Tales
From The Crypt
 There
was a time in our history when it was difficult to tell
if someone was actually 100%, entirely, totally, and completely
dead. The more rash societies would toss their expired
loved ones in the fire or the river and get back to the
matter of survival, but others developed the custom of
the wake,
or something much like it. Several days were spent in
attendance of the stricken in the hopes that Death would
relinquish
his grasp and allow his charge to return to the land of
the living. It was a stressful occasion, no doubt, so it's
no surprise that strong drink became part of the ritual.
Even so, occasionally some poor soul suffered the sad misfortune
of being buried alive. It happened often enough that a
system of alarms were developed, one
being a bell situated
at the grave site and connected to the hand of the
deceased by means of a rope. So if you've ever wondered
where the phrase "saved by the bell" arose, there's
your answer. (Note:
there are no documented cases of anyone being saved by
this method.)
As for spinning in one's grave, well, if you found yourself
interred alive I doubt you'd be doing jumping jacks.
=Lefty=
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