“, rightaroundusinthecity, , thereisn‘tagraveinourcemeterythatdoesn’, andscamperingofoldskeletonsforthetrees!Blessme, ifyouhadgonealongtheresomesuchnightsaftertwelveyoumighthaveseenasmanyasffteenofusroostingononelimb, withourjointsrattlingdrearilyandthewindwheezingthroughourribs!Manyatimewehaveperchedthereforthreeorfourdrearyhours, andthencomedown, stiffandchilledthroughanddrowsy, andborrowedeachother‘sskullstobailoutourgraveswith-ifyouwillglanceupinmymouthnowasItiltmyheadback, youcanseethatmyhead-pieceishalffullofolddrysedimenthowtop-heavyandstupiditmakesmesometimes!Yes, sir, manyatimeifyouhadhappenedtocomealongjustbeforethedawnyou’, Ihadanelegantshroudstolenfromthereonemorning-thinkapartybythenameofSmithtookit, thatresidesinaplebeiangraveyardoveryonder-IthinksobecausethefrsttimeIeversawhimhehadn‘tanythingonbutacheckshirt, andthelasttimeIsawhim, whichwasatasocialgatheringinthenewcemetery, hewasthebest-dressedcorpseinthecompany-anditisasignifcantfactthatheleftwhenhesawme;andpresentlyanoldwomanfromheremissedhercoffin-shegenerallytookitwithherwhenshewentanywhere, -AnnaMatildaHotchkiss-youmightknowher?Shehastwoupperfrontteeth, istall, butagooddealinclinedtostoop, oneribontheleftsidegone, hasoneshredofrustyhairhangingfromtheleftsideofherhead, andonelittletuftjustaboveandalittleforwardofherrightear, hasherunderjawwiredononesidewhereithadworkedloose, smallboneofleftforearmgone-lostinafghthasakindofswaggerinhergaitanda’galluswayofgoingwith:herarmsakimboandhernostrilsintheairhasbeenprettyfreeandeasy, andisalldamagedandbattereduptillshelookslikeaqueenswarecrateinruins-maybeyouhavemether?”
