The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1852-01-13
HILLSDAI4E, TUESDAY JANUARY. I3 1882

watching by his bedside 10 pay every little ar
tehton possible; and his pillow WAS stnothed
by hands, II not SO soft, almost as loving and
tender as the mothers who was perhaps then
looking forward with joy to the return OF her
Harry. "setst ffa-'it fa sshtah ft'tI ~
"How do you feel now, Harryr' I asked az
gained the side Of his ted. which, as before
mentioned, had been spread on the quarter
deck. the air being too confined below, We
were in the tropics, and the weather was very
warm. hft-f Ih
"About the same. dear W." he said 10
low voice. 81 don't expect or wish TO get bet
ter: know am going to die" h-- tAA
He said this 10 the same tone Of voice with
which no would have mentioned any trivial 90
currence. Poor boy! he had naught to live
for, and he looked bohind the dark curtain Of
the tomb. and saw that there was rest for the
weary spirit. We were both silent for some
time; then he said again, W., will you
read little to mel"
opened the book. according to his request,
at that beautiful psalm which says, Though
walk through the valley Of the shadow of
death, yet will fear no evil. for Thou art With
me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me-"
Yes. W." he said, as finished, "those
words are very sweet and true, for kno~ that
am dying; but am not afraid, and would
gladly 60 IL could only see mother once
more, And now have request TO make Of
you, which know you will not refuse When
YOU get home l want you TO 60 aud see mother
ap! l.,i her how and when died, and that
loved her as we.M. as ever. Promise me You
will. And when I'm ds-d. please cut q lock
Of hair of. ir you can find eI2uen on my poor
head; pu, it 10 the Bible, at the place iou have
been reading TO me. She gave The Bible whsn
| was very iiule boy; tell her always read
il, as she asked me 10; she will like to have a
lock Of Harry's hair. Will you do all this,
"Yes, Harry. I will. But you must not give
up yet; try aud get little more sleep; you will
feel better after it,"
"Do not try to deceive me, W.. l am
ready to die, and know that have no chance
Of living; for while was asleep last night, Il
slept a lhte,) dVeamt that saw an angel. and
il had face like mo,her's ard she said TO me.
Go, Harry dear; 1 shall be with you before
long! But asyou wish me, will try IT can
Sleep
Dear little boy he was always ready to COM
| ply with every ones wishes, and he Immediate
ly shut his eyes. 10 a few minutesI saw by
the regular rise and fall OF his chest that ne
was sleeping. Ere long. however, his slum-
| bers seemed to assume a more troubled chsrac-
ter; he was dreaming; he flung his arms about
and mu,tered as II talking to some one tie
remained iu thIe state for about an hour, and
then awoke; but saw in an instant by the
wild look Of his eye, that his senses were eav-
ing him. All at once he sprang up 10 the oed
and tried to get out; but laid my hand on bis
shoulder and restrained him. ''Lie down Har
| ry, lie down." said /; "what is the matte'!'
"How dare you strike my moiherf said ne,
lookingat me. He did not know me, and must
have thought I was his step father. "How
dare YOU lie shall not hurt you mother!-
Harry will not let himr' He was rehearsiDg
| that dreadful scene again. "You'li treat moth
or more kindly when | an gone!-she knows
slue iuotfer, az W "Loox mere mo-
ther! how beautiful the sky is! Heaven is
there, and angels. mother! Father is in teavon
| is he not mother!"
He wandered thus from sceno to scene Of
his childhood. Now he seemed to think be
was walking alone with his mother among
| quiet fields, and he talked Of the flowers, and
| the green grass, and the birds, and the little
brooks; now he chased the butterflies over the
smiling meadow; but in every thought and vi
sion Of the past his mother was still present TO
his mind. Then he the face of his step-
father and shrieked with terror.
At length his murmurs became more indis-
tinct. and he sunk again into unquiet slumbeis;
from which ever and anon he would wake for
an instant and gaze wildly around, then fell 70
sleep again.
By this time the rosy morn began TO spread
its many colored banner over the heavens, aud
and the stars Of night paled. snd the eastern
horison bIushed before the coming brightness
Of the day-god. The rising sun told OF its
coming in golden characters on the white car
vas Of the lofty sky sails, long ere its raycrown-
ed head appeared is the orient sea.
Tbs watch began TO move round the deck.
preparing for their morning tasks. but there
was none Of the usual noise and bus;le. The
second mate went forward and communicated
his orders in low tones to the men who COM
menced TO trm tho sheets aud sway on he
slackened ropes without the song that usually
accompanies and lightens all such la5ors.
The captain came up with sliPpered feet and
stood by Harry's bed side. but asked no ques-
tions for there. written on that pallid face. was
the unasked answer, and that answer was, "He
is dying" ~ .t
A short time before four bells he awoke again
and saw that the time Of dissolution was at
hand He was however 10 his right mind, and
4 said 10 me in very low voice, so that had to
bend my head 10 hear him: f s,.
"Hsve been sleeping long. W! think
have been Dreaming" ayes, Harry, yeu
have slept some time," | replied i did not
like to tell him his mind had been wandering.
"Please liz me up, W., that ! may see
tho sun rise. ] love to see it rise and sci; SO
does mother" ~, 81 -.,
did as he desired. and arranged the pillows
at his back in as comfortable a position as.pos
siblo. lie now saw the captain, and sad TO
him: ,.,.,.t-
"I'm glad you have come, Captain AL
wished 10 thank you for all yon have done for
me: you have been very kind" ..t
There was a tear in the captains eye which
he tired 10 vain TO conceal, and As he turned
away his head il trickled down his cheek and
fell with low tap like drop OF rain on the
| deck. From that moment liked him better
than before, and that washed away many a
harsh word and deed from my memory; for
while the iountain Of the heart Is yet undried,
il canno; be all wiihered and cslIous.