Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-07-29

49, 49, '"oeH III MS last lIlheo 4
! know ~ not what he suffered retul} !
she, 'for lie never complained, In1
remember all the endearing things ~
ne said to US, though took little nv
Of them then. having no thought Of
ing so soon separated from him. ri
tie did | think he was 50 in. ha,
might easily have known that he wonA
never murmur or repine at what nro,
.deace appointed him 10 endure, N1
James, he never complained Of .nl
thing. Since the time our first wo,1, I
misfortune happened, We two have u
down to many poor meal. but he wv
ever alike, cheerful and thankful ia H.
siser.
He was only i'll four days, and vi
cut of his bed every day; Whenever
asked him how he did, his answer m;
formIy was, liam no, i'll now,' O.
the day preceding The night of his deatl1
he sat Oil his chair "a full hour, speakI
ing earnestly all the while to the chill
dren. | was busy up and down thI
house, and did not hear all; but heard
him once saying, that he might soon ba
taken from them, and then they would
have no father but God; but that h
wnuld never be taken from them, por
ever would forsake them, if they did
not first forsake them. He is a kind,
indulgent being, continued he. and feeds
the young ravens, and all the little
helpless animals that look and cry ID
him for food, and you may be sure that
he will never let the poor orphans who
pray to him, want.
BE always dutiful to your mother,
and never refuse to do what she bid
you, on any account, for you ma! be as.
sured that she has no other aim than
your good ; confde all your cares and /
fears in her bosom, for a parents love
is stedfast; misfortune may heighte,
but cannot cool il.
sWhen he had finished, he withdrew
his plaid around his head, and went
slowly down to the little dell, where hs
used every day to offer up his morning
and evening prayers. and where We
have often sat together on Sabbath al.
ternoons. reading verse about with our
children in the bible. I think he wai
aware of his approaching end. and was
gone to recommend us to God d.; for i
looked after him, and saw him on hi,
knees.
when he returned, | thought 10
looked extremely i'll, and asked him i
he was grown worse, He said he was
not like to be quite well, and sat down
on bis Chair, looked ruefulIy at the
children, and sometimes at the bed.
At length he said tecbIy, Betty, my
dear, make down the bed. and help mo
to it; it will be the last time These
words vent through my head and heart
like the knell of death. All grew dark
around me, and knew not what was
doing.
lie spoke very little after that, saw
ing at night be desired me, in a faint
voice, not to go to my bed, but sit "
with him for, said he, it is likely yo'
may never need to do it again. If Coz
had not supported me that night James
| could not have stood it, for hat
much, much to do! A little past mid
night my dear husband expired in my
arms, without grOan or struggle
save some strong convulsive grasps thai
he gave my hand. Calm resignation
marked his behaviour to the last.
had only one acquaintance with me, q
she was young. The beds faced to
wards each other you know, and little
John. iwho was lying awake. was 81
much shocked by view which he 80
of the altered yisage of his deceased pa
rent, that he sprung from his bed in
frenzy of horror, and ran naked in TIL
fields. uttering the most piercing AM
distracted cries. | was obliged to leave
the young woman with the corpse anC
the rest of the children, and pursue tn
boy, nor was it till after running a NIL
that was able to catch him. In
young woman had been seized with
superstitious terror lis my absence, an
was likewise fed for, on my return
/ found 10 creature in my dwelling Ou
my dead husband and five sleeping III
fants. The boy next day was in burn
ing fever. D James! we'll may III
transactions of that mig hit be engra'e,
on my memory forever yet, SO bewll
M