The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1867-05-15
a MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE.


listen. 1 had been to the theatre. 1t
was interesting, and I stayed to the end
| was some little distance out of town,
and on my way bomeward my steps led
me past one Of the city cemeteries. At
the spot l stopped unintentionally, or
perhaps my thoughts caused me to pause.
1t was beautiful summers night, and [
took things generally easy.
l had ever been fond of testing my
own courage, merely for my own benefit
my own confidence, my experience
What lucky chance A graveyard at
black midnight Were the gates lock.
ed2 No, entered. It was here that
my poor parents were buried; here lay
the last mortal remains Of those once SO
dearly loved and respected. l bad very
often visited and knelt by their graves
betore-by the quiet homes Of the dead
mourning in melancholy silence my
loss and bereavement, but never before
had approached at night. ~'9'syt
Was l timid, fearful Why, no; there
was nothing to fear. l was no coward,
tboug / could not help noticing how
gloomy, how very lonely and sad looking,
everything before me appeared. 1passed
on--on through the long path, by the
still dropping willow--on past the white
row Of tombstoncs and raised mounds, to
my parents graves.
Iwalked with 6rmer step and quieter
nerve than l had expected, though the
idea Of my situation caused me to shud
der perceptibty once in while and here
beg you to remember, that with the
stoutest Of hearts, there has been o time
of similar sensation. Not cowardicoj /
would not style it that, but rather ner-
vousDess, deep feeling, sensitivenesa.
/ sat down on my mothers grave, and
gazed about my singular position. A cool
night. Fast Aeeling black clouds hung
over head indicating rain, breaking now
and then over the star studded sky, cast
gloomy shadows along the rows Of graves
The bright moon, now perhaps, damped
of its brilliancy, half hid behinn the ra-
cling clouds, would sometimes shoot out
of its shrouds, and cast bright stream Of
light on the weary earth, chasing the re :
treating shadows before it, and running
up to my very feet. Then again would
it sink in the surrounding clouds, and the
long shadows creeping ever the silent
ground, like specters, added strange,
weird, aspect to the scene. While the
low, inspiring winds, gently waiting
through the full leaved trees, would make
sound like that Of dropping rain. TO
be solitary visitor Of such place, and
at such time, was not very desirable
luxury; and I remember when in my
early childhood, l should have shudder.
cd at tho very idea of it.
Very naturally my thoughts became
directed to those who had passed before
me, from this life to that Of eternity. As
is generally the case with one deep 10
thought, my eyes became riveted on one
spot, some little distance in front Of me,
across the path, where | saw, by dim
moonlight, new made grave-auothGr
tenement To the final, the universal rest
ing place, Thatit was q poor person
who had been buried there, | judged by
it's situation Yes, indeed, wealth and
poverty'followed to the tomb, retaining
their outward mark Of distinction even
there.
Perhaps would not have noticed It.
But was it fancy--was it reality? | saw
something move upon it. / cautiously
rose and approached What caught my
eyes? A bundle Of rags, and two little
bare feet, stretched across tho mold. A
child, sobbing-mournfully sobbing l
advanced and touched tho little speci.
men of humanity on the shoulder.
With shiver and start he jumped
to his feet, and turned his fearful, sor-
rowing face toward me. Frightened and
angry at this interruption, he attempted
to escape.
"Stop, my little fellow" said 1, in us
gentle tone as the occasion would per-
nit, and catching him by the arm
"Come tell me what you are crying for.
Don't be afraid what is your nameT
Lambert White, he suffered through
his tears. a
"And for what ure you crying sol" =
Poor boy, he broke from my grasp
threw himself down over the grave with
such scream as ! thought you'd have
broken his heart, and sobbing piteously,
"0h, mother, mother dear mother y 4
Alasl Iwell knew for what he was
weeping. His beet friend and parent,
taken from him at so early an age. II
was sad loss, indeed; deeply sympa-
thized with him. And such Infection,
too At the hour Of midnight, mourn
| ing in solitude over the silent tomb. |
managed to quiet him--questioned and
learned more Of his history. His mother
bad been buried that afternoon, His "a,
ther was get living. No brother, no sis.
ters. Poor lonely child! N5G>
Strange-or wasit Strangely thought
not Of my own home--I thought mot Of
the time. My mind was cngrossed in the
fate Of the poor helpless little fellow be.
side me. On he led me, on through, blind,
narrow alleys. l followed the cold, small
hand wherever Il led. He stopped at
last 10 ffcntof crooked, rotten looking
building, dirty and ancient, as far as ]
could ascertain in the dark. ae spoke
not q word, but up pith-dark, broken
pair Of stairs. / stumbling almost at every
step, and scarcely knowing il II was dis.
erection, whether II was policy or not, to