The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-07-15


eyes again-that countenance throngh
which | have read the workings of love In
a spirit that is now far from the precincts
Of the clay. Deny me not l will be sat.
is6ed Of this, if l should come back from
her grave 10 complete that which is begun.
and is already visible in these shrunken
members, that now obey supernatural
power.
There seemed to be no gaiusaying him
his manner was inspired aud resolute and
proceeded to accompany him to c.
churchyard. George, who, in the mean
time, had been tossing himself in the chair.
rose to make one of the party. The api-
tation under which he still labored was in
direct contrast to tie cold stillnes of his
father; yet the one was more living ex-
preston than the other and, while my eye
shrunk not from the ordinary indications OF
suffering, l-maugre all the experience OF
misery | had had-cOuld scarcely look on
the animated corpse thus preparing to visit
the grave where the object of all bis hopes
and affections in this world had been buried
and might now be found 10 be desecrated
by the knife Of the anatomist We went
forth together. Georges horse stood still
at the door. reeking and bloody. l re-
quested Mr.. to mount, as we bad a
full mile TO go 10 the burying- ground. and
deemed it utterly impossible that be could
accomplish the distance. He did not an
swer me, but proceeeeded onwards with a
firm in tho faaa Of aol1 Ilo.Ix
wind, that moaned mournfnlly ..among a
clump of trees that skirted the road. Some
flakes Of snow were winging through the
air, driven now by the breeze, or lingering
over our heads as if afraid to be soied by
the earth, which we were bent TO open
where the dead lay, or some time before
lay, mass Of putrefaction yet dear to
the feelings of the bereaved, and sought
now with greater avidity tnan when the
body was arrayed in the smiles of beauty,
and filled with living, breathing love. The
husband spoke nothing; and George was
silent, save for the deep sobs that burst
from him as he looked upon the woe-worn
form of bis father, who stalked away before
US like creature hurrying to the grave to
seek the home there from which a troubled
spirit had removed him IN the dark hour
of night. In this way We wandered on.
was not in mood to speak. The occasion
and the scene depressed me more than ever
did the prospect of a deathbed, or the sight
Of patient about to submit to a painful
and dangerous operation. My habits Of
thought are little conversant with the poetry
of nature, or of mans condition in this
stage Of suffering the duties Of an ardu-
GUS profession are exclusive of those
dreamy moods Of the mind, which have lit
tie in common with the doings of every
day life; yet on this occasion, felt all
the inspiration Of the sad muse and, we're
| to endeavOI to account for it, | could only
seek for the cause in the aspect Of the
night, and the unusual nature of the veca-
: ton, operating, at the moment, on a mind
loosened from the cares of my profession.
In much less time than | could have
anticipated, from the weak condition of Mr..
B, we arrived at the churchyard, a
solitary spot, surrounded with an old grey
dyke, at the back of which rose in deep
shade a wood Of frs. The snow lay on
the top Of the walls, and on the higher
branches Of the frs, reminding one Of
streaks Of white clouds in the sky, as the
darkness Of the night, enveloping the lower
p.rtions, kept them almost from our view.
From a small house at the ridge Of the fire.
belt, slight ray Of light beamed forth, and,
striking upon the top of monument
placed against the wall, exhibited thy left
all around in deeper gloom. Without ut
tering a word, Mr.. B made up to
the house, and, knocking at the door, a
young female appeared. She uttered a
scream, and ran back, doubtless from the
pale and death.like appearance presented
by the face of the visitor Her place was
momentarily supplied by the sexton, who,
the moment he saw Mr.. B, shrunk
back in what l conceived to be conscious
fear. was standing behind, and noticing
what | thought, the guilty expression Of
the mans face, concluded nf,yorably for
the sad hope Of my friend.
81 have reason to believe that there have
been resurrectionists in Your churchyard, !,
James" said Mr.. B mournfuIly.
Impossible :" replied the sexton I'VE
have been guarding the ground for some
time past. 1t is dream, Mr.. B;
many relations are troubled by the same
fears. 1t was only yesterday that opened
grave TO satisfy the wishes Of Mrs
c., whose husband was buried week
ago. The body was as safe as if it had
been in her own keeping. Take my ad-
vice be satisfied there is no cause of ap-
Prehension you forget the sacred nature
Of my trust"
81 can only be satisfied by an examina-
ton Of the grave" " replied Mr.. B. Il
insist upon having this satisfaction. The
cemetery is my property and have right
to examine il"
The man hesitated, and said that bis
assistant was from home. But the be-
rcaved husband was not to be thus diverted
from his purpose. lie stood resolutely
with the lantern in bis hand, and demanded
admittance into the churchyard. The man
at length reluctantly took down the key
from nail in the passage, and bringing
another lantern with him, led us to the
door, which, in the midst Of many grum.
blings, be opened. He then led the way
over the snowy hillocks to nearly the mid
die of the burying ground, where the grave
Of Mrs. B., headed by an ornament
ed stone, was exhibited to us. Mr.. B
bent down, aud, moving the lantern back
wards and forwards, examined it SLOWLY and
carefully, casting his eye over the snow,
which presented an uDbroken appearance,
and examining every chink, as if he there
found an evidence Of the truth Of George 5
statement.
That grave has not been touched, said
the man. The head Of it is the part to
Judge by. You will find the turf lies whole
and unbroken under the wreath"
~ l.