Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1848-12-26

les were valued members of soc;a
ty, who from scme strange whim y
3 mieanihropy had taken to the wild life y
be woods, and / was fully prepared :,
nd that Ben was such man. | wa,
therefore not surprised when he locke
up at me al said, -
'.Mr. W. what do you think m
old father would say if he should see me
dying here? The old man though, me
always a wild hoy, and have proved INV
sell one. haven't I?"
you're long way off from dying.
Ben" s.a o4 <
/ mot SO long a you fancy. I've fell
this day coming and remember when |
was boy used to dream OF just such
death as this will be-my fatLer. he was
a good old minister, used 10 say TO me
Mend our ways. boy, mend your ways
or you'll repent some day in sorrow;
but ! always laughed after ne left me, SO
her as | was when | was with him. |
couldn't bear TO grieve him, for did love
him.; pause and ne continued in low
tone, Yes; | loved him and my mother
remember now more than | ever thought
should. This life has pretty much spoil
ed my memory, but see it all now The
old parsonage! 1t wanted paint more
than the church did Old Deacon.
curse him, could have spared paint
enough from his hypocritical face, enough
t" cover he church too. Ha. ha; the
deacon had The worst of it that morning
II wish could have seen the old man
IN his coffin though. didn't tn nix that
he'd die so very sooa or would have
staid longer" Aud so he continued NUT
tering sentences by which gathered tha,
he had been the auraly son Of country
pastor, educated with the usual care of
| clergy mans children, but that one day af
ter he had quarrel with one of the off
GERS OF the church; his father had punish
ed him severely, and he had left home and
began the wandering life which ended in
this cabin. r....- ...
In the course Of the next ;hree days, in
the deliriun Of lever, be spoke Of scenes
lands which convinced M he had been a
traveller, aud l gathered too that he bad
not always been without company; but
whether the Lizzie ofhs dreams had been
L
tie poke of her in tones Of very deep af-
ectl"n, hut as il be bad wrnnged her and
she had died. do not wish to be un-
derst0od as saying that he spoke of these
touching memories in the way which
would have been most fitting. On the
contrary he used the toughest language.
not untrt quentIy coupling the names OF
frther mother and LIZZIE with oa,hs too
shocking 10 he repeated, Yet there was
hurst of agony occasionally which re-.
called the long concealed emotions of his
heart, iii language such as he might have
used in his better and more refined boy.
he cd. ,e. . r
Al the close of the third day he was
epeechless and evidently dying. Black,
Winter, Smith (trom below Willis and
myself touk turns in watching by him,
and at this time we were all with him
HIS giant form was stretched ont on
the black skin, covered with blankets,
and the long separated heaving of his
MASSIVE chest indicated that the breath Of
life cams heavily and with pain. His
large and mu, CHAR arms lay outside OF
geIher as if the dying forester we've pray
ing. | imagine him however then per
lectly senseIess. No prayer passed his
lips, unless when for an instant his eyes
opened and faint motion indicated some
nexprcssed wish. The fire flickered
ON the heath and cast red glare un his
marhling features. A cold calm smile.
more as it contented scOrn than anything
else. seemed 10 lie settling on his face,
hut changed suddenly into a mournful ex
preston, aud as suddenly again to look
of relief from pain. wonder ifa phan
tom had passed before his visirn thcn!)
These frequent changes of countenance
continued tor long time and was watch
ing them with anxiety, when he sudden.
ly raised his right arm with clenched fist
and held it for moment in the air, drop
ped it on the blanket, rigid and motion
less. then shudder Of remorse or horror
passed through his frame, his lips culver
ed an instant, and then the fire light
fiickered on changeless face. Willis,
who bad been standing at the foot Of the
pallet, with folded arms and fixed gaze in
ierrupied the solemn silence in the cabin
with his deep toned recitation Requiem
Eterndm dono els Domine.'
We buried the woodman on the bank
Of The river and carved stone rudely with
the sign ofsalvation, which, as you have
heard me say before, appears to me the
most fitting mark for the resting place Of
clay, whose only hope is ia the cross.
LIDO not pretend to say what mercy the
apoetate boy found in his extremity. yet
humbly hoped 'hatthe prayers of father
and a mother. aud ayhsp ola dearer one
than fa'her or mother. nigh, have been
heaid by the God who has promised bles.