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

timid inquiry, and the very thought of
such an adventure made my blood run
cold.
TO the Eastern Cemetry tonight, at
twelve o'clock replied my tormentor,
fixing his keen black eyes upon me, and
allowing his thin lips to curl with a
smile of contempt. But what is the
use of asking such a coward as you to
perform such manly feat?' he added
deridingly.
His words stung me to the quick; and
without further reflection, and scarcely
aware of what I vas saying, rejoind
boldly: $50 - -
II am no coward, sir, and will prove
to you by performing what sou call a
manly feat ~ .ao4
gu viii go2' he asked quickly. 'a'
II Will % -s'+oo : s,h.1iA
: 'Bravely said, my lad?, he srejoiped,
in tone of approval, and exchanging
bis expression of contempt for ono Of
surprise and admiration. DO this Nor
ris, and the first man that insults you
afterwards, makes an enemy of mel
'AgainI felt a cold shudder pass
through my frame, at the thought of
what was before me; but L had accepted
this challenge in the presence of many
witnesses-for this conversation occur
red as we were leaving the hall. after lis;
tening to an evening lecture-and /
was resolved ia make my word good,
should it even cost my life; in fact, l
knew I could snot do Otherwise now,
without the risk of being driven in dis
grace from the college
Il should here observe that in these
days there were few professional resur
rectiouists, and it was absolutely Deces-
sary to have subjects for dissection, the
unpleasant business of procuring them
devolving upon the students, who, i'll
consequence, watched every funeral GA
gcrly, aud calculated the chances of
cheating the sexton of his charge, and
| NnS VA ibS fiSiitlI
There bad been funeral that day of
a poor orphan girl, who had been follow
| ed to the grave by very few friends; aud
this was considered favorable chance
for the party vi. ose turn it was te-prc-
cure the rext subject, as the graves of
tie poor aud fricndlcss were never
watched with the same keen vigilance as
those of the rich and influential. Still
it was no triGing risk to attempt to ex-
hume the bodies of the poorest and hum
blest-for Tot unfrequently persons wcI .
found on the watch over these, and only
the year before, one student while at his
midnight work, had been mortally
| wounded By ride bail; aud another a
/ month or two subsequently,, had been
rendered a cripple for life by the same
means.
All this was explained to me by a
party of six or eight, who accompanied
me to MY room which was in a build
ing belonging to the college, aud rented
by apartments to such of the students
as preferred bachelors ball to regular
boarding; and they took care to ado
several terrifying stories of ghosts anc
hobgobiins, by way Of calming my ex
cite1 nerves, but as [ have before observ
ed old women stand around weak fe
verish patient, aud croak out their ex
perience in seeing awful sufferings anC
fatal terminations of just such maladie
as the one with which their helpless vic
tim vac then afflicted.
is it expected that I should go alone?
inquired, in a tone that trem bled ii
spite of me, while my knees almos
. knocked together, and 1 felt as if m,
very lips were white. a. "t b. ,
'Well, no. replied Benson, my mos
dreadful tormentor; ut would be hardI
fair to send you alone, for one ihdIvid
ual could not succeed in getting the bod
sfrom the grave quick enough; aud you
mere youth, without experience, woul
= be sure To fail altogether. No, We wi
go with you, some three or four of u
aud help yon dig up The corpse; .br
then you must take it on your baci
i bring it up to your room here, and sPen
= the night alore with ith
: at was some relief to me to find [ W;
It to have company during the first part
k my awful undertaking; but still l fe
far from agreeable, I assure you; al
e CHANGING to look into mirror, as ii
d tine drew near for setting out, 1 fair
e started at beholding the ghastly obje
d 1 saw reflected therein
d Come, boys, said Benson, who W
l always, by general consent, the lead
q of whatever frolic, expedition, or unde
, taking he was to have hand in-'cou
1. BOYS, its time to be on the move
glorious night for us!' he added, +hro'
IS ing up the window and letting in fer
20 gust of wind and rain; 'the ID hims'
b. would hardly venture out in such
e. storm!'
i'll He lit dark lantern, then drew
I'd his long, heavy cloak, took up a spa1
and led the way down stairs; and t
IF, rest OF US, three beside my timid Sc
lf- threw on our cloaks also, took each
m spade, and followed him. 1..