—andthepoorghostgratedhisteethinawaythatgavemeawrenchandashiver—fortheeffectismightilyincreasedbytheabsenceofmufflingfleshandcuticle."Iresideinthatoldgraveyard, andhaveforthesethirtyyears;andItellyouthingsarechangedsinceIfirstlaidthisoldtiredframethere, andturnedover, andstretchedoutforalongsleep, withadelicioussenseuponmeofbeingdonewithbother, andgrief, andanxiety, anddoubt, andfear, foreverandever, andlisteningwithcomfortableandincreasingsatisfactiontothesexton'swork, fromthestartlingclatterofhisfirstspadefulonmycoffintillitdulledawaytothefaintpattingthatshapedtheroofofmynewhome-delicious!My!Iwishyoucouldtryittonight!" Andoutofmyreveriedeceasedfetchedmearattlingslapwithabonyhand.
"Yes, sir, thirtyyearsagoIlaidmedownthere, —outinthebreezy, flowery, grandoldwoods, andthelazywindsgossipedwiththeleaves, andthesquirrelscaperedoverusandaroundus, andthecreepingthingsvisitedus, , itwasworthtenyearsofaman'slifetobedeadthen!"
", ;thefenceswerealwaysinfaultlessrepair, head-boardswerekeptpaintedorwhitewashed, andwerereplacedwithnewonesassoonastheybegantolookrustyordecayed;monumentswerekeptupright, railingsintactandbright, therose-bushesandshrubberytrimmed, trained, andfreefromblemish, , andIsleepinaneglectedgravewithinvadingverminthatgnawmyshroudtobuildthemnestswithal!Iandfriendsthatliewithmefoundedandsecuredtheprosperityofthisfinecity, andthestatelybantlingofourlovesleavesustorotinadilapidatedcemeterywhichneighborscurseandstrangersscoffat."
