Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-09-25

Ramsey of the mournful event, and request his
immediate attendance. Notwithstanding Johns
many faults, he was kind neighbor, and par
ticularly SO to Phills family. Over he came, as
soon as he possibly coulG, at the hour of mid
night. With tears streaming down his checks,
he entered the apartment where lay the corpse
of his friend beside which sat the disconsolate
widowoVith her face buried in her kcrchicf to
conccalh her emotions.
GLOW are you, Mrs. Thurmond?" sobbed
John.
All she could do was to conceal her face more
completely, and extend to him her hand-whch
act and silence John mistook for unaffected
grief.
"Poor fellow :" said John chow suddenly he
left me How slender is the brickly thread OF
life ! in the midst of life We are in death the
good Book says. Let me see once more, for the
last time, the face of my best friendr'
Mrs. Thurmond removed the folds Of the
shroud, when John gazed through his crocodile
tears upon Phill's face. Had he not been at
tempting to sorrow too much on the occasion,
he must have seen that tie features before him
belonged to any other than dead man. Phil
performed his part, with the aid of a white nap
kin around his jaws. as well as man OF his 0,,-
pearancc could possibly have done his features
were as immoyable as if they had been carved
in marble.
oh oh!' cried John, as if the sight before
him gave new impetus to his grief, show |
shall miss him as 4 friend how we shall miss
him lie was friend to every body. and the
worst enemy to himself! He owed me just
twcnty-nine dollars eighty-seven and a half
cents but"
"rhat's a lie, Ramsey" :" said the corpse and
at that moment the only candle in the room was
extinguished.
Mrs. Thurmond shrieked John stood back
aghast, the yerfcct personifcaton of terror and
alarm His guilty soul trembled at what he
heard he believed Il n solemn rebuke from the
lips of the dead. But what was his dismay
when suddenly up rose the corpse and made
toward him With the widest energy fear cv-
er inspired, he rushed out of doors and ran for
home; but out rushed the corpse after him =
The race down Thurmond's lane was run with
out any jockeying on Johns side for if he had
any thoughts on the subject at all, he consider
ed it his last race About halfway the lane
land it nearly extended to Ramscy's house)
John received blow of no ordinary violence on
his naked head-for in his hurry he had left his
hat-and then fourth, fifth sixth, and divers
smaller ones. Either of the six blows first re-
ceiyed would have fellcd John but for his super
natural efforts. Near his own house Phil left
him. and, while waiting to get little breath,
breaking it down, and falling midway the room,
to the CONSERVATION and surprise of his family.
What account John gave Of the nights advcn-
sure to his wife aud children was never known,
as they observed dogged silence on the sub
ject, and soon after left the neighborhood.
Some few days after the resurrection the par
ties met. Phil with the most serious counten-
ance the human face ever assumed expressed
himself to be under lasting obligations to John +;
for that in fact and in truth ne was dead, but
Johns attemptto swindle his widow had brought
him to life and that he had always said that
such rascality would make "bile" even out OF
his grave.
John on the other hand, declared most sol
emnly that it was deliberate attempt on his
fej that it was Phill's intention to Kill him with
fear or the stick or both; and that if such things
we're only .'connisant' in Suuil y n~.''--'-
Court, he would make nm smoke for 1t.
Whittier John went no one knew exactly
But after Georgia had enacted law which pre-
vented Indians or their descendants from testi-
flying against white persons, and had extended
her jurisdiction over the Cherokee nation, Phil
swore that if John was dead he would come tc
life and move among the Indians, he would
have such fine chance in the Justices Courts
there.-Ha,pers Weekly