The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1886-11-16
BEALLSFiLLE.

The following is the dream Of
Republican of Beallsyille as he told
it to the writer the morning after
the election.
l had dream, and ii was all dream.
The night was dark and drcary, and the stars
Did shed no rays of light, to penetrate
The gloom, that hung gdarkling round the earth
The world seemed motionlcss, and blind, rs !,
No being stirred therein. nor plant moved,
And Time did seem to rest her rapid wing,
AS if. in expectation dire, I thought
! lay within the churchyarls close alone
Among the cold and ghostly slabs, which mark
The place, where rest the dead both small and
great.
No fear traycrscd my soul, for ! was there
On purpose, methought had been sent by
those
Who had control, to tear the dead from ont
Their narrow cells, and clothe their bones in
garbs
BETTING their condition, and bring them to
The polls, that they might vote for Grosvenor.
(For we did fear that 'mong the living there,
He nigh. have lack n score. of votes or so.)
Methought had succeeded well, until,
tried to teach their cold and pulselcss arms
To work themselves, 10 act, and train them
thus
To cast the vote without creatinga
Suspect, OF what they were, or whence they
came.
hard
To solve, and make their dry and clanking
bones
Act with delibcra,ion, heard noise,
AS II, some one approached by stealth, to spy
Me out, and Sc, or hear, what was at.
While thus toiled with spade and iron bar
Among the graves, l thought assistance came !;
But who il was a. first, could not gucsss,
For was blind-but when heard his voice,
knew him then twas he that deals in pbysic;
Who by his art assayed TO make them walk.
A specter more than form, that did address
It's lips TO motion, as If it wished to speak.
We pausel: and thus in an uncarthly voice 1t
said,
ain name Of all the hosts that dwell in ha des,
What seek yc here among the silent dead?"
To which, the man of phys,c said in voice sub
dued,
"EIy friend, or flcnd, or or what thou art, or
vast,
| do rot know, or care, nor would 1t serve
My purpose better that should, for /
pray let me to the point would quaint thee of
My mission here in few and simple words.
Let it be .nown then, t:i:,t on the earth,
Tomorrow IS The day, when we make choice
nr,
And 'mongst the living We have practical fraud
So mrch, we fear it will not win again.
In Sevcnty-six, by our returning board,
We counted Sammy out and Ruth ford in,
Since then. by tissue ballots and forged returns
We've had success of lato-within the State
And now the skin cane speech of Foraker
Has hurt us so, (for It's sick'ning thing,)
That We have come TO seek assistance here.
The trick is new, and one they will not catch
Withal, for III a wagon nicely laid
We did intend 10 draw, all covered up,
Each, to the polls, and say that Mr.. so and so
Is sick; and thus allay suspicion"
To which The specter grim made this reply.
81 once was on the earth and like you are,
Was one among the g. O. p, who stopped
To awful things. But since I've shuflied off
That mortal coil, and sought the shades below,
To parge my soul, from that one sin, or crime,
| Have suffered awful torment. So hence begone
Leave urdisturbed those peabefui bodies here;
And pray the gods, that ifpurchanee, thy sins,
| May be forgiven fi.ee, or-cise-ttou -tiiest.,
At this, the Specter vanished from the sight
| OF him, 10 whom it spoke and awokc.
Oh! was scared, lest perchance might be.
Where had dreamed l was.
NICToR.