The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-07-03
WOoDSFIELD, OHIO, SATURDAY, JULY, 3, 1s4z

not answer, and my wife came gently
into the room. She looked pale and
sorrowful; her eyes were wet, and, as
she a~nxiously bent over me, burning
tears fell upon my face.
She took my hands in both hers, bent
her lips close to mine, and said, "Wil.
liam, do you know mew A long ST
lence followed this question. tried
to answer, but was incapable Of pro-
nouncing one word. wished to show
by some sign that | was sensible Of her
presence. | fixed my eyes upon her;
but | heard her say, amid deep sobs
and tears, "Alas! he does not know
mel" And thus | perceived that my
efforts had been in vain. The Doctor
now took my wife by the hand to lead
her from the room. "Not yet, not
yet" she said, Withdrawing her hand,
as | relapsed into deli:ium. When
again became sensible, | felt as if | had
awakened from a long and deep sleep.
| still suffered, but less severely; ex-
IRENE weaknessha had succeeded to fever;
my eyes were painful, and a mist was
over them; at first | was not sensible
that any one was in the room, but grad
ually objects became more distinct, and
saw the Doctor seated by my bed
He said, "Are you better, William?"
Hitherto my Intellectual attempts to
make myself understood had not gwen
me pain, but now the impossibility Of
doing SO was a martyrdom. soon
became aware that my strength Of
mind was leaving me, and that death
approached. The efforts that | made
to rouse myself from this sort of death
like slumber must have been very vio-
lent, for a cold sweat came all over me;
| heard a rushing as if my ears were
full OF water, and my limbs were con-
vulsed. l seized the Doctors hand,
which l pressed with all my strength.
| rose in my bed and looked wildly at
him. This did not last long; | soon
fell again into weakness; l dropped
the hand which l had grasped-my
eyes closed and | fell back on my bed.
All that l remember at that moment
were the words Of poor Doctor C.,
who, thinking me dead. exclaimed, SAT
last his sufferings are over!"
Many hours passed before recov-
cred my senses. The first sensation
Of which | became sensible was the
GOODNESS of the air, which felt like ice
upon my face; it seemed as if an enor-
nous weight was on it; my arms were
against my body, and though
was in a most inconvenient position,
yet it was impossible to change it; |
.ried to speak, but had not the power.
Some time afterwards | heard the steps
,fmany people walking in the room
something heavy was set down, and a
,oarse voice pronounced these words:
william H, aged thirty-eight;
him OLDER" These words re-
to my mind all the circumstances
my illness; | understood that | had
,eased to ive, and that preparations
we're making for my in,srment. Was
then dead? The body was indeed
:old and inanimate; but thought was
lot extinct. How could it be that all
races of life had disappeared exterior
y, and that sentiment still existed in
he chilly frame that was now about be-
conveyed to the gravel What a
horrible idea! My God! is this a
No; all was real. i recalled
o my mind the last words Of the Doc
or; he knew too well the signs of death
allow himself to be deceived By false
,naorapcao Nohonat Nonat feIt |
being lifted in the coffin. What
anguage a describe all the horrorsOf
hat moment?
know not how long / remained in
his situation. The silence that reigned
a the room was again broken-I was
ensible that many Of my friends came
0 look at me for the last time.
- tNHt HNA, .llt IN .tLN tegHI