The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-06-01
WEDNESDAY MORNING. JUNE /, 1853

year. ne ndu Ueen 8t68OfOuS u man, ant
only at times complainedtbat hisenergie
were weakening. A sIseht cough set in
which he attributed to accidental cold
when of a sudden vessd burst, and be
fore his physician could arrive he was ,
corpse. His death made a powerful i'm
preston on me. The physician said h,
had hamorrhage from tle lungs, which
he had long Considerable scat of tuber
culous disorder.
From that moment I imbibed the
most powerful dread lest my fate should
be sealed like my fathers / obtained
books-read them atsentively-studied
the disease in its every phase-its pre-,
vention, and its appropriate remedies
Climates were studied sasto their natural
disorders and their antagonistic disposition
and as to the effect on parsons resortinp
to them when afflicted with this dread
scourge. Mankind wefp Classified re.
lative to their habits and social positions.
In word, became learned about others
but morbidly avoided thinking of self
fear alone pervaded me. Yet grew
into uncommon manly development, and
health seemed impreguablc. But now,
how changel. See these withered hands.
once proud in almost giant strength =
Great God! hath not The wrctched dis.
ease anatomized flesh from bone! Give
me some drink-the recollection of nv
former days madden, me.
"Do not interrupt me-" lie went on.
rs begged him not TO excite himself
by Improbable memories; "I have be-
gun to empty my surcharged brain--let
me proceed. What is a day more or less2n
he bitterly exclaimed. Then. apparently
reverting to his former feelings he said
1t is every thing in battle for life-a
change might take place in this melting
lung, and with my nerve force might live
for months, perhaps TOR years. Could i.
not be, doctorl / feel less pain and am
strengthen ed 10y Your remedies. Try il,
sir, and by heaven Ill aid you by every
effort ofobcdienec. Ian young yet
| must not die--I yiH not die!"
The last few ords we're uttered so We.
hemently, and were 50 expressive of the
mingled despair and hope that rioted
through his brain, that felt deeply pain
cd as answered him. For while he
seemed moro exhausted shsn had yet
seen him. I t<ishcd hints lie dewn, hut.
| motioning me to be quiet, he pointed TO
his dranght- In q few minutes after
taking It, he went on in more quiet
voice
By my fathers will Inherited n for
tune. The income was far beyond INV
wants. The usual course of studies was
pursued by me-pleasurc was ready to
greet me at every step; but alas the
dread of that fate-thc fate of the con-
sumptivc-haunted me everywhere. No.
thing was enjoyed to its full dreaded
excess in all things AS l before said,
became acquainted with the disease in cv-
eey shape. | searched in nospi,ai anu
prison-midst rich and poor, and in every
climate, to gain a personal knowledge Of
it. 1t became, fear, nononmaia. At
last the reality settled itself within me
not :ith cough or pain, but with certain
sensation after expiration, as though por-
ton OF breath still oozed from the Jung
Then the pulsation Of my heart became
sensible to me, and rs | laid my head on
my pillow, could scarcely sleep for the
rustling beat that entered my ear. In
vair tried not to hear it, to laugh at my
conceit-thc sound was ever there and I
then observed that there was preference
to lie on one side to the other. Sometimes
| would be aroused from my sleep by \
choking catching Of the breath, with my
| hno - I,,t L..
ding, and leaving for a minute or two, a
sitting sensation in my chest, as though
the lungs would burst If breathrd hard
These attacks were not frequent, and gen.
orally ended with slight moisture starting
over me, and perhaps | would sleep on
calmly but unrefreshed on waking. did
not dare to mention it--not even tc my
mother i. might pass over, and why make
her miserable! Yet at times would find
her eye resting anxiously on me, and as
quickly withdrawn if met her gaze.
During one Of my excursions, | met
with one so pure, so gentle and beautiful,
that life assumed new interest. Self for
4 time was forgotten--l existed in her be-
ing. Again my step was buoyant, my
spirits almost seemed joyous, whilst my
mothers eye grew bright again. My ev-
cry sense was filIed-I was man again.
"One day, JuIietta and myself were en-
ioying sail in small pleasure boat,
when Of a sudden the wind changed, and
ere we could return. cold drilling rain
set in. took offmy coat, aud insisted on
placing it over her shoulders, whilst by
rowing could keep myself warm. was
drencGed through, but felt happy and gay
as she was by my side. That night | q.
woke with sharp pain in my chest, and
was burning with fever. For a while the
perspiration streamed off me in the agony
of my re-awakened forebodings but II
soon dried up, and my skin again became
parched, whilst every breath was painful.
| Inflammation Of the lungs bad attacked me.
In a fortnight | was greatly relieved. Ny
fesh had wasted. and my countenance
told the commotion OF my mind. The
heart again sounded IN my ear Is ! lay on
my pillow.
q Then cams upon me the bit,erest self
represchea, I would not, could not mar.