1. IN THE VAULT

In the cold December of 1880, the ground froze and the
Cemetery delvers found they could dig no more graves till
Spring.

At last the spring thaw came, and graves were laboriously
Prepared for the nine silent harvests of the grim reaper
Which waited in the tomb.

The day was clear, but a high wind had sprung up;
And Birch was glad to get to shelter as he unlocked
The iron door and entered the side-hill vault.
It was just as he had recognised old Matt's coffin that
The door slammed to in the wind, leaving him in a dusk
Even deeper than before.

Only the coffins themselves remained as potential
Stepping-stones.
Dusk fell and found Birch still toiling. Clutching
The edges of the aperture, he sought to pull himself up,
When he noticed a queer retardation in the form of an
Apparent drag on both his ankles.
In another moment he knew fear for the first time that
Night; for struggle as he would,
He could not shake clear of the unknown grasp which held
His feet in relentless captivity.

The emerging moon must have witnessed a horrible sight
As he dragged his bleeding ankles toward the cemetery lodge.
When Dr. Davis left Birch that night he had taken a lantern
And gone to the old receiving tomb.

"I'll never get the picture out of my head as long as
I live. You kicked hard, for Asaph's coffin was on the
Floor.
His head was broken in, and everything was tumbled about.
I've seen sights before, but there was one thing too much
Here. An eye for an eye!
Great heavens, Birch, but you got what you deserved.
The skull turned my stomach, but the other was worse
Those ankles cut neatly off to fit Matt Fenner's
Cast-aside coffin!"


2. THE THING ON THE DOORSTEP

(Instrumental)


3. PROVIDENCE, 1937-03-15

(Instrumental)