Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1903-07-23

Tvs paln-soothing and sleep produc-
ing element nicotine is enjoyed bv
millions Of the human family.
We speak definitely that barring
accidents the yield OF corn through
out the district will be large.
Gardens are up TO the standard
vegetables plentiful.
Flora seemingly delights to give
US roses, pinks, daisss and butter
cups. The latter. il is said, bios
som amid the glaciersof Greenland.
Birds are musical and bats-nos
the blood-sucking vampire, are seen
during twilight darling with almost
lightning speed after insects includ-
ing we trust the poisonous mosquito.
Dark nights prevail. How nerv-
Gus we are until earth IS satellite ap-
pears above the horizon. Our timid-
ness dates back to q night in '63.
Yes 1t was a remarkably dark and
rainy night, and the owls of the
swamp contiguous TO the camp seem
ingly We'd with one another in utter
ing their doleful tn WHO'S. We
were on guard and II our memory be
not at fault our post was number lis
Immediately 10 front and near an i'm
provised morgue. In addition to
walking our beat we had to keep the
tallow candle, whseh dimly lighted
the morgue, snuffed or trimmed un-
Til it burned TO the socket, then a
new one was lighted. Our memory
places the number OF corpses at IA
and they were laid in two rows with
their feet opposite to one another
leaving small space for the guard
TO pass to the roughly erected stand
upon which the candle was placed.
IL was during our second watch, be-
tween IL IN. and 2 q. m, the wind
began TO blow a gale and as the
morgue was constructed of poles
not air tight-the candle could not
burn uniformity even, so we had to
snuff il often. How like a stole we
would essay to act as we passed to
and fro to the stand. Time passed
slowly moments seemed minutes.
Our mind wandered. Ii seemed to
be exploring a mysterious abys-
NAL depth and we forgot to look at
the candle until it was giving its
last rays, warning that its useful
ness was at an end. We hurried to
light new or fresh one. Imagina-
ton was ut its zenith. To our left a
hand was suddenly raised, violently
il seemed. The light was dim, near
ly out. Trying condition, indeed,
to our nerves. We were among the
dead. A rotary motion of our brain
seemed to be taking place, our heart
felt like the contents of an ice freezer
and our eyes flashed light similar
to distant lightning which plays
from cloud to cloud. Terrible ordeal.
Our nervous system was deranged
and we were not conscious of our &C
tions, for what period Of time we are
not prepared to say. 1t is impossi-
BILE for the system to remain in such
an irregular strain without suffer
ing positive injury. So fortunately
our nerves regained their normal
condition aud TO our agreeable sur
prise a new candle was burning.
We passed quickly to the door in
time TO hear the foot steps of the re-
lief guard and to give the challenge,
Halt Who comes there 2" After
we arrived at the guard house, doff-
ed our cartridge-box and stacked
our rifle. the corporal who was on
duty remarked, well, pard how do
you like guarding the dead Our.
reply was rief:-lf it were posi-
BILE 20 reproduce the terrible battles
i'm which we took q part, we would
willingly lead the charges in each
rather than guard a place which
presents so strange and weird APP
pearance. A superstitious dread of
morgues seem to follow us and we
frequently see in our minds eye the
uplifted hand rs we saw it in the
morgue of Hampton Legion when
camped near Occoquan, Va, in '63.
Recently the soul of John Johnson,
an aged colored man, passed into
another region to mix with beings
whose natures are analogous TO its
own.
There was dance recently at the
residence OF Mrs. Morris, Jutland
farm. The elite of the neighborhood
enjoyed themselves exceedingly
well.
We are informed that 1902, net,
was realized at the entertainment
which took place at the residence of
James Hall. The amount will be
used for the establishment, etc, of
Ridge Episcopal Church.
The patrons of st. Jerome's Neck
primary school have accepted the