Middletown transcript., 1868-07-11

mnst seek tor some one to sit up with the
body"
And the host, politely saluting me, pla
ced chair for me at the fire, saying din.
ner would be served Immediately.
L was still undecided as to whether
should remain, as knew not where to pro.
cuie bed after the performance was over
when the hostess returned, to let her hus-
band know that no one could be persuaded
to sit up with the dead on account of his
not having died like Christian.
"What nonsense p said the host: "witb
all their religion they don't do what true
religion commands them. I tell you what,
wife, Pve great mind to sit up myself. y
eyes, truly" said the wife, sit would
well suit you, after being harassed all day
and all tho evening, to spend the night in
prayer ; besides, do you even know one by
you can't"
"Bei CoHP' said the host, irritated at
this sarcasm, "you'd better do it yourself
then, wife; for there isn't in all the village
tongue equal to yours for putting up o
small prayer for your neighbors, whether
for or against them"
| The quarrel began to be rather hot.
-" Well l will sit up" said L, IF YOU
will have good fire lighted, and give me
better chair than this one."
The host and his wife looked at me in
the greatest astonishmcnt.
Will you really, sir ?'' said the host :;
"well, that is very kind of you; you may
reckon on good fire, comfortable arm
chair, large Bible, and" added he, in a
whisper, ga capital pipe, and some real
Porto-Rico, accompanied by a bottle of
my very best brandyp
What had chiefly determined me in
rendering this service to the dead was, it
must be confessed, the following reason;
night was coming on, the rain poured in
torrents, and l considered that to pass the
night in comfortable private apartment
and an easy chair would be far preferable
to the public room of country inn and
wooden bench.
After supper ! withdrew to the room
where l was to remain till the next NOR
ming, thinking no more about the theatri-
cal treat had promised myself. was
tired and was glad to avail myself of a
little quiet.
The servant, who held in her hands
two candles, conducted me to the first
floor, where, at the end of long corridor,
she pointed to door, and giving me one
of the lights, ran away with a lacouic
" Gut nacht, heer." smiled at her fears
and resolutely entered the room.
The apartment was very simple.
ever, the host had kept his word; a good
fire burnt in the stove; on table stood
all that he had promised me and between
the table and the stove l found comfor-
table armchair. They had even carried
their attention so far as to have placed a
good mattress in a corner of tho room.
L Immediately installed myself in the
armchair, my feet on the stove, nv ell
bow on the table, my head upon my hand.
The rain still fell in torrents the wind
howled as it rushed through the high trees
which surrounded the house. The fire
roared continuously in the stove, and vet
all was so calm and still in that room that
L could almost distinguish the beating of
my heart. The curtains of the bed: on
which the body had been placed, were
drawn, and l could distinguish nothing
but one hand, which appeared between
an opening in them. 1 quickly turned
away my looks and thoughts from the sad
spectacle, lighted a pipe, and tried the
brandy provided for me by the, host; it
was indeed excellent; and whether it was
the cold, the fatigue, or the loneliness
felt on the occasion have certainly never
tasted anything like it since and found
myself, much to my surprise, helping nv
self a second and third time to a beaker
of the enticing spirit,
| soon became lost in thought. The
sad event which had happened was ever
present to my imagination. l asked my
self, who can this man be, and why had
he destroyed himself. Then | considered
the strangeness of my position, alone in
that chamber of death. In seeking to
solve these thoughts, my eyes had gradu-
ally become closed, and 1 still reflected
profoundly, when L heard slight rust
ling in the apartment. Iopened my eyes
with caution, and looking towards the bed.
beheld most strange sight. The cur
tains had been withdrawn, and I could
now see the entire of the body. At the
head of the bed, ON each side were sus-
pended numerous vestments' of all forms
and colors and two singular beings,
strangely dressed, stood on either side of
5he departed. The one to the right was
light, fair, and of pleasant countenance and
manners; while the other was dark and
-ll-favored, his dress and hair were black,
md the skin of his. face dark bronze
'olor, forming a complete contrast to the
'ther parsonage. i
l could not doubt it. was in the
presence of the good and bad angels who
had presided over the actions of this man
Turing his lifetime. 1 must allow that
trembled little, when / saw them both
iirect their looks towards me, and each
place finger on their lips to impose ST.
ence. I was sorry for this, for 1 should
have done my utmost to retain reminis-
,ence of the celestial language for the ben
&c Ct l. TT |