Abouttheyear17——，havingbeenappointedtothelivingofC——h，I
　　rentedasmallhouseinthetown，whichbearsthesamename：onemorninginthemonthofNovember，Iwasawakenedbeforemyusualtimebymyservant，whobustledintomybedroomforthepurposeofannouncingasickcall。AstheCatholicChurchholdsherlastritestobetotallyindispensabletothesafetyofthedepartingsinner，noconscientiousclergymancanaffordamoment’sunnecessarydelay，andinlittlemorethanfiveminutesIstoodreadycloakedandbootedfortheroad，inthesmallfrontparlour，inwhichthemessenger，whowastoactasmyguide，awaitedmycoming。Ifoundapoorlittlegirlcryingpiteouslynearthedoor，andaftersomeslightdifficultyIascertainedthatherfatherwaseitherdeadorjustdying。
　　’Andwhatmaybeyourfather’sname，mypoorchild？’saidI。Shehelddownherhead，asifashamed。Irepeatedthequestion，andthewretchedlittlecreatureburstintofloodsoftearsstillmorebitterthanshehadshedbefore。Atlength，almostprovokedbyconductwhichappearedtomesounreasonable，Ibegantolosepatience，spiteofthepitywhichI
　　couldnothelpfeelingtowardsher，andI
　　saidratherharshly：
　　’Ifyouwillnottellmethenameofthepersontowhomyouwouldleadme，yoursilencecanarisefromnogoodmotive，andImightbejustifiedinrefusingtogowithyouatall。’
　　’Oh，don’tsaythat——don’tsaythat!’
　　criedshe。’Oh，sir，itwasthatIwasafeardofwhenIwouldnottellyou——I
　　wasafeard，whenyouheardhisname，youwouldnotcomewithme；butitisnousehidin’itnow——it’sPatConnell，thecarpenter，yourhonour。’
　　Shelookedinmyfacewiththemostearnestanxiety，asifherveryexistencedependeduponwhatsheshouldreadthere；
　　butIrelievedheratonce。Thename，indeed，wasmostunpleasantlyfamiliartome；but，howeverfruitlessmyvisitsandadvicemighthavebeenatanothertime，thepresentwastoofearfulanoccasiontosuffermydoubtsoftheirutilityormyreluctancetore-attemptingwhatappearedahopelesstasktoweighevenagainstthelightestchancethataconsciousnessofhisimminentdangermightproduceinhimamoredocileandtractabledisposition。
　　AccordinglyItoldthechildtoleadtheway，andfollowedherinsilence。Shehurriedrapidlythroughthelongnarrowstreetwhichformsthegreatthoroughfareofthetown。Thedarknessofthehour，renderedstilldeeperbythecloseapproachoftheold-fashionedhouses，whichloweredintallobscurityoneithersideoftheway；
　　thedamp，drearychillwhichrenderstheadvanceofmorningpeculiarlycheerless，combinedwiththeobjectofmywalk，tovisitthedeath-bedofapresumptuoussinner，toendeavour，almostagainstmyownconviction，toinfuseahopeintotheheartofadyingreprobate——adrunkardbuttooprobablyperishingundertheconsequencesofsomemadfitofintoxication；
　　allthesecircumstancesunitedservedtoenhancethegloomandsolemnityofmyfeelings，asIsilentlyfollowedmylittleguide，whowithquickstepstraversedtheunevenpavementofthemainstreet。
　　Afterawalkofaboutfiveminutessheturnedoffintoanarrowlane，ofthatobscureandcomfortlessclasswhichistobefoundinalmostallsmallold-
　　fashionedtowns，chill，withoutventilation，reekingwithallmannerofoffensiveeffluviae，andlinedbydingy，smoky，sicklyandpent-upbuildings，frequentlynotonlyinawretchedbutinadangerouscondition。
　　’YourfatherhaschangedhisabodesinceIlastvisitedhim，and，Iamafraid，muchfortheworse，’saidI。
　　’Indeedhehas，sir；butwemustnotcomplain，’repliedshe。’WehavetothankGodthatwehavelodgingandfood，thoughit’spoorenough，itis，yourhonour。’
　　Poorchild!thoughtI，howmanyanolderheadmightlearnwisdomfromthee——howmanyaluxuriousphilosopher，whoisskilledtopreachbutnottosuffer，mightnotthypatientwordsputtotheblush!Themannerandlanguageofthischildwerealikeaboveheryearsandstation；and，indeed，inallcasesinwhichthecaresandsorrowsoflifehaveanticipatedtheirusualdate，andhavefallen，astheysometimesdo，withmelancholyprematuritytothelotofchildhood，Ihaveobservedtheresulttohaveproveduniformlythesame。Ayoungmind，towhichjoyandindulgencehavebeenstrangers，andtowhichsufferingandself-denialhavebeenfamiliarisedfromthefirst，acquiresasolidityandanelevationwhichnootherdisciplinecouldhavebestowed，andwhich，inthepresentcase，communicatedastrikingbutmournfulpeculiaritytothemanners，eventothevoice，ofthechild。Wepausedbeforeanarrow，crazydoor，whichsheopenedbymeansofalatch，andweforthwithbegantoascendthesteepandbrokenstairswhichledupwardstothesickman’sroom。
