256

DEATH S DOINGS.

liated more to each, and all partaking of thatincrease of pleasurable feelings which is wont toaccompany and improve a condition of bodily andmental health.

Thus might this happy province—happy in itsdelivery from the leeches—have become the asylumof health, and the promise of longevity; but—giveme buts and ifs, as a bold man was wont to say, and

I'll fight the D-----; but,—that the dark malignant

spirit of the man whose " bones are marrowless,"urged at length by the bitterness of disappoint-ment into deadly wrath at the decrease of fune-rals and of mourners, where his depredations hadlong proved so extensive and so frequent, deter-mined to bestir himself for the recovery of hisbusiness.

" I have," muttered Death, as he stalked theground, which shrank and blackened at his tread," two considerations to resolve: first, what pro-mises to furnish the surest plan for the restorationof the wonted, full, and gloomy callings of myoffice; secondly, by what measures I shall most