Year: 1879

AuLnenL1C anu NarraC1VeS Dy an


Old Physician.


The lectures which have recently
been delivered on "iving burials," by
a 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 our dead sacred, and
who err, if anything, on the side of
keeping them too long unburied, must
naturally feel a kind of horror
creep over us when, from circumstances,
we are brought to witness with what
haste and want of reverence the last
sad ceremonies are gone through in
some countries where climate renders
speedy interment after decease an abso-
lutte necessity. I propose to relate
three marvellous escapes from living
burials which happened to different
members of the same family at different
periods. The scene was in Italy; the
facts were related to me by the daugh-
ter of two of the parties concerned, and
I 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 I tell you that peculiar fate
seems to pursue our family, or at least
did pursue it in the last generation.
My father was an only son, and, from
having been born several years after
his parents marriage, was an object of
especial devotion. His mother was un-
able to nurse him herself, and coun-
trywoman was procured from a village
some distance from the chateau where
his parents resided, who was not only
well calculated to replace the mother
as nurse, but was of so affectionate a
disposition that she seemed to throw
her whole soul into her care for the
well-being of the child, and lavished as
much affection on him as did the real
mother. When the age came for wean-
ing him, it was found impossible to ac-
complish it while the nurse remained
with him; and so, after many terrible
scenes and the most heart-breaking
sorrow on her part, she had to go. The
boy throve very well until he was about 8
years old, when he was attacked by
some childish malady, and to all appear
ance died.


"It is unnecessary to dwell on the dis
tracted grief of the parents. The moth
er 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 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
we're grouped round the coffin taking
their last farewell of the lovely boy, in
rushed the nurse, her hair down, he1
dress all torn and travel-stained, he1
boots nearly worn off her feet. On
hearing the news, she had started of
without waiting for extra clothing, with.
out word or look to any one, and had
run the whole night in order to be in
time to see her boy. AS she entered
the room, she pushed past the servants
and guests, and. on reaching the coffin
seized the child, and, before any one
was aware of her intention, or had pres
ence of mind to prevent her, she had
vanished with him in her arms. 1t was
found she had carried him off to the
greoier, or garret. She paid no atten
ton to threats or entreaties, and all at
tempts at forcing the door were equally
fruitless. The guests waited patiently
hoping that she would before long re-