Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1846-11-11
WHOLE .NltJMlBR ! g.
This was the story of that man,

This wasthe story rof that man. ,,s, M,
il And now through dark alleys apqof8
| miserable tenemenis, sthat seemed about to
toppleldowns upon their heads, into The ldne,
liest and drearest suburbs Of the city, they
passed; that white haired minister and his
,1guide. Al Last mo Z. parrows court and
'sEup dark stairs that creaked b6nonth the
thread, and sshen into the death room.
Il At was in truth o miserable place. s..ofs
! "A glimmering light stood ol % broken
chair. There were the rough walls, there
the solitary garret Windows. with the rain
beating in, through the rags and straw.
which stuffed the broken panes, and there,
amid a. heap Of cold ashes, the yalise which
the stranger had with him. .ssR ga,gt go,
] In one corner on the, coarse straw of
the ragged bed, lay the stranger. He was
but half dressed-on his feet were pair Of
military boots, .ts,t,: ,ss 8 Il s;-.agfu sts
4 The aged preacher drew near, and look,
ed upon him. AS he r looked-throh---
throb-throbs you might hear, the death
watch ticking in the shattered wall. ss ,f,s,,s.
j hwas the form Of . strong man, grown.
4 old with care more than ages g;d adt IA ~
That was face, you might look, upon,
but once, and yet wear in your memory
forever. ss.n 3ssz1 za44e a, .A,,.st a.-,f
Let us bend over that bed and look at
that face. A bold forehead, scanned by one
heavy wrinkle between the, brows--long
locks of dark hair sprinkled with grey-Y
| lips firmly set, yet quiyering as though they
had life separate from the man land then
two large eyes, vivid, burning, unnatural
in their steady glare. s ss.,-,s rr,s ts.3s
] And, there was something so terrible in
i that face something so full of unutterables
loneliness, unspeakable despair-that the
), aged minister started back in horror. -.
But look! Those strong arms are clutch
ing at the vacant air--the death sweat
starts in drops upon that bold brow--he is'
dying. - s,- ~ 80 . '.',4 .''is
T6rob--throb--t -throb-- beats the death
!, watch in the wall s, yser ..r sis;Jr .seess.as.s
/ "Would you die in the faith of a Chris,
|, tian?" faltered the preacher as he knelt
: there on the damp floor. Il ssa
n The white lips Of the death-stricken man
trembled, but made no sound. &
, Then, with the strong agony oftdeath
, upon him, he rose into a sitting posture.
, For the first time he spoke. s(
"Christian!" he echoed In that deep tone,
which thrilled the preacher 70 the heart,
"wiil that faith give me back my honor?
Come with me old man --conle with me far
over the waters. Hah! we are there!-
This is my native town. Yonder Is the
church in which knelt in childhood yon4
der the green on whichI sported when
4 boy. But another flag waves yonder Id
place Of the flag that waved when, was
a boy. And listen old man, were pass
along this s1street, as passed when but d
child, the very babes in their cradles would
raise their tiny hands and curse me. The
graves in yonder grave yard would shrink
from my foot steps, and yonder flag would
rain baptism Of blood upon my head.
/ That was an awful death-bed. The
minister had watched the last night with d
hundred convicts in their cells, and yet
never beheld scene like this. s
Suddenly the dying man arose. Hetot-
tered along the floor. With those white
fingers whose nails are blue with the death
chill, he threw open the yalise. He drew
from thence faded coat faced with silver,
an old parchment, and piece Of damp
J cloth which looked like the wreck Of bat.
tie flag.
"Look ye, priest, this faded coat is clot.
ted with my blood!" he cried. as old men,
ories seemed stirring at his heart. arhis
coat wore, when first heard the, news Of
Lexington-this coat Ewofe when plant
ed the banner Of the stars at Ticonderoga!
That bullet hole was pierced in the fight at
: Quebec, and now--I am a--det me whisper
!. it in your ears!' - Ss
! He hissed that single burning word into
!. the minister's ear. .ss .s
I SHOW help me, priest, z he said in voice
y grown suddenly tremulous; ssiielp me put
on this coat Of blue and silver. For, you
see''-and ghastly smile came over big
face--ano one Is here to wipe the cold
drops from my brow; no feno child
k | must meet death alone but Il viii meet
ii him as have met him in battle without
a fear or trembling. ~
+ And while he Stood arraying his limbs
. in that worn,-eaten coat Of blue and silver,
!. the good preacher spoke to him Of faith in
eI Jesus. Yes, OF that great faith, which
q pierces the cloud Of human guilt and rolls
Al them back from the face Of God. &s
n ..Faith!'' echoed that strange man, who
stood erect with the death chill upon his
| brow, the death light in his eye. aFaitN
can it give, me buck my honorl look ya
priest, there over the waves, sits George
| Washington, telling 10 his comrades, tho
! story Of the eight years war--thers ia his
/ royal halls sits George of England, bewail,
!, ing in his IDIOT voice the Iossof his Colonies,