The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1867-07-26

till they should be summoned up stairs
screw down the lid. Without an instant
of delay rushed to the chamber where
my dear body was lying in its shell.
Some Of my friends were there, and |
entreatcd them, in imploring accents,
to stop for two days and they would
see that the corpse which lay before
them would revive. "l am not dead"
cried /, forgetting myself, 81 assure you
! am not dead"
"Poor fellow, he has lost his Senses"
said one.
"Ah, poor Wolstang," observed an
other: "he ran deranged some weeks
ago, and has been going about asking
for himself ever since"
81 assure you am not dead" said |,
throwing myself upon my knees before
my cousin, who was present.
81 know that, my good fellow" was
his answer, "but poor Stadt, you see,
is gone for ever"
"That is not Stadt--it is lit is |.
Will you not believe me! am Stadt-
this is not mel am not myself. For
heavens sake, suspend this funeral"
Such We're my eXclamations, but they
produced no other effect but that ofpity
among the by-standers.
"Poor unfortunate fellow, he is crazed.
Get Il porter and let him be taken
home"
This order, which was given by my
cousin himself, stung me to madness,
and, changing my piteous tones for
those of fierce resistance, | swore that
81 would not turn out for any man liv-
| ing. | would not be buried alive to
please them" To this nobody made any
| reply, but in the course of a minute
fourstout portcrs made their appearance,
and was forced from the house.
Returning to Wolstang's lodging, the
old man was there in waiting, as he
promised. "What," said | with trepi-
dation, "what is the scheme you were
to propose? Tell me, and avert the hor-
rible doom which will await me, for
they have refused to suspend the fu-
neral.'
"My dear FRIEND" said he, in the
most soothing manner, your case is
tar from being 50 bad as you apprehend.
You have just to write your name in
this book, and you will be yourself again
in an instant. Instead of coming alive
in the grave, you will he alive before
the colliin-lid is put on. Only think Of
the difference of the two situations
"a confounded difference indeed"
thought |, taking hold of the pen. But,
at the very moment when | was going
to write, l observed above the follow
ing words:
81 here by engage, after my natural
decease, to give over my soul to the
owner of this book
"What! :" said /, "this is the old com
pact; the one you wished me to sigr
before ~
"The same, my dear friend"
"Then | will not sign it,"
"Only think of the consequences,
said he.
81 will abide the consequences rathe
than sell my soul"
Buried alive, my dear sir-onl,
think"
81 viii not ign the compact"
'Only think of being buried alive,
continued he-"stiHed to death-pen
up ON all sides-earth above, earth be
low-no hope--no room to move in
.st,, tn1 hIr Oh tal #
ter despair. Is not the idea dreadful
Only think what your feelings will be
when you come TO life in that narroN
! charncl-house, and know your situa
, tion.n
| gave shuddcrat this picture whic
was drawn with horrible truth but til
energies of religion, and the hopes o
, futurity, rushed upon my soul, and su'
tanned it in the dreadful trial. "AWaI
away" said /, pushing him back.
have made up my mind to the sacrifice
!, since better my not be. Whatever hal
: pens to my body, ! am resolved not
: risk my eternal soul for its sake.'
"Think again." said he, " make II
your mind. If leave you, your fat
-, is irrevocable. Are you decided?'
81 am"
"Only reflect once more-considt
:. how, by putting your name inthis bool
YOU will save yourself from amiserab
death. Are you decided?"
" am" replied |, firmly.
> "Then, fool" said he, while Il froW
perfectly Unnatural to him corrugatC
his brow, and his eyes shot forth vivi
- glanccs of fire--"then, fool, | leave yC
- to your fate. You shall never see n
again" So saying, he walked out of Il
, room, dispensing with his usual boy
and grinlaccs, and dashing the do
iierccly after him, while threw mys,
upon couch in an agony of despair,
y My doom was now sealed beyond ;
., hope; for, going to the windows fe
:, minutes thereafter, | beheld my Ov
funeral, with my cousin at the head
- the procession, acting Us chief mournc
In short time, saw the company I
, turning from the interment.-".All
ONtI licli, nui' ~ "iihSiiS my i'i
- at this deplOrable sight. | am the vi
tim of some internal agency, and mu
;, prepare for the dreadful sacrifice" rh
!, night was supremely wretched, fossil
- necessarily in bed, while sleep was d
~ MED to my wearied eyelids. Ne
- morning my haggard look was rema
ked by my servant, who proposed sen
:. ing for physician; but this | Won
, not allow, knowing that wo like mi
vas beyond the reach ofmedicine. L
great part of that day was spent in |
= ligious exercises, from which | felt 60
!, siderable relief. The day after was t
7" last | was TO behold upon earth.
'r came, and endeavoured by eve
means to subdue the terror which