The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-10-17

early history but his affections were
already engaged by the young lady whose
story we are now gOing~tO relate, the
facts of which resemble somewhat those
already told. This young person was
no longer a child when death seemed to
claim her, but had reached the age of Is
or 10. She had been suffering from an
infectious and dangerous fever, and
when the crisis arrived, instead of raj
lying, she, to all appearance, died. 1t
was the custom in the district in which
she lived to dress marriageable girls as
brides after death, and to bury them in
their bridal costume. The young lady
in question was therefore laid out as a
bride, in a white dress, Orange-fiOWeT
wreath and veil.
''The day before the funeral, the most
intimate friend of the deceased. who
had been on visit at a diStan ce, came
home, and insisted with floods of tears
that she should be allowed to see her.
The mother most decidedly refused, ex-
planning that her daughter had been the
victim of an infectious fever, and that
she could not allow the daughter of a
friend to run the risk of catching it.
The young lady persisted, and would not
leave the house but the mother, much
as it pained her, was firm in her refusal.
However, in the evening the young
friend, being on the watch, saw the
paid watcher leave the room to go down
to her supper. leaving the door unlocked.
She Immediately entered, and. having
reverently kissed her friends pale face,
knelt down by the side of the bed 10 pray.
There were candles at each side Of the
bed at its head, and two placed on a ta-
BILE at its foot
ssTba moor Girl was 1naY, in 1,a1- ,,7.ry- y-a,-
when suddenly, without any movement
or warning, the dead girl sat up, and
said, in a sharp tone of voice, Que fIji
tU Ia ?'-( What are you doing there =
Startled and Mortified TO the last degree.
her friend sprung from her knees. and.
in trying to rush out of the room. upset
the table on which the candles were
placed, and became wedged between it
and the bed, her head dOwnmOst. In
extricably entang8ed. she Shrieked loud
" for help. The supposed dead girl had
a keen sense Of the ridiculous. and, be
ing weakened from illness. she went off
into hysteTical fit of laughter: and
the more her poor friend kicked and
screamed, the more she kept up the duet
by peals of laughter. The mother and
household, hearing the noise, rushed up
as quickly as possible. The mother was
quick-witted woman. at once compre-
hended the situation. She flew to her
daughter. and. angTily ordering her to
be quiet and not laugh at her friends
misfortune, she pressed heF to her bosom
and, hastily tearing of wreath and veil
dropped them on the floor and kicked
them under the bed : then. calling as
sistauce. she carried the girl into another
room, and put her to bed. The doctor
her to be taken from home without de-
lay, and they started as soon as possible.
She perfectly recovered but. strangely
enough, could never call to mind the
startling events of her return to life
She afterwards married the gentleman
who was the hero of the first story. Her
poor friend, when eXtTicated from her
unpleasant position. was quite delirOus :;
she had a nervous fever. of which She
covered from the shock her friend sud
den return to life had given her. -
On writing to the lady who related
these anecdotes for permission TO pub
liSh she saws you are at liberty to
make what use you like of our family
story, on condition You do not mention
names Of family or places but YOU may
add that all three who were so nearly
buried alive lived to be very Old-my
father to 81. my mother and aunt to I6
retaining their health. rare iutelli-
gence. and to a wonderful extent their
personal beauty, TO the last.