The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1856-12-11

Il HdlIly Icht! He duoeu ucrlulnBly.
His words slung NE TO the quick; and
without further reflection, and scarcely
aware Of what WAS saying rejoinrd,
boldly:
am no coward, sir. as | will prove to
you by performing what you call a manly
eat
You will 60? he asked quickly.
will
'Bravely said, my lad! lie rejoined, in
tone Of approval, and cHchang' g his
expression of contempt for one Of srrprisc
aud adnlla ion. DO tais, Morn q, aud
the first man rhat insults you afterwards
makes an enemy Of me!
again | felt cold shudder pass thro
my frame, at the thought, of,Nhat VAS be-
fore me; but had accepted his challenge
in the presence Of many witnesses-for
this conversation occurred as we were
leaving the hall after lstp1ing to an eve
ming lecture and | was esolyed to make
my word good, should it even cost my
life; in fact, know | could not do other
wise nov, without the risk OF being driven
in disgrace from the college.
i should here observe that in those
days there were few professional resur
eclonists; aud as it vas absolutely nee
rSsry to hai" suJJccts for dissection, the
unpleasant dsinrSs of procuring them
drvoiv"d ugyn the students, who, in con-
sequence. watched every funeral eagerly,
tnd calculated the chances of cheating the
>cxton Of his charge and the grave Of its
,'~,:4iiiqa' ,~4iiiqa
W Ihere had been a funeral that day, of
DOR orphan girl, who had been follow
cl to the grave by very few frients; and
This was considered favorable chance for
the party whose turn it was to procure e
next subject, as the grav Of the poor
and friendIeSs were never watched with the
same keen vigilence as those Of the rich
and influential. Still, it was DO trihing
risk 10 attempt to exhume the bodies Of
tie poorest and humblest for not unfe-
quenily persons were found on the wateh
even over .hese, and only the year before,
one student. while at h midnight work,
Lad been mortally wounded by a rifle bal;
and another, month or two subsequnt-
ly, had been rendered cripple for life by
the same means.
All hi was explained to me by par
ty Of six or eight, who accompanied me to
my room-whch was in building be-
longing to the college, and rented by a.
parlmenis 10 such of the students as pre-
ferred bachelor hall to regular boarding;
and they took care to add several terrlty-
ing stories of ghosts and hob -oblins by
way Of calming my excited nerves, bu as
| have before observed old women stand
around a weak teyerish patient and croak
out their experience in seeing awful suf
ieriugs and fatal terminatiOnS of Just such
as the one with which their help
less victim was then afflicted.
1T is expected that should go alone?
| inquired, in a tone that trembled in spite
Of me, while my knees almost knocked to-
5ether, and felt as if my very lips were
white.
well, no. replied Benson, my most
lreaded lormenler; it would be hardly far
o send youaIonc, or one Individual could
not succeed IN getting Ihe 10 y from Ihe
grave quick enougn; and Sou, mere
youth, without experir<ssa16o 16ould be sure
o fail aItog ther> log We will 90 with
you. some Ba:,1 of us, and he P
iou to II - pse; but then you
,eek, bring il up to
hstto inc to find | "
cds|s5 SSting the first part of
undalh4ing; but still felt far
|ecable, | assure you' and chan
BOX into mirror, AS the time drew
"a for sarling out, | fairly started at
3 bEholdiog the ghostly object SAW lefec-
&ed therein
Cunp, bows sid Benson, who was
oiwPys, 10y genera consent, he leader OF
whatever IroIlC, expedition or under
iaklug n wa, to hav' nand In--'C0mr
UUt :, II i, tune tu b" Oh The move,
giolous nignt Tor usp he added, throw
ny up tnp wItow and I-tlDg III ferci
gust Ol wind and ram; the ID himself
~uuld hsroly venture out in such I
storm
He 1T dark lantern, then threw Oh
HI, l"'g, heavy cloak, took up spade,
and ird The way down stairs; and th'
rest Of Us three besides my Iimld selt,
llpew on our c,oakS also, took each =
spade, aad followed hin.
VI e took round alb VI course, to sVon
belug seen by any cilIZ-ns that migu
chanre to be sir ring, aud III someihn.
eSs than hat ar hour We reached IN
c' mttery ca I'd the wall without diff
cu'ty, snd slealthily searched Tor III,
grave. nil W. iouUd il in the pitchy dark
neSS--tne wind and rain sweeping pas
us with dismal howlS aud moans. thai I,
me, embIing with terror, seemed to b.
the most unesrthI, waIIings OF the spir
it's OF the dlmmed
Here We are whispered Benson to
lne as We at length st"rprd at mound
OF fresh earth over which one Of the par
~ nd stumbled. Come feel round
Morris, Mud strike in your spade and lei
Us see ny ou will make AS good hand III