The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1858-03-01
The Death Rose,

Some ten or twelve years ago. was
travelling from Munich to Berlin. Tired
by the continued rumbling of my car
riage, resolved upon taking a days rest
at Augsburg. 1t was the day Of All
Souls. The autumnal sun was shining
brightly, and large procession went Its
way towards the cemetery, mile distant
from the town. Wherefore, | know not,
but was instinctively led to join this
procession On arriving at the cemetery
we found it. comparatively. crowded.
All the graves were decked With flowers,
and sprigs of young cypress, and near
every stone there sat or knctt, at least,
one mourner. Tears of love and regret
wetted the sacred earth. In a singulary
agtated frame Of mind, I wandered
through the cemetery. The recollection
ofdcpartcd friends, and of dear ones far
away, made me sad, unhappy, miserable.
And l could not help thinking that if l
had been then entombel, no friendly
hand would on that day have deposited
wreath or flower upon MY grave, no
beloved eye shetla tear of sorrow, no
faithful heart send up to Heaven fer
vent prayer forthe eternal rest of my
SOUL Haunted by such gloomy thoughts,
I wandered on, aud at last came to a
newly made grave. An hour previously
had been buried in that spot, u young
girl of seventeen years Of age. The par
cnts and the lover Of the girl stood weep
ing near the grave, and her young friends
adorned the mound with freshly gather red
flowers. In Aft of profound melancholy
I bent down, mechanically picked up a
halfopened rosebud, and walked on
Approaching the gate Of the cemetery
with the intention Of returning to my
hotel, my eyes fell upon a tablet upon
which was engraved the following words
Respect the property of the Dead. Flow
ers are the property of the Dead Thest
simple words made l very great impress
ion on my already excited mind: an(
glancing, involuntatily, at the rosebud
which / still held in my hand, my hear
smote me for having carried it away from
the girls grave. was on the point o
returning to rcdeposit the flower, wher
an indescribably false shame prevented
my doing so, and left the cemetery Will
the rose in my hand. On returning t.
my hotel, placed it in glass of water
and stood it on small table near the
head of my bed, upon which I threw my
self. and soon fell into that state which
all of you must have experienced, {
state in which the senses hover between
sleep and wakefalness, though undecided
which TO choose.
Suddenly, my apartment was filled
by a bright, but soft light, without my
being able to perceive from whence i,
came. BE it known that | had extin-
guished my candle. Ere long, the don
of my room was opened and in slidetl,
noiselessly, a pale spectral figure, clad in
Il white robe. and wearing a garland OF
flowers. 1t was the figure of young
girl, and the face was angelic. Witll
lnotionlcss eyes and outstretchel hand
she approached my couch and in plain
tive voice, asked me; why hast thou
robbed the Dead? Why hast thou ta-
ken that flower which faithful lover
threw upon my last resting place OF
earth p Seemingly my pulses ceased t.
beat, and | could scarcely breathe. In,
phantom then stretched forth the lof
hand, and took the rose out of the glass
and with the right hand she beckon
ell to me, saying; Come Conc, an
, give back the property of the Dead
Respect the property Of the Dead
Come! Follow me" In vain | tried
resist. arose, and followed the tigul
out of the room and into the dcscrtc
streets. 1t was not dark for the moo
was at her full and shining brightly
Onward stalkel the figure, followc
her, towards the cemetary. We arrive
at the gate. She touched it, 1t opcnc
noiselessly. We entered. She led II
TO the grave-tho grave from which
had taken the flower. With tremb,in
hand received from hers tho rose, an
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