Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-11-12
NOVEMBER a. 1885,

/ knew | could not do otherwise now, with |
out the risk of being driven in disgrace
from the college.
[ should here observe, that in those !
days there were few professional resurrec-
tionists and as it was absolutely necessary
to have subjects for dissection, the unpleas- |
ant business of procuring them devolved |
upon the students, who, in consequence,
watched every funeral eagerly, and calcula-
ted the chances of cheating the sexton of
his charge and the grave of it's victim.
There had been funeral, that day, of
poor orphan girl, who had been followed
to the grave by very few friends, and this
was considered favorable chance for the
psfty whose turn it was 20. procure The
zozis saEpjseT, as tHs andTfrY
never watched witt = = asssne kee,s ! "a y
as these of the rich T ID inAuen %.Ae,AYY-
it was no trifing risk to attempt to oc.anume
the bodies of the poorest and humblest, for
not unfrequently persons were found on the
watch even over these, and only the year
before, one student, while at his midnight
work, had been mortally wounded by ri
file ball F.; and another, month. or two sub
sequently, had been rendered cripple for
life by the same means.
'All this was explained to me by par
ty of SIX or eight, who accompanied me to
my room-Which was in building belong
ing to the college, and rented by apartments
to such of the students as preferred bache-
lor's hall to regular boarding and they
took care to add several terrifying stories
of ghosts and hobgoblins, by way of calm
ing my excited nerves, by, as have before
observed, old women stand around weak
feverish patient, and croak out their expe-
rience in seeing awful sufferings and fatal
terminations of just such maladies as the
one with which their helpless victim was
then afflicted.
Is it expected that should 90 aloneY
l inquired, in tone that trembled in spite
OF me, while my knees almost knocked to-
gether, and / felt as if my very lips were
white.
'Well.no, replied Benson, my most dread
ed tormentor; it would be hardly fair to
send you alone, for one individual cold not
succeed in getting the body from the grave
quick enough; and you, mere youth,
without experience, would be sure to fail
altogether. No, we will go with you, some
three or four Of US, and help you to dig up
the corpse; but then you must take it on
your back, bring it up to your room here,
and spend the night alone with itv
1t was some relief to me to find [ was
to have company during the first part OF
my fearful undertaking; but still | felt fal
fram'agreeabfe, assure you ard CHANGING
to look into mirror, as the time drew neal
for setting out, | fairly started at beholdine
the CHASTITY object l say reflected therein.
FCome, boys said Benson, who was al
ways, by general consent, the leader ot
whatever frohc, expedition, or undertaking
he was to have a hand in Come boys, il
is time to be on the move. A glorious
night for US y he added, throwing up til,
window and letting in fierce gust Of vino
and rain: the ID himself would hardly
venture out in such storm ?
He lit dark lantern, then threw on hi
long, heavy cloak, took up spade, ant
led the way down stairs and the rest of us
three beside my timid self, threw on oul
cloaks ALSO took each spade and followed
him.
1--WE took a roundabout course, to ayoi,
being seen by any citizen that might chanc
to be stirring, and in something less thai
half an hour we reached the Cemetery, seal
ed the wall without difficulty, stealthily
searched for the grave, till We found it, il
the pitchy darkness-the wind and rail
sweeping past US with dismal howls an,
moans, that to me, trembling with terror
seemed to be the unearthly wailings of tn
spirits Of the damned
Here we are, whispered Benson to me
as VIC at length stopped at mound of fres
earth, over which one of the party ha
tumbled.-'Come, feel round, Morris, ali
strike in your spade, and let US see if 20
willmake as good hand at exhuminga dea
body as you will some day at killing liv
ing one with physic.'
Il cid as directed, trembling in ever
limb but the first spade full threw up,
started back with yell of horror, that i
any other buta bowling, stormy night woul
have betrayed US. It appeared to me as if
thrusted my spade into buried lake of Ii,
ing Goals and as [ had fancied the moal
ing of the storm the wailings of tormente
spirits, fancied | had uncovered sma
portion of the Bottomless Pit itself.
'Fool!' Kissed Benson, grasping my ar
with the grip Of a vice, as [ stood leanir
on my spade for support, my very teet
chattering with terror; 'another yell Ill
that, and I'll make subject of you! A
you not ashamed of yourself, to be scare
8 out Of your wits, if you ever had any, by
/. little phosphorescent earth? Don't y
know that it is often found in graveyards
His explanation re-assured me, tn
, l was too weak, from my late fright, to
: of any assistance to the party, who all f
to with will, secretly laughing at n
. and soon reached the coffin. Splitting t
lid with hatehet, which had been broug
), for the purpose, they quickly lifted out t
} corpse; and then Benson and another
the party taking hold it, one at the he
and the other at the feet, they hurried
+. away, bidding me follow, and leaving t
others to fill up the grave, that i. mis-
! not be suspected that the body had be
- exhumed.
ns Having got the corpse safely over
walls of the cemetery, Benson now cal
h upon me to perform my part of the no
! bic business.
re Here, you quaking simpleton, he So
lis want you take this on your back,
no make the best of your way to your ro
81. and remain alone with it all night.