American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1823-09-02

air. When Laura had reached the chamber of ITcy.
ems her melancholy feelings lett her, for her whole
attention was called to the scene of death before.
her, and that was too absorbing to allow any uncer.
tain sorrows to disturb her mind. The dying. wo-
man was forbidden to speak, and Mrs De!mour
pointed to sheet of paper and pencil which lay be.
side her-The darkness of twilight had ciearedl
away into the calm speDdor of bright moonlight,
night; the meonbeams streamed into the chamber
through The open window, and the candls's lghs
looked dlrn Helen sat in large chair before the
window; 10 the full radiance of the rnounshne, her
face appeared OF deathly pafensss, and her white
garments gistened with dazzling lustre; she looked
like one slready dead, and beautiful in death Laura
supposed that she was asleep, and stealing very soft
iy 10 her side, she safe down in silence Helen was
not asleep--she raised her eyes, and held out her
hand to her friend; that hand was lev cold, and,
moist with the damps of death bat tendery it re-
turned the pressure OF her friends. The prayer.
book, IN which Helen had accompanied MIR. Curzon,
during his performance of the sacrament sersicc,
still lay open the table she leaned forward, drew
the candle nearer, and turning few leaves gave
the book to Laura her finger pointed to the CONF
mandatory prayer for dying person at the point Of
Departure and she looked up, with smile on her
lace, to Laura who perfectly understood the wish,
depressed in her countenance They knet down,
and Laura then first perceived person who had
been sitting also in silence in darker corner of It's
|chamber--he was the husband of Helen GRAY
They knelt down; Helen endeavored to rise, hut
was unable to do so; supported by the nurse, she
sat upright in her chair, with her hands casped to-
gether, till Laura had finished praying. Then Hell
en- sunk back again, and remained in silent thought,
with her eyes fixed on her kind friend for some
minutes; again smile beanned over her face, her
lips Enclosed; but she seemed Immediately to rccoIs
ec that she was forbidden to speak, and quietly ex
tended her hand towards the paper and pencil; she
yainly attempted to write, but she could not guide
the pencil properly; Laura cndeavoured to assist
her, but the pencil fell from her fingers, and she
said, cannot see.''
"Thank God. have seen you, my dear friend -
now the light of the candle looks dm--now all is
darkness; death must be very me- Her eye
lids closed, she Tell back. end Laura feared she was
dead but again she raised her hands, and held them
out towards the place where her husband had been
sitting; he came to her. and throwing hisef on the
ground before her, pressed them repeatedly TO his
lips. Just then Laura heard. Helen drew her breah
faint rattle mingled with tire sound of her breathings
she had seemed for some minutes TO breathe with
Idlthculty-Helen sunk down from her chair; they
thought that she alling-she not falling, she
was striving TO kncel; and, supported 10 their arms,
she did kneel-she lifted up her open hands, and,
with trembling lips, she slowly uttered the words
|" He goeth before them, and the sheep follow him,
for they know his voice. She could not speak af-
terwards-her head sunk on Lauras shoulder
Laura could feel the breath OF the dying woman
blowing upon her neck more and more family
came that cold damp breath, and with it was heard
again the convulsvr rattle.
| Laura could scarcely sustain the weight OF the
dying woman ; faint and sickening shudder seem
ed to creep through her own frame: again the cold
breath blew upon her neck, and Laura half shrunk
away from it, She struggled with her weakness,
and bent down afectionately the pale face which
| lay upon her bosom the tears strcamed from her
leyes--thry dropt upon Helen's face, but Helen
knew it not--the heavy head sunk lower and lower
on her friends bosom--Helen Gray was dead.'
| Need we add even to this imperfect example of
the writer's talents any commentator Of this work?
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