, and having found The skeleton in
its usual place. che brought II 10 the inn
Oh her back, and laid II upon the table
before the travellers. They had no soon
er looked q, i. than they wished it gone;
and they prevailed on the young woman
for another sum Of money. TO carry il
again to the church pOrchs When shs
arrived there, she se. il down: and turn
ing away, she was proceeding quickly
along the path which led from the church,
! and which was seen stretching out be-
fore her in the clear moonlight, when
suddenly sho fel, the skele,on leap upon
her back. She tried to- shake il of; but
ia vain. She tho fell on her knees, and
said her prayers. The skeleton ralaxed
its hold. and she again rusfed down the
path, when az before. the skeleton. leaPs
upon her back. IL win never quityou,"
il said, "un,il you descend into tie char
mel. and obtain forgiveness for the, skele
ton that hes 10 tho church-porch." She
paused a moment; then summoning up
her courage. she replied that she would
do 90. The skeleton dropped off,
Do wn shs went into the charnel; aud,
after R<oping aboal for some time. she
pc received tho figure Of : lady. sitting by
a lamp and reading. She advanced to.
wards the figure, and kneeling, said, 81
ask forgivness for the skeleton that lies
In the church porch" The lady read
on without looking Al her. Again she
repeated her ~supPlicasion. but still the
lady read on regardless of il. The
young woman then ascenaed from the
chafaeI ,ad was running down 'he path
when the skeleton once moro arrested
her progress. ~ will never quit you."
il raid. ssill you obtain forgiveness fos
the skeleton that lies in the ohurch-porch;
20 again into the charnel, and ask So
Again the young wona descended. and.
advancing to the lady, sunk upon her
knees, and cried. II como . second time
10 ask forgiveness Tor the skeleton that
lies in the church porch. Oh, grant that
forgiveness! tho skeleson implores il, l
implore il! the babe that I bear IN nay
scom6 impiores az" The lady turned
her head towards ths speaker. gave .
fain, smile, and disappeared. On com.
ing from the charuei, the young woman
found the skeleton ssandiog erect in the
porch. IL am nov hare" il sait not 10
t.ouble you. butto thank you; you hare
a length procured me rest 10, the grave.
was be,ro.hed 70 the lady you saw in
the eharnel; asd l basely deserted her for
another. sto ID, a. The altar, about 70
DO married TO my second love, wher sud-
denly the lady rushed into the church.
and having siabted hsrself with . dagger.
ssid 10 me, % she va expiring. "svou
shall never, have res, u the. gyays-nc,
never, till Tie babe unborn sh0N ask for,
givsness for you" The sksls.on re-
wsrded he. good o6ices Of the young
woman by discovering 70 her the place
whore ! heap Of treasure was concealed.