The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1852-10-02

Alone with her child sat the wife. in
an agony of suspense and fear, anxious
and still dreading to hear from the absent
one, when suddenly her solitude was
broken in upon by an acquaintance Just
from the army, who, in great agitation at
what he had seen, and very desirous to
flee as far away from the infectious camp
as possible, merely paused to say
"your husband is dying sUith tile cholera''
and hastened off, as if in the hope of
getting beyond the reach of the destroy-
er, the fear of which drove him onward.
Who shall measure the anguish of that
tender wife, as the awful truth fell thus
heavily upon her heart! Who shall paint
the agony she endured, as she pressed
her child to her heart in the midst of that
more than midnight darkness from which
hope had just fed, while the burning
eyes refused the tears which relieve the
overcharged heart! There she sat strain
ing that little one to her bosom, in which
despair had taken up its home, as hope
expired! The first thought which fol-
lowed the stunning shock, was, that she
would hasten to the scene of death, and
have last look at the remains of her
husband. But friends opposed the meas
ure' and the thought of leaving her child,
or OF being taken from it and leaving it
unprotected in the world, influenced her
to stay where she was. Her grief at
last found tears TO give it utterance. and
h she wept as only such can weep. n
lime passed.
Sad and disconsolate sat the mother
weeping over her child, as it lay uncon-
sclous of misery on her lap, when she
was aroused from her stupor by rap at
the door. She opened it, and in mo-
ment was embodied in her husbands arms !
Oh, the joy of that unexpected meeting
who shall tell it? They wept but now
they were tears Of bliss-of exquisite
happiness! So soon as language could
be commanded, she inquired,
How is this ? / heard YOU were
dead."
Mot quite, thank Heaven, and the
best man living!"
"How so? What mean YOU 90
"olt down and | will tell YOU"
i was indeed near unto death. Fear.
terror and dread were as powerful as the
pestilence by which l was attacked.
saw my companions falling around me on
all sides. saw the surgeons were bat-
fled, and hope left my heart! Death was
before me! felt his icy touch, and had
given Inc up to die. Then / thought of
you and our child, and began to bewail
your hapless condition. In the midst of
my distress, and while piteously lament
ing my sad fate, l noticed sym pathizing
countenance above me, from which two
eyes full of compassion beamed upon me,
Then voice spoke words of comfort ard
hope. In moment, as if by megic,
ieit new life springing up within ME
There was one man, at least, who feared
not the destroyer-who benevolently min
lstered to the afflicted. He was pale,
and looked worn down, and was under
the influence of the scourge, but "he
went about doing good" speaking COM
fort, inspiring hope. He saw his words
had good effect in my case, and for half
an hour he stayed by me, as a ministering
angel whose presence was an antidote
against the disease. l knew / should get
well, from the moment he left me. did
so; but shall never, neuer forget that
noble, generous, devout man who saved
me from death -
"And did you know him ~
Il did; it was General W1srIELp
ScorT, the most humane man livingr'
"God bless and reward him Oh,
how should like to thank him, and pour
out the gratitude of my heart for this hap
piness !'
Should this sketch fall under the no.
tice of the parties, they will please ex-
l., 1