Mountain Democrat., 1857-04-11

| hcadStOncS, ] mOrallZed on them after my
own fashion, if not precisely according to
Harvey. had at one time transient
fancy for the study of phrenology, and
still retained habit Of inspecting the
cerebal Developments Of every one whom
met. 1t was, therefore, with some Gu
riosity that picked up a large, round,
well.blcached skull lying on the ground.
What particularly interested me, howev-
er, was the great beauty and regularity
of the teeth; they were all perfect, and
as evenly ranged as if they had been pre-
pared to decorate the window of some
advertising dentist Led by an idle i'm
pulse, which could not then nor can /
now account for, l pulled out one of the
grinders, put it into my waistcoat pocket,
and carefcSsiy throwing down the skull,
returned to the inn. Having partaken of
tea, accompanied by some excellent muf
fins, went to bed, and being fatigued
with my journey, soon fell asleep.
had slept for some time; but how long
| cannot tell, when was suddenly ava
kened- by the door of my room opening.
In stalked a tall figure dressed IN black,
with white ncckcloth; his head was
large, nearly bald, and he wore pair of
gold spectacles. In his hand he carried
silver candlestick, bearing lighted can
die, and advancing to my bedside, said
in menacing voice and manner: Why
did you rob me of my tooth!
| My tongne suddenly became paralyzed;
tried to speak, but could not utter a
word.
You have taken my tooth, continued
the figure, and now take your choice
I'm not of rcvengeful disposition
don't want to say or do anything uncivii,
but one of two things | must have, and
that instantly; your life or the best tooth
in your head So look sharp and take
your choice.
The extremity Of terror restored my
voice. -.
Would it not doi sir, to restore your
own tooth again! | gaspcd.
No, no! replied my visitor, shaking his
head until the gold spectacle ssliped down
to the very point Of his nose think
am very good naturcd fellow to give
you the choice; so which will you part
with-yOur life OF your tooth!
My tooth! | exclaimed in agony and
instantly tho apparltion, with as much
dcxterity as if he had been bred Il dentist,
introduced II forccpS into my mouth, and
neatly cXtractcda fine molar tooth. Look
here, continued Ellis, opening his mouth,
see the cavity i, has left.
There was indeed the space where q
large tooth had been extracted, and re-
marked it was the only one deficient in
the entire range.
Well, continued my friend, that was
: not all. The fellow -pocketcd my tooth.
J and then said:
Now, you must promise, on your honor
) as Il gentleman, that you will preserve my
tooth as long as you live, and make pro-
vision that, after your death, it shall be
carefully inferred with you. Ifyou don't
-. And with menacing gesture the
proprietor Of this departed as he came.
! Ellis opened the little round box, and
showed me, carefully enclosed in cotton,
the redoubtablc tooth.
] really knew not what to say; it was
certainly very difficult to refrain from
laughing, but my poor friend was so evil
IDENTITY in earnest, that merely remarked:
1t was pity the good spectre was not
satisfied with resuming his own property,
for really his tooth is so exactly the same
} size and shape as your others that think
it would have exactly filled the cavity.
1t was strange, said Ellis, without no.
ticing my remark, that, after such an ag-
itating occurrence, fell asleep and slept
soundly until late the next morning.
awoke, fcycrish and unrefreshed, and re-
, turned home as speedily as possible. Ev-
er since that time my health has slowly,
but surely declined; not, perhaps, out
wardly, but know and feel that my hour
} will soon come, and tho dread of that
tiends vengeance will embitter my dying
) moments, unless you, nv old, tried friend,
, will promise to see me buried in T
churchyard, and with your own hand to
place this miserable tooth in my coffin.
What could do but promise? The
: case was one of decided monomania-ar.
gument and ridiculc, both of which
tried, only served to make poor Ellis an.
CRY, and he was thoroughly determined
not to see physician-a measure / ur.
; ged on him strongly.
| remained with him for a few days
, and had the pleasure of leaving him, as
trusted in better health and spirits than
when we met; and hoped that his ab.
Surd fancy, as deemed it, would soou
pass away. was, therefore, greatly
r shocked when, in about six weeks after.
, wards, received letter from his old
housekceper, telling me that her master
J. had died somewhat suddenly, but request
cd with his dying breath that l should
, be sent for Immediately.
Need | say that FASTENED to obey the
t summons! Very mOurnful it was, GER
tainly, to enter the silent cottage where
had lately met friend. A physician wa:
in attendance, and pronounced that death
} had resulted from disease of the heart
He, the clergyman Of the parish, and FL
: lis counsellor were all, at my request
: present at the opening of the will. After
7 having disposed of his trifling property
: in lcgacies, the document went on to re-
, quest that !, whom he styled his beloved
: friend, should have him decently buried
} in T. churchyard, and follow in al
matters connected with his interment the
? instructions given to me.
The intermcnt took place without the
! occurrence Of anything worth recording
4 but after 1t was over felt so wearied anC
: dispiritcd that resolved to take up my
abode for the night at the comfortable
. hotel ut +. After dinner was sud
denly attacked by my old enemy-tooth
ache; and the pain resisting all the usua
} applications, became Mt length so eXcru