The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1860-07-18


+" Years ago we had in our house sweet lit
tie child about four years old, the object. of
course, Of very tender affection. But sick
ness laid his hand upon il. Remedies. prompt
ly resoricd to, all proved in vain. Day at
ter day the roses faded from the cheek, and
the fire in the eyes burned low; and al
length death clused those eyes, and sealed
the lips forever and we learned. by trying
experience, how intense a darkness followed
The quenchng Of one Of these little lights of
life.
The time rolling sadly on, brought rs az
length to the hour appointed for committing
our treasure to the ordinarily sure custody of
the grave. The friends assembled, the Gus
tomary services we're held. the farewell ta-
ken, and the little form securely shu: be-
meath the well screwed coffin, lid and in due
time the grave received its trust. We look.
ed on and saw the earth thrown in, the
mound raised above, and the plates of sod
neatly adjusted into green sheltering roof,
and then wended our way back to our desc.
late home. Evening came on aud wore away.
My wife had gone into an adjoining room to
give some directions to a servant, and nm
fitted by the scenes Of the day for else, had
Just LAID my head upon my pillow, in our
room upon the lower floor Of the house, when
heard shrek. and n momen; more my
wife came flying into the room, and spring
ing upon the bed behind me. exclaimed:
"See there our child our child"
Raising nv head, my bln,d froze within
me, and the hair upon my head stood up as
/ | saw the little thing in grave clothes, with
open, but manliestly sghtlcss eyes, aud pale
as when We gave il the last kiss, waking
slowly toward Us. Had been alone-had
not the extreme terror Of nv wife compelled
me 10 play the man, | should have leaped
from the window and bed without casting
I look behind. But not daring 10 leave her
! IN such terror, ] arose, sat dawn in chair,
and took the little creature between my
knees-rod sweat covering my body-and
gazei with feelings unutterable upon the OBJ
1 iec; before me. The EYES were open in
vacant stare. The flesh was cnarles>, cold,
and ciammy nor did the child seem to have
4 the power pllher nf speech or hearing. as It
made 40 attempt to answer any of our qucs-
tons. The h,rror of our minds was the
more intense, as we had watched our child
4 t!rough its sickness aud death, and had been
but a few hours before eve witnesses Of MS
\ interment
"Wmle gazing upon it, and asking in my
thoughts, What can this extraordinary pro-
violence mean: For what can il be sent :
tie servant girl having crept 10 the door. af-
ter a time suggested, 1t locks like Mr.
-'s chlll.' Nuw. our next neighbour had
child Of nearly the same age as ours, and
its constant companion. Bnt what could
bring il 10 our house at thar hour. and in
such a plight; Still The suggestion had op.
Grated as a powerful sedative upon our exci-
ted feelings. aud rendered u IN re capable
Of calm reflection. And after time. We
discovered ~ truth that the graCe clothes
we're night clothes, aud the corpse a sumnam
bulist And it bersme manifest that II was
the excitement attending the la.s and burial
u It's playmate. working upun the child's
mind ia sleep, to which we wcrr indebted
for this uuttmcly and most startling visit.
"Miping away the persplration, aud ta-
king few long breaths. IRE pared to coun
iermarch the lttle inrurier back IL IL fur-
saker bed Back We went, II keeping a.
my side. though still asleep. / had walked
quite distance acruss the damp gas. |
found the dnnr 0i its home ajar. Just as the
iugl,iSe had left IL. and lis sleeping parents
unconscious Oi ITS absence. Ine tlnuf creak.
I'd as | pushed II open, aud wakened the
child, WIN looked wildly around moment,
aud then popped into bed.
Now, had il not been for my wife. as
ha,e said, shnuld, on the appearance 81
this aspiration. have made leap Of uncom-
mon agility iran that window. and after a
flight VI uncommon ,elority tr q person oi
nv age aud dignity, should have been
ready To- take oath in am court. either IN
cbrIstrndOm Or hrathcnIpm, that ! had seen
a ghust."