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'I got a spade from the toolhouse, and began to delve with all my mighl--it
scraped the coffin; I fell to work with my hands; the wood commenced
cracking about the screws, I was on the point of anaining my object, when
it seemed that I heard a sigh from some one aoove, close al the edge of the
grave. and bending down. "If I can only get this off," I muttered, ") wish
they may shovel in the earth over us both!" and I wrenched more
desperately still. There was another sigh, close at my ear. I appeared to
feel the warm breath of it displacing the sleet-laden wind. I knew no
living thing in Oesh and blood was by--bul certainly as you perceive the
approach to some substantial body in the dark, though it cannot be
discerned, so cenainly I felt that Cathy was there, not under me, but on the
eanh.
'A sudden sense of relief flowed, from my hean, through every limb. I
relinquished my labour of agony, and turned consoled al once.
unspeakably consoled. Her presence was with me; it remained while I refilled
the grave, and led me home. You may laugh, if you will, but I was
sure I should see her there. I was sure she was with me, and I could nOt
help talking to her.
'Having reached the Heighls, I rushed eagerly 10 the door. II was
fastened; and. I remember. that accursed Earnshaw and my wife opposed
my entrance. I remember stopping to kick the breath out of him. and Ihen
hurrying upstairs, 10 my room, and hers--llooked round impatienlly.•J felt
her by me--I could almosl see her, and yet I could flOC!!
How close does this revenant resemble that of native American ballad? It assists the
dying soldier,
"I knew my days were ended, for lasl night I had a dream.
My mother she stood beside me--how sad it all do seem--
She called me her dear boy. while tears rolled down her cheeks;
Then she knelt and prayed beside me till at last I couldn't see. 2
as well as ilS grieving mother:
"Write to my mother when I am dead, write to her most tenderly,
Write to her tenderly how I died and where my resting place be,
Tell her my spirit will wail for her on the borders of land and sea
Between heaven and eanh until she'll come, for it won'l be long,
she'll say.3
Docs he ever have 10 suffer disturbance from a beloved and salisfy her distraction for grief?
I BrOlul! 319.21.
2 Lcach, Folk 126. SI. 5.
3 Peacock. Songs 3: 1005. SI. 4.