　　Aswemountedflightafterflighttowardsthegarret-floor，Iheardmoreandmoredistinctlythehurriedtalkingofmanyvoices。Icouldalsodistinguishthelowsobbingofafemale。Onarrivingupontheuppermostlobbythesesoundsbecamefullyaudible。
　　’Thisway，yourhonour，’saidmylittleconductress；atthesametime，pushingopenadoorofpatchedandhalf-rottenplank，sheadmittedmeintothesqualidchamberofdeathandmisery。Butonecandle，heldinthefingersofascaredandhaggard-lookingchild，wasburningintheroom，andthatsodimthatallwastwilightordarknessexceptwithinitsimmediateinfluence。Thegeneralobscurity，however，servedtothrowintoprominentandstartlingreliefthedeath-bedanditsoccupant。Thelightwasnearlyapproximatedto，andfellwithhorribleclearnessupon，theblueandswollenfeaturesofthedrunkard。Ididnotthinkitpossiblethatahumancountenancecouldlooksoterrific。
　　Thelipswereblackanddrawnapart；theteethwerefirmlyset；theeyesalittleunclosed，andnothingbutthewhitesappearing。
　　Everyfeaturewasfixedandlivid，andthewholefaceworeaghastlyandrigidexpressionofdespairingterrorsuchasI
　　neversawequalled。Hishandswerecrosseduponhisbreast，andfirmlyclenched；while，asiftoaddtothecorpse-likeeffectofthewhole，somewhitecloths，dippedinwater，werewoundabouttheforeheadandtemples。
　　AssoonasIcouldremovemyeyesfromthishorriblespectacle，IobservedmyfriendDr。D——，oneofthemosthumaneofahumaneprofession，standingbythebedside。
　　Hehadbeenattempting，butunsuccessfully，tobleedthepatient，andhadnowappliedhisfingertothepulse。
　　’Isthereanyhope？’Iinquiredinawhisper。
　　Ashakeoftheheadwasthereply。
　　Therewasapausewhilehecontinuedtoholdthewrist；buthewaitedinvainforthethroboflife——itwasnotthere：andwhenheletgothehand，itfellstifflybackintoitsformerpositionupontheother。
　　’Themanisdead，’saidthephysician，asheturnedfromthebedwheretheterriblefigurelay。
　　Dead!thoughtI，scarcelyventuringtolookuponthetremendousandrevoltingspectacle。Dead!withoutanhourforrepentance，evenamomentforreflection；
　　deadIwithouttheriteswhicheventhebestshouldhave。Isthereahopeforhim？Theglaringeyeball，thegrinningmouth，thedistortedbrow——thatunutterablelookinwhichapainterwouldhavesoughttoembodythefixeddespairofthenethermosthell。Theseweremyanswer。
　　Thepoorwifesatatalittledistance，cryingasifherheartwouldbreak——theyoungerchildrenclusteredroundthebed，lookingwithwonderingcuriosityupontheformofdeathneverseenbefore。
　　Whenthefirsttumultofuncontrollablesorrowhadpassedaway，availingmyselfofthesolemnityandimpressivenessofthescene，Idesiredtheheart-strickenfamilytoaccompanymeinprayer，andallkneltdownwhileIsolemnlyandferventlyrepeatedsomeofthoseprayerswhichappearedmostapplicabletotheoccasion。I
　　employedmyselfthusinamannerwhich，Itrusted，wasnotunprofitable，atleasttotheliving，forabouttenminutes；andhavingaccomplishedmytask，Iwasthefirsttoarise。
　　Ilookeduponthepoor，sobbing，helplesscreatureswhokneltsohumblyaroundme，andmyheartbledforthem。WithanaturaltransitionIturnedmyeyesfromthemtothebedinwhichthebodylay；
　　and，greatGod!whatwastherevulsion，thehorrorwhichIexperiencedonseeingthecorpse-liketerrificthingseatedhalfuprightbeforeme；thewhiteclothswhichhadbeenwoundabouttheheadhadnowpartlyslippedfromtheirposition，andwerehangingingrotesquefestoonsaboutthefaceandshoulders，whilethedistortedeyesleeredfromamidthem——
　　’Asighttodreamof，nottotell。’
　　Istoodactuallyrivetedtothespot。Thefigurenoddeditsheadandlifteditsarm，Ithought，withamenacinggesture。A
　　thousandconfusedandhorriblethoughtsatoncerusheduponmymind。Ihadoftenreadthatthebodyofapresumptuoussinner，who，duringlife，hadbeenthewillingcreatureofeverysatanicimpulse，afterthehumantenanthaddesertedit，hadbeenknowntobecomethehorriblesportofdemoniacpossession。
　　IwasrousedfromthestupefactionofterrorinwhichIstood，bythepiercingscreamofthemother，whonow，forthefirsttime，perceivedthechangewhichhadtakenplace。Sherushedtowardsthebed，butstunnedbytheshock，andovercomebytheconflictofviolentemotions，beforeshereacheditshefellprostrateuponthefloor。
　　IamperfectlyconvincedthathadInotbeenstartledfromthetorpidityofhorrorinwhichIwasboundbysomepowerfulandarousingstimulant，IshouldhavegazeduponthisunearthlyapparitionuntilIhadfairlylostmysenses。Asitwas，however，thespellwasbroken——superstitiongavewaytoreason：themanwhomallbelievedtohavebeenactuallydeadwasliving!
