The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-01-06
Narratives by an Old Physician.

by physician of eminence, prove that
such things happen in countries where
rapid interment succeeds death much
more frequently than the generality of
people would deem possible.
We who hold cur dead sacred, and who
err, ifanything, on the side of keeping
them too long unburied, must naturally
feel kind of horror creep over us when,
from circumstances, we are brought to
witness what in haste and want of rev.
erence the last sad ceremonies are gone
through in some countries where climate
render speedy interment after decease
an absolute necessity. / propose to
relate three marvellous escapes from liv-
ing burials which happened to different
members of the same family at different
period. The scene was in Italy; the
facts were related to me by the daughter
of two of the parties concerned, and 1
shall tell the tale as nearly as possible as
she told it to me-
you will scarcely WONDER" she said,
"at my horror of being buried alive
when 1 tell you that a peculiar fate
seems to pursue onr family, or at least
did pursue 1t in the last generation. My
father was an only son and, from hav-
ing been born several years after his
parents marriage, was an object of espe-
cial devotion. His mother was unable to
nurse him herself, and q country woman
was procured from village some dis
tance from the chateau where bis
parents resided, who was not only we'll
calculated to replace the mother as
nurse, but was of so affectionate
disposition that she seemed to throw her
whole soul into her care for the we'll
being of the child, and lavished as much
affection on him as did the real mother
When the age came for weaving him,
1t was found impossible to accomplish it
while the nurse remained with him
and so, after many terrible scenes and
the most heart-rending sorrow on her
part, she had to go. The boy throve
very well until he was about three years
old, when he was attacked by some
childish malady and to all appearance
died.
at is unnecessary to dwell ON the dis
tracted grief of the parents. The mother
could scarcely be induced to leave the
body, and, even though all life was
extinct, grudged every moment as it
flew toward the time when even what
was left of her darling would have to be
removed forever. (The time that was
allowed by the Government for bodies
to remain unburied was three days.)
The father gave strict orders that the
child's nurse should not be informed of
the death of her foster son until after the
funeral, as he felt convinced she would
at once come to see him, and he dreaded
the effect the sight of her grief might
have on the already broken-hearted
wife. However, the order was ill-kept,
and on the morning of the funeral, after
the guests had arrived and were grouped
round the coffin taking their last fare
well of the lovely boy, in rushed the
nurse, her hair down, her dress all torn
and travel. stained, her boots nearly
worn off her feet. On hearing the news,
she had started off without waiting for
extra clothing, without word or look to
any one, and had run the whole night
AS she entered the room, she pushed
past the servants and guest, and, on
reaching the coffin, seized the child,
and, before any one was aware of her
H., ,,ta,t;o,, or had ,,rocopoo of mind IN
prevent her, she had vanished with him
in her arms. 1t was found she had
carried him off to the gronier, or garret.
She paid no attention to threats or en-
treaties, and all attempts at forcing the
door were equally fruitless. The guests
waited patiently, hoping that she would
before long return to her senses, and
bring back the child's body for burial.
cat the end of an hour or more they
heard the heavy furniture rolled away
and the door opened. The nurse APP
peared, but with no dead child in her
arms the little things arms were
clasped lovingly round her neck as she
pressed him to her bosom. The mourn
full assemblage was turned into one of
joyful congratulation. The woman
would never speak of the means she
used to restore the boy 10 consciousness
indeed, although she became from that
hour resident in the family and
trusted and valued friend, she forebore
ever referring to the incident in which
she played so important part. She
lived to see the rescued child married
and with a family of his own around