William Edmondstoune AytounBesprekingen

(1821).

This story is actually not by W.E. Aytoun, but by William Maginn. It appears that it was actually published crediting the wrong author. (ref.: The Supernatural Index: A Listing of Fantasy, Supernatural, Occult, Weird, and Horror Anthologies. Michael Ashley, William Contento. Greenwood Publishing Group, Jan 1, 1995, p. 94.)

A bell-ringer is accidentally trapped in a belfry while his colleagues are ringing the bell: an overwhelming experience. That's it. I guess that the brief piece is supposed to function as a metaphor for psychological breakdowns and the difficulty of dealing with life in general... but still. The overwrought language left me saying, "Dude! OK, that all sounded a bit dangerous and unpleasant and all, but pull yourself together already!"

Interesting 19th century work - if you like that sort of thing.