Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1845-07-03

last, she was seen outside his room door. he,
hands pressed convu'sively against her eve.
and her bosom heaving with emotion. Blu
the tears were resolutely forced back-the
feelings bravely gulped down, and in one
moment more the devoted girl had turned the
handle with quiet touch, and resumed hel
duties by the bed of death.
The poor sufferer was attended bv hos,
OF medical friends, but the fla, had gone forth
"sllll small voice" had whispered to him.
and he knew that he must die And he did
die, calling upon his mother and wondering
how she would be able to bear the things oil
! his loss
| Amid all the EXPLANATIONS of sorrow and
CONSERVATION around, not one word was spoken
by the poor girl who had been his un,iring
watcher so long. A stranger might amos,
have imagined her an unin,erested spectator of
the scene-"a hre!ing who cared not for'' her
charge-but those who knew her better could
observe that she never moved from his side
never lost sight of him for single instant.
1t was she who closed the starting lids
bound up the head,a and prepared him for the cof-
fin. And all in utter silence-not word of
sorrow came from her. The pale cheek and
trembling hand were the only interpreters of
the feelings with which she did it ALL
AT length the last sad Offices were to be
performed. They persuaded her to leave the
room fora short time, and when she returned
the body was removed from the bed, and the
coftin-oh, bitter disappointment, the coffin
was screwed down.
Then indeed wall Of despair escaped her
lips. She could see no reason for such haste
there was time, plenty of time before them
and what had she done that she should
not be allowed one look-one last look-be-
fore they took him away and shut him up for
ever
Being made to understand, after time, the
necessity in such cases of immediate burial.
she suffered the men to depart without further
remonstrance; but within the next half hour
she had quietly borrowed screw-driver-
shut herself in the room-wilhtrawn every
screw in the coffin ld-and gazed, Oh who
shall say with what bitterness of feeling p
upon the face within then fastening the lid
down again, remained tranquil, nay almost
happy, IN the thought that her hand was the
last that had been laid upon his brow-her
eye the very last that had rested upon his lea-
lures.
After the funeral, when the few valuables
belonging TO the deceased were collected to-
gether, she was asked whether she would not
wish to keep something in remembrance of.
nm; and was told that she might take for,
thai purf@sf any thisG she pleasad.
"May l?-sure, then, Fil take this''--lay,
ing her hand eagerly upon it, 1t was an old
handkerchief, soiled and rumpled, which the
young man had worn around his neck during
The last hours of his illness, and which, in the
hustle and confusion, had been left on the bed
Just where 1t had been thrown after his death.
The friends urged her 10 make another
choice.-"No," she would have that, and on
ly that.
They asked her TO take something in addi-
ton, at all events; something of more value.
'No, no-nolhing but thal''-she wanted
nothing more.
One gentleman pointed out the possible
danger of her selection, and warned her at
least not to hold it so near her person.
Blu! by This time the poor girl had become
impatient at the opposition" "ll's mine nov-
sure l may do what like with my own"
And with the word, the handkerchief was
drawn tightly round her throat, and the two
ends thrust deep within her bosom and one
who stood nearest her could hear the almost
whispered words. "IIe did me nothing but
good in life, and Pm sure he won't hurt me
now''
1t is unnecessary TO say with what feelings
the relatives looked upon her, when they
heard OF her devotion to the lost son and
brother; she was Immediately offered home
among them, but it was gratefully declined
the duty was accomplished and she preferred
returning TO the owly and self-denying course
of life in which her lot was cast
HERCULES OF THE DAYS OF THE REvo.
LUTON.
The editor Of the Memphis Eagle has been
examining a number ofthe ColumbanC entinel.
printed in Boston, July 1901, being then in its
Both volume. Under the obituary head Of the
Cenlinel, says the editor, we find the follow
ing account of the exploits of second Samp-
son :
Mr.. William Dowst, who lately died at Sa-
lem, a man of uncommon size and
strength. He was nearly seven feet high. and
weighed 800 weight The following instances
will prove his great degree of strenglh.-He
was OF board privaeer i'm the last war.
which got among the breakers off Cape Breton,
when it became necessary Immediately to cast
anchor but there being none upon deck, as
many hands laid hold as could get at it, but
could not start it (; Dowst pushed them aside,
seized 1t himself, brought it upon deck, car
ried it forward, and held it upon the timber
heads while a cable was bent 10 it, when he
threw it over, and saved the vessel and lives
of the crew, as they were then upon the point
of dashing upon the rocks the anchor
weighed 700 weight.
Atanother time, eight or ten hands were sen {
to Beckefs ship-yard from the we'll known pr-