Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1857-10-15
THE DE iTd " ArCH.

Il very common superstition, by TO
means coufinrt to tie vulgar and ignorant,
relates to what is often called the "death
watch" In general, superstitous notions
| are nc. entirel, wtnout foundation, but
have some basis III thu observation of na.
ture or coiuci euces facts, upon when
the fears, or imagination Of maLkind BULLS
larger conclusions than the premises Justify
Accurate examination and scientific re-
search lead to the dissipation Of such de
Iusions, and exhibit at once their cause aod
their folly. Here for example, is a min
ute insect, almost imperceptible to the ma.
ked eve, and yet its ticking has disturbed
the quiet aud rest of many a couch, and
tie many bSNJm with dark forebodings.
Beating with regularity and precision, like
a fine, well timed watch, ih the stiffness
of the night, its sound strikes the ear with
cIearness. and the attention is aroused and
strained to discover the cause. 1t ceases
aud then with regular measure resumes its
pulsation--cllck, click, click--andtbe sf-
frghted listener begins to imagine those
warnings which he has heard recorded in
table and idle story, until by snd-bv his
vigils tire, and he passes away into dream
land. where his terron soon find shape in
some horrid phantasy. Atropos pulsGtoe-
iOus, such isthe name of the little creature,
the origin of all this mischief an. insect
quite as ugly looking as its name. 1t has
white soft shell, (there are soft shells as
well as hard shells among insects,) its body
is covered with short hairs, bristling hor.
ribly. seen Nith the microscope; its six
legs, long antenue and fierce eye com.
plele the forehOdlng appearance. Now it
jerks its head suddenly upwards aud back
wafds, and strikes it against horny RUG
or collar about the shoulders. and tick, ok,
click, click, the rythm begins and is pro
onged through the stillhours Of the night.
"Certainly," says one, Certainly there
| can be nothing more melancholy than this
time piece; so measured, so distinct, and as
now we write, among the small hours Of
the night, our imagination makes US p use
to count as it recedes fainter and fai
like the very echo Of old Times f,otsep,
as he treads the minutes down; then again
advancing almost to our ear, he ting out
the warning, frime is flying away, away
-hark am not telling thee how fleet The
moments Ay," and if our heart saddens at
this certain knowledge, reason, and faith,
and trust 10 God, will not allow us to pause
for 40 instant to peer into the dark future,
to seek out what evi. this insignificant link
in creation can foretelI to terrify those who
wait upen the Lord; knowing he performs
his intentions without the intervention of
message or word, if We believe not the
Scriptures, nei,her will ye believe even
should one rise from the dead." Sir
Thomas Brown, in his Vulgar Errors"
laws great stress upon this superstition; lie
adIs-"H He who could eradicate this terror
from the minds of the people, woulds,ve
from many a cod sweat the meticulous
heads of nurses and grnndmOtLers," aud
We may add grahdfathers, for we have
S, en- many stout man turn pale when the
mimic stroke would strike upon his ear
Science has ben preaching the folly Of
this superstition for nauy yslr, but the
charmer will not I've hee ed, charm she ey,
er SO wisely, Prot. Glurchmdn.