Year: 1860

was about answering something despcr.
ate, and giving myself up for lost, when q


bright idea flashed across my troubled brain.
Oh, how devoutly thanked heaven that ]


had read the "Arabian Nights" in my boy


hood There was my idea, which. Us yet,
only heaven knew whether Il would DO sue.
cessful or not; would tell him stories, and
beguile his fancy till morning, and then, sure.
ly would have some means Of escape. !
answered his question by another.


Suppose I tell you story about bleeding
to death-or rather about man who sup
posed he was being bled to death, and died
from the frightT


Died from the fright, eh' Let us hear
itT


Very gladly began, making it long, and
adding US much rs / possibly could TO the
original, which was something l recollected
long ago to have heard about some one who
wished to "experiment," and had q man
blind-folded, his arm bandagcd, and gently
pricked, but not sufficiently to bring the
blood, and then hear tho regular drop, drop
of blood-or what ho supposed TO bo his own
blood, though in reality only water, till he
died from the mere supposition that no was
b,ing blcd to death. forget the story now,
but L is familiar to every one. When l
concluded, suggested to the maniac that he
should try this model experimenting, and
see how long l would take to be frightened
to death.


yes, yes, he answered, with o sly, cunning
laugh; 'very good, very good and seeing
tho device, with the cunning Of
he laughed again as he said-'Very
good, sir, very good. And you would take
till morning to die, and meanwhile l want q
in the church yard, yonder, down
among the grave-worms. Come, bare your
arm, and let me do rs said. I'll bleed you.
intended to have taken your head off first,
but I've changed my mind, because ! wouldn't
like to have headless companion. Bare
your arm


God what was I to do! I felt my brain
seethe and whirl, as though l, too, were go
ing mad. With desperate effort to bc calm,
| said:


Suppose tell you another story first?'


'Oh, no, you can tell while you bleed


But shall want to watch the blood flow,
too, said, with an effort to refrain from



True, true,' he said. We'll, let's hear
your story-quick, begin


waited lor no urging. I was too glad to
find him in the humor to listen; 30 | began
and related every story | could think of-as
soon us one was finished beginning with an
in this manner nearly two hours
passed. As was about to begin another
story, he stopped me percmptorily-


NO more no more! won't listen I've
listened too long already, and I've no time to
bleed you, either may take your head
of as first intended, disagreeable US it is to
have headlcss companion =


Around and around his head again went
the glittering knife, coming down in di-
rect line with my throat; and then as
the edge, sharp as razor, touched my
skin. | forgot the prudent considerations
that had hitherto kept me silent, and gave
vent tomy horror iind terror inn-ry-so
loud and long, 30 shrill and oar-piercing,
that the maniac started back in alright, and
actually trcmbled at tho unearthly sound.
No wonder trcmblo this moment myself,
when think what an awful cry that was
and almost fancy can still hear the sound
Of it, when | close my eyes, and shuddering-
ly look back to the hour.


The effect upon the mailman was not of
long duration. A thid time he waved tho
knife around his head, and was just prcpar-
ing for spring forward, when tho farmer
and his eldest son burst in the room. Tho
effect these new actors upon the scene pro.
duced upon the mailman was strange and
almost Incredible. The knife remained up
lifted, and tho hand in which it was held
seemed suddenly petrificd and unable to move.
He covered beneath the gazo of tho farmer,
as child might do under the eye ofa master,
and, without the slightest resistance, allowed
the knife to DO taken from his hand, and
himself quietly led from the room by the
farmer and his son.


Then, when was left alone, the reaction
after all my terror, horror, and excitement,
oycrpowcred me, and sank back upon tho
bed, almost inscnsible. thanked God for
my escape, and hardly conscious of my own
feelings or actions, lay quite still, awaiting
what was to follow. l felt that there was
no further cause for alarm, and in dreamy
sort of way, tried to account for tho i'd
venture. / looked around upon tho room,
and all seemed so like dream that l could
almost have persuaded myself that was the
victim of an unpleasant illusion; but then,
to bring mo back to tho realities of oil that
had transpircd there was still the light burn
in. upon the table, and knew had put
out the light before retiring, and another
proor that was awake, and had been for
couple of hours past, was the scratch upon
nv throat. where the knife had grazed 1t,
and shuddcrcd to think how nearly my
thread of lifc had been cut in two.


Presently the farmer and his son returned,
and was Informed that my terrible and
most unwelcOme vistant was an unfortunate
brother-in.law OF the farmer, who had been
crazed for some years past; that during GER
lain seasons especially ut that phase in which
the moon was, he was quite mad and danger
,us, though at other times harmless. Unfor-
tunately for me, his door had been neglect
ID that night, and instead Of being locked,
had been ieft open. listened to all these
explanations, and received my hosts apollo
yies and expressions Of regret for my dis
trrbance and peril, by making mental VOW
never to sleep with my door unlocked in
strange house, and IL ever placed to that !
should DO Obliged to crave the hospitality of
strangers, to make particular inquiry wheth-
Or any mad person, brother-in,law or Others
iwelt in the house.


povvvr. The bonncts for tho coming