The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-04-18

so, for then should not be conscious | am now.
Death in the grave why, that is not bad. The
unconscious body lies there, and the freed spirit
revels in liberty and space. Death in the grave
| thar were BOOM But it Is this body that is q
sepalehre where my soul lies entombed alive.
~ have no strength of heart to love, believe, or
hope-none! How cold and hard grow. My
poor old grandfather, old, sick, and poor no longer
moves my sympathy, because think it Is not
such a misfortune to grow old and die.
Anna no longer shares my love wonder at
her habtual resignation, and cannot understand
it. A river Of ice seems to have frozen be-
tween us.
IL cannot pray or believe as once, for hard
thoughts of Providence come between my prayer
and his throne.
ayes my life of love, of hope, and faith is
gone. ! am desd--dead Oh Lord, complete
this dissolution let me die indeed, or else give
me life some life-a life Of anguish, rather than
this Conscious living DEATH
Such were the half-crs1y meanings Of Susan
Senerx;lle, when. sbe setqrped- heme from the
marriage Of General Stuart Gerici, and Miss
O'Riley.
"Giye me life, or death my fie-a life of
anguish rather than this conscious death y
IL seemed as IL her wild prayer had been heard
and answered. Anna entered the room, pale and
| trembling. Susan turned and looked at her with
lsnguid surprise.
"Your grandfather-Miss Susan
what of hint"
dina fit dying ~
"Oh God, forgive me and spare him !" ex-
claimed the conscience-stricken girl, suddenly
thinking remorsefally of her repinings moment
! before. She hurried from the room wildly
paused in the hall, and asked hastily, Where is
he -
I" In his own room, Miss Susan
Have you sent for the doctor y
" My father has gone, Miss Susan
who is with him ~ she inquired, still hurry
ing on
!" My mother, Miss Susan
"Who found him2"
q 81, Mss Susaa ] went 30 cali him down
to dinner, and found him ON the floor in a 6t,"
"On the floor in a fit Oh, my God we
ins11 egie5.s5s'n,ii, Anna Oh; AKA * 60 >
neglected him! !" O.
Il do not think so, Miss Susan
He ought never to have been left alone mo-
ment Oh, Anna, not a moment Oh, Anna,
who knows how long he suffered before you found
| him p -'
:" Not five minutes, Miss Susan He had been
reading the Bible all the morning, while you
were at church and until you came home When
he saw you 20 up to your room to put off your
bonnet he went into the yard and plucked a
bunch of wild eglantine roses, and told me to put
them in water and set them on the table for you,
and to call him to dinner when you came down
and then he went to his room, and in five min
utes or less time, found him in a it,"
The end of this rapid conversation brought
them to the bedside of the invalid. Tears were
streaming from the eyes Of Susan as she gszed at
the convulsed form and features Of the old man.
Even while she gazed, violent spasn agitated the
poor old frame.
ooh, sphat can we do for him2T she sobbed
"Grandfather dear grandfather! can't you speak
to us7 - ------.-
"Hush, Miss Susan He is past that-long
past that!o
sob what can we do for him
"Nothing, Miss Susan, till the doctor comes
This is apoplexyn
"Apoplexy Oh Heaven
Calm yourself, Miss Susan"
i "Grandfathsr oh, dear grandfather, look at
me! just look at me !" sobbed Susan, seeking to
fix the glance of the rolling eyes. But there was
e. bedside. N =. ss IGE.s ss si
and again, the old, withered hand that hum
helplessly over the quilt, and gave herself up to
passion Of sobs. Grandfather! Oh, l woul
give the best years of my life for one single WORD
for one single glance of recognition! This poo
hand its last act was for me Migrate oh, in
CRATE that was Again violent fit of sob
bing choked her utterance. "His last words +
me WERE God love you, baby just as we set on
for church, and his last words were, put thes
roses in water for Susan migrate oh, migrate
that | was!' A spasm again oonvulsed the dy
ing man. "Grandfather oh, grandfather! II
could change places with you, God knows woulc
| do it," A moan from the breast Of the old man
a short rasping respiration, quick, violen
spasm, and all was still.
ale is at rest, Miss Susan" said Harriet Su
san started to her feet-gazed one moment on thu
stiffening face q mist passed before her eyes
her head swan, her limbs failed and she fell
Anna caught her, placed cup Of water to hel
| lips and drew her from the room-drew her t
her own chamber, where Susan fell upon the bed
and turned upon her face, extending her arms In
an attitude Of utter and helpless abandonment
And there she lay all day, and there che lay al
night, without change Of position.
Anna returned to the death-chamber TO assist
her mother. The doctor had just come-ten min
utes too late.
| Major Scmerville died on Sunday afternoon.
On Tuesday, at the very hour that Brutus
Lion was setting out for the metropolis without
having heard of what had happened at the Crags,
ten miles of, they were making preparations
for the funeral
The funeral took place on Tuesday afternoon
FRO BE CONTINUED.