Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-04-25
From the As0 Monthly Magazine for Marcel
LIFE AND DEATH.
"who shall deny the mighty secrets hid
In Time and Eaturef


sswho shall deny the mighty secrets hid
In Time and Nature"
But can you not learn where he supsf" ask.
ed the dying man, for at least the twentieth time
while the servants again repeated the same mo-
notonous answer" Lord, Sir, we never know
where our young master goes"
{" Place time piece by the bedside, and leave
ne.'
None was at hand; when one Of the assembled
group exclaimed" Fetch that 10 Mr.. Francis's
room"
II was a small French clock, Of exquisite work.
manship, and a golden Cupid swunS.to and no:
fitting emblem for the light and vain hours OF It's
youthful proprietor, but a strange mockefy oesiue
a death.bed! Yet the patient watched 1t with
strange, expression Of satisfact ton, mingled. foo,
with anxiety, as the gittering hands pursued
their appointed round. AS the minutes passed
on, an ejaculation Of dismay burst from Mr.. Sa'
yiIe's lips; he strove to raise his lett hand win
a gesture of impatence; ne found It powerless
too; the palsy. which had smitten his right side,
had now attacked the left. - A thousand curses
upon nv evil destlny-t am lost!'
AT this moment the time piece struck four, and
began to play one Of the popular airs Of that day;
while the cord on which the Cupid was balanced
moved. modulated by the fairy like music. " He
comes!, almost shrieked the palsied wretch, max
inc vain effort to rise on his pillow. As it the
loss of every other sense had quirkenea that OF
hearing seven fold, he heard the distant tramp Of
horses, and the ring of wheels, on the hard and
frosty road. The Carriage stopped; young
man, wrapped in turs. sprang cut, opened the
door with mis- own key, aud ran up the stairs gan
ly singing .
They may rail at this earth: from the hour began it
have found il = world full Of sunshine and bliss;
And ill can end out some happier planet.
More social and bright Ill content nc with this"
I" Good God. sir, don't sing-your fathers dy-
ipg!" exclaimed the servant who ran to meet
him. The youth was silenced in a moment; aud.
pale and breathless. sprang towards the chamber.
The dying man had no longer power to move a
limb, the hand which his son took VAS useless
a. that Of the new born infant; yet all the ankle
ty and eagerness Of life was in his features.
IL have much to say, Francis; see that we
are alone"
81 hope my master does not call this dying
like a Ch,is,ian,' muttered the housekeeper as
she withdrew. 81 hope MIR. Francis will make
him send tor priest at least doctor. PEG.
pie have no right TO 60 out Of the world in any
such heather manner"
The door slammed heavily, and father and son
were left alone.
"Reach me that casket," SAID Mr.. Savile.
pointing to a curiously carved Indian box of ebo.
ny Francis obeyed the command, and resumed
his kneel,ng position by the bed.
"By the third hand Of that many armed
image Of Vishnu is a sprng-press it forcibly."
The youth obeyed and the lid flew up; within
was a very small glass phial, containing liquid
of delicate rose color. The white and distorted
ceuntenance of the sufferer lighted up with a
wild unnatural joy.
"Oh youth. glad beautiful youth, art thou
mine again: shall once more rejoice in the smile
OF woman, in the light Of the red wine cup, shall
delight in the dance and in the sound Of mu-
sic?'
"For heavens sake compose YOURSELF said
bis son, who thought that his parent was seized
with sudden insanity. Z" ln truth | am mad TO
waste breath so us!-Lsten to me, boy!
4 whole existence is contained in that little bot
tie; from my earliest youth hav. ever felt a
nameless horror Of death, death mUre loathsome
than terrible: you have seen ne engrossed BY
lonely and mysterious studies, you knew not
that theywere devoted to perpetua lstruggles with
the mighty conquerer-and have succeeded.-
The phial contains liquid which rubbed over
my body, when the breath has left it seemingly
forever. will stop the progress Of corruption and
restore all its pristine bloom and energy. Yes,
Francis, l shall rise up before you like your
brother. NV glorious secret how could ever
deem life wasted in The search! Sometimes
when have heard the distant chimes tell the
hour of midnight, the hour Of others revelry or
rest, I have asked, is not the present too mighty
sacrifice to the future; had not better enjoy
the pleasures within my grasps but one engross
ing hope led me on; It is now fulfilled. return
to this world with the knowledge uf experience
and the freshness Of youth; will not again give
myself up TO feverish studies and external exper-
iments. Ihave wealth unbounded, we will spend
it together, earth holds no luxury which it shall
deny u.s."
The dying man paused, for he observed that
his son VAS not attending to his words, but star.
ed. as if his gaze was spell.bolnd on the phial
which he held.
Francis" gasped his father.
"There is very little." muttered the son, still
cycling the crimson fluid.
The dews rose in large cold drops on Saville's
forehead-with last effort he raised his head
and looked in the face of his chld-there was no