Litchfield enquirer., 1850-02-28
Tho sOldle. peash.

4uo 0VAusWs ODN9AAs s
 Shortly after entered the army I be- came intimately acquainted with young officer, a lieutenant in tho regiment of the Ohio Volunteers, wbo. daiSng eur stay at the capital of Nueva Leon, fell . victim in the general destruction of great part of our troops, caused by dis. eases peculiar to the climate. Tue cir. cums tances attending his death, as near as my memory serves me. were as fol. lows: It was half past ten o'clock al night. when I was summoned Co witness the death of my companion. Without, tho sky was clear. the moon and stars shone brightly, all was still save as the rustling of the leaves, stirred by the evening air, the occasional hailing of the sentinel, or his heavy tread. fell upon the ear. The apartment in which he lay was one of many in an old dilapidated stone building. constructed after the Moorish style, and situated in one of the dark and dreary back lanes of Monterey. The AinnoinaAflsr ish colors, of ancient castles and palaces, surrounded by gardens. with distant views of mountain and forest scenery. A single aperture. in the form of cross, chiseled in the side wall, served the pur- pose of window. The floor was form ed of a single stone. A cot on whicl, the sufferer lay, with small table and one chair composed the furniture. lap preached his couch, and sadly question ed him in respect to his feelings. He started at the sound of my voice. gazed upon me for a moment, then with U half vacant stare, and as if talking 10 himself, re replied -" I must die s--die yes, die No more shall bc permitted to see my home, to converse with those who, fur away, so often think ofme." With more energy of voice he continued---" but the past-the future! The past has been scene of hardship and toil--an ambitious striving to be great. Many years have passed since begun to exist, and new am nothing--a mere vacuum, void of ey- cry thing, save conscience! The future ah the terrible future awaits me Hope, hope is extinct. I am lost--irretricvably lost--a curse to existence, q miserable and degraded wretch. No God? That fatal delusion has ruined mo IF His voice failing, he slowly said" Oh, that I could hide me in the graye.!--but no! His all-seeing eye penetrates the tomb. while justice cries prepare to meet your God P He said no more until the clock of the cemetery, which stood across the way, and directly in front, struck the hour eleven. "Whatp' said he, sshas the clock tollcd another hour, and I still exist? Oh! that I never had had being Dclirium setting in for a moment Yon- der is mother! Save mel Save your sonl the wretchcd youth exclaimed, with arms extended wide. as if to grasp her. All was still as death for | moment, while he gazcd intensely in the direction in which he had pointed--'Come back! come back but, no, she lias left me! Hell is my abode and demons nay companions {! Nature being exhausted, he fell back or his couch, from which he had .pastially arisen. lay for moment, then slowly ar licalated, but God is just ; and wher the clock of the old cemetery struck th' hour of midnight. he was corpse. ] remained until morning. After repor ing his death to the proper officer. I as sisted in laying him in hIs coffin. and ma king the necessary arrangements for hi intcrmcnt.
 l Soon tho mufiicd drum. and low plaintiyc notes of the fife, told that ht was going to "that bourne from which no traveller rctnrns.' .s