The Democratic pioneer. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1845-1853, 1849-08-03
9ea68eFlIaotY>
From the Quaker City.
The last Of the Signers.
BY GEORGE LIPPARD.

Come, and look your last upon this
beautiful earth! The day is d, ing; the
year is dying; you are dying;so light and
leaf aud life mingie IN one common death
as they shall miugle in one resurrec
liun.
Clad in dark nAot nihg gown, that re.
vealed the outlines Of his tall form, now
bent with age--once SO beautiful in its
which Is covered with pillows, and tot,
ers to the window, spreading forth his
Thin white hands.
Did you ever see an old mans face,
that combines all tue sweetness Of child
hood, with the vigor ofmatured intellect!
Snow white hair falling in fakes arunnd
a high and'open brow, eyes that gleam
with a mild clear light, a mouth moulded
in bengnny almost divine!
1t is the fonrteenth of November, 1892,
the hour is sunset, and the man Charles
Carroll, OF Carolton, Mt last Of The sga-
ers.
Ninety.fvs years Of age, weak and
trembling old man, he has summoned all
all his strength and gone along lhe car.
peted chamber TO the window, h. dark
gowa oon,ras,ed with the purple curA
taips
He is the last!
OF the Noble FIT, Six w holm the RevA
olution stood fortb, undismayed by 1he
axe or gibbet, their missionthe freed ON
. an age, the salvation OF country, he
alone remains
One by one the pillars have crumbled
from the roof Of the temple, and now the
las, trembling column--gIows in Abe
sunlis shi, as il is bout TO fall.
BIT for the pillar that crumbes there
is no hope, thst it shall ever tower aloft
in ils pride again, while for this old man
about TO sink in ths night of the grave,
there Is a glorious hope. His memory
willlise. His soul will 1.-Two, not only IN
the presence of its. God, but on the
ongucs aud in the hearts Of millions. - :
| Tie band 10 which he counts one can
never beforgotten. The las!
As the venerable man s,and- before us
the declining day imparIs warm flash 10
halo Of light. His lips move without a
sound; he is recalling the scenes of the
Declaration, he is mnrmuring the names
OF his brothers in the gesd work,
| All gone but him!
Upon tie wouds-dyed with the rain
bow of the closing year-upon the stream
datkrned By masses of shadow, upon the
homes pecping oul from among the leaves
falls mellowing the last light Of the de
cIiuing day.
He will never see the sun rise again.
lie feels that the silver cord is slowly,
gently loosening; he knows that the gold
Gu bowl is crumbling at the fountains
brink. But death comes on him as a
sleep, as a pleasant dream, as a kis from
oeioved lips!
He feels that the land nf ais birth has
becoue a Mighty People, and thanks God
tbat he was permitted to behold It's bios
SONS of hope ripsn luto full life.
Iu the recess near the window, you be-
hold an altar Of prayer, above ii, glowing
in the fading light, the Image oi Jesus
seem smiling even in agony. around that
death chamber.
TIE old man turns aside from the win
dow. Tottering on he knees beside the
altar, his long dark robe dropping over
the ffuor, He reaches forth his white
hands; he raises his eyes 10 the face Of the
Cruc fled.
There in the sanctity OF IN old mans
last PRAYER we will leave him. There
where emid the deepening shsdows.giows
the Image Of the Saviour, there where
the light falls over the mild face, the wa
Wy hair, and tranquil eyes Of the aged pa
trisrcb.
The smile of the Saviour was Upon the |
Declaration on that periloHs day, the
Fourth Of July, l776, aud now that its
promise has Frightened into fruition, He
does smile on 1t again--even
as bis sepulchrad image meets tho dying
eaze OF Charles Carroll of Caroiton.