The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-08-17

1t puts sudden end to life forever. oh, TO he as
clod, stone. to mingle with the clay ana wake
no more. Half in a dsze had continued to run
my fingers over these rough boards. Suddenly
something pricked my left thumb. and the sharp
pain aroused me from my lethaTgy. What bad
done it? felt again. and discovered that IT was
8 nail which the undertakeT's men had driven In
crooked, and which had consequently gone wide
of the side OF my coffin. 1t was very long ana
sharp pointed. The head was still in the lid, but
found that could move IL. My only thought
now was TO Work that nail loose. Passing my
right hand over my body, l began the
task. 1t was a difficult one, and tired
me so that was often obliged TO change hands.
While thus engaged IN hall,iurIous attempt TO
twist tile nail out of the lid-for seemed utterly
unable TO do anything calmly-a plan OF escape
flashed through my mind. That nail may save
me! / must have II anyway. But had time
and strength LETT to carry out my plan? Hunger
was guawing at my vitals and my lips were
cracking from thirst was forced 10 give over
fingers bent like paper. So maddentng was my
desire for drink that | sucked a few drops OF
blood from the wound in my thumb. inns only
served 10 increase my suffering, and, with cry
of sn:othered rage, l again set my teeth IN the
flesh Of my bare wrist, this time drawing D!oOd.
In my wild imagiHnEs this warm fluid appeared
to Trvive me- and again laid hold OF the nail
with such a furious effort that it yielded and fell
out into my chaled and torn palm.
AS grasped this small and slender implement
a new hope dawned upon me. My thoughts
grew more consecutive, my nerves steader, and
although could hear my tongue scrape against
my teeth like a bit Of parchment, yet someway
my terrible thirst was for the moment apneased.
My plan was simple one. Holding the nan
firmly between the thumb and fingers oil my
right baud began To work a straight grO0ye-aS
long one as my reach would enable me 10 make
Into The lid Of my coffin. An astonishing
strength came to me as entered upon inns new l,
TASK Up and down, first with one band and
then with the other, ran the sharp pointed nail.
which sank deeper and deeper into the wood.
After had worked away for some time IN this
way 1t occurred TO me TO turn over on my
stomach and by raising myself on my hands and
knees 10 Try and force the lid OF my coffin. II
nd hon fha
was enabled to bring upon II, but did not yield.
The groove was not yet deep enough.
Again l turned over on my back and set TO
work once more with the nail, wrapping piece
of the pillow sham about my hand TO save the
skin from being chaIed and torn. After several
minutes OF furious effort made another attempt
to burst The lid of. This time succeeded. The
cover was snapped in two It's whole length.
wasn't saved YET, but delicious thrill OF
hope spread like a balm over my scratched,
wounded, strained and racked body.
i ceased pushing. and lay moiionless for was
afraid that the earth might slip in and smother
me when was at the very door OF life again.
My plan was 10 make use of the lid as sort
OF shield while / was engaged In digging my way
out through the thick layer OF clay. But, I'M
fortunately, now found myself confronted by
new danger. The loose earth poured IN upon me
and wedg d the broken board In SO firmly that
couldn't bulge it. The ever-Increasing weight
OF the earth upon my breast began to Cypress
me. Had got so near 10 life, only to be thrust
back into the pit of death? L could feel the
cool, moist clay settling ppon my face. A sick
enng sensation OF fear crept over me. l de-
termined TO make one last effort TO burst through
this deadly envelope, aud with that intent, set
my feet against the end Of the coffin. Ii Welded
a little aud feeling this, pushed out with all the
strength l could summon, thinking that possibly
there might be at this end an untitled trench.
With creaklng and splitting sound the board
gave away, and my feet passed o { OF my narrow
prison, and could fell the chill night air upon
them. "Mercilul heaven. am / saved?" | wins
pered hOalSely as l pushed the loose layer OF
earth to the right aud lett, and, by selling my
heels into the ground, dragged myself slowly out
of my coffin.