　　Dr。D——wasinstantlystandingbythebedside，anduponexaminationhefoundthatasuddenandcopiousflowofbloodhadtakenplacefromthewoundwhichthelancethadleft；andthis，nodoubt，hadeffectedhissuddenandalmostpreternaturalrestorationtoanexistencefromwhichallthoughthehadbeenforeverremoved。Themanwasstillspeechless，butheseemedtounderstandthephysicianwhenheforbidhisrepeatingthepainfulandfruitlessattemptswhichhemadetoarticulate，andheatonceresignedhimselfquietlyintohishands。
　　Ileftthepatientwithleechesuponhistemples，andbleedingfreely，apparentlywithlittleofthedrowsinesswhichaccompaniesapoplexy；indeed，Dr。D——toldmethathehadneverbeforewitnessedaseizurewhichseemedtocombinethesymptomsofsomanykinds，andyetwhichbelongedtononeoftherecognisedclasses；itcertainlywasnotapoplexy，catalepsy，nordeliriumtremens，andyetitseemed，insomedegree，topartakeofthepropertiesofall。Itwasstrange，butstrangerthingsarecoming。
　　DuringtwoorthreedaysDr。D——
　　wouldnotallowhispatienttoconverseinamannerwhichcouldexciteorexhausthim，withanyone；hesufferedhimmerelyasbrieflyaspossibletoexpresshisimmediatewants。Anditwasnotuntilthefourthdayaftermyearlyvisit，theparticularsofwhichIhavejustdetailed，thatitwasthoughtexpedientthatIshouldseehim，andthenonlybecauseitappearedthathisextremeimportunityandimpatiencetomeetmewerelikelytoretardhisrecoverymorethanthemereexhaustionattendantuponashortconversationcouldpossiblydo；perhaps，too，myfriendentertainedsomehopethatifbyholyconfessionhispatient’sbosomwereeasedoftheperilousstuffwhichnodoubtoppressedit，hisrecoverywouldbemoreassuredandrapid。Itwasthen，asI
　　havesaid，uponthefourthdayaftermyfirstprofessionalcall，thatIfoundmyselfoncemoreinthedrearychamberofwantandsickness。
　　Themanwasinbed，andappearedlowandrestless。Onmyenteringtheroomheraisedhimselfinthebed，andmuttered，twiceorthrice：
　　’ThankGod!thankGod!’
　　Isignedtothoseofhisfamilywhostoodbytoleavetheroom，andtookachairbesidethebed。Sosoonaswewerealone，hesaid，ratherdoggedly：
　　’There’snouseintellingmeofthesinfulnessofbadways——Iknowitall。I
　　knowwheretheyleadto——Iseeneverythingaboutitwithmyowneyesight，asplainasIseeyou。’Herolledhimselfinthebed，asiftohidehisfaceintheclothes；andthensuddenlyraisinghimself，heexclaimedwithstartlingvehemence：
　　’Look，sir!thereisnouseinmincingthematter：I’mblastedwiththefiresofhell；
　　Ihavebeeninhell。Whatdoyouthinkofthat？Inhell——I’mlostforever——I
　　havenotachance。Iamdamnedalready——damned——damned!’
　　Theendofthissentenceheactuallyshouted。Hisvehemencewasperfectlyterrific；hethrewhimselfback，andlaughed，andsobbedhysterically。I
　　pouredsomewaterintoatea-cup，andgaveittohim。Afterhehadswallowedit，Itoldhimifhehadanythingtocommunicate，todosoasbrieflyashecould，andinamanneraslittleagitatingtohimselfaspossible；threateningatthesametime，thoughIhadnointentionofdoingso，toleavehimatonce，incaseheagaingavewaytosuchpassionateexcitement。
　　’It’sonlyfoolishness，’hecontinued，’formetotrytothankyouforcomingtosuchavillainasmyselfatall。It’snouseformetowishgoodtoyou，ortoblessyou；
　　forsuchasmehasnoblessingstogive。’