| Citation |
BG.772.012
3 Feb 1772:32 (878)
Messieurs Edes & Gill, If you think the following worthy a
place in your valuable paper, you may possibly oblige some
persons, who at all times have a claim to compassion, I mean
the sick; and certainly your constant reader and most humble
servant, Humanus.
Another considerable quantity of snow falling, enough to
give us the prospect of sledding, and also sleying (as it is
called) again; brings to my mind a scene I was witness to
about three weeks past; which I would recommend to the
serious consideration of all lovers of sley-frolicks. I was
called to watch with a sick friend, who lived in one of the
main streets of the town; his disorder, which was a fever,
had affected his brian. About midnight I heard a noise at a
distance, which I soon found to be sley-bells, persons
huzzaing, hallooing, bellowing, screaming, lashing of
horses, &c. all which together made a most horrid discord.
When I first found what the noise proceeded from, I was
aware that it might affect my friend; and accordingly, with
two other persons, who watched with me, went to his
bed-side: We soon found that our precaution was well taken,
for as the noise drew nearer to the house, his wildness
increased, and when it was opposite to it, he was in an
agony; insomuch, that it was with great difficulty, that
three persons kept him in his bed. This was the case three
times that night. My friend did not enjoy one moment's
interval of reason after that time and died the next day!
Since the above instance, the ingenuity of some of those
nocturnal sley-frolicksers, has added the drum and
conk-shell, or Pope-horn, to their own natural, noisy,
abilities; which I dare say their auditors thick enough in
all conscience without such additions.
This practice, gentlemen, is a nuisance, and a very great
one to the town in general, but when applied to such a case
as I have mentioned, it is horrid inhumanity. Boston,
Jan. 31. 1772.
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