The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-11-15

(Which can never forget) pressing it with
a power as if all her expiring energies at
that moment were concentrated in her
fingers; she exclaimed, doctor, am not
dying? have not sent for you profess
sionally. we'll know it is now too late
to derive any benefit from your skill.
have sent for you as an acquaintance, as
a friend. and especially so as the esteem
ed friend Of Frank Woodrille. You
know him, Doctor?" s,it -js-a, a.,
Intimately we'll, Mary. He is now,
remarked, absent on visit to his friends
in Massachusetts.
"Yes," she replied, 81 know it, and i'm
mediately after his return we were to be
united in marriage. He, is making the
preparatory arrangements for that antici-
pated joyful event-and 1, must make
preparation for the sad solemniiies of
death and the grave, with all their dreary
appendages!"
endeavored to soothe her by stating
she might not be so near her end as she
apprehended. But if she believed life to
be so nearly al its close. her mind and all
her affections should be directed and fixed
upon Him only, who is able and willing to
support and sustain her in the hour Of
affliction and distress.
She bestowed on me an inexpressible
look Of calmness and 'oomposure-a faint
smile playing round her mou,h-remark-
ing. '.Dootor. this have attended to long
before sickness brought my head to this
pillow. And can now say with the
Psalmist of old, ..though walk through
the valley of the shadow Of death, will
fear no evil: for theu art with me, thy rod
and thy staff they comfort me-
.Doctor. have a few words to say to
you, and | feel by increasing weakness
that they must be said soon.
"Listen carefully and attentively."
With an earnestness oi expression which
| shall ever remember, she said, "You will
see Frank Woodville again--l never shall!
Tell him love him dearly and sincerely.
He has made that svowal times without
pumber I never have. This has not
arisen from want Of affeotion--but from
my youth and the natural dfiidence and
timidity OF my sex.
"Doctor, please remove this lock Of
hair" .,
Immediately separated the large black
IiuRf0t WtlOu Su0 u0l0 III hOi fu0ttAs OsDi
shade wing her brow and contrasting beau
tifully with the marble whiteness Of its sur.
faoe.
"Give this to Frank WoodvilIe, and tell
him gift from Mary! Tell him |
lone him! ** On! could only sound
those few short words in his hearing, |
would leave the world con,entedly, yea,
triumphantly. Tell him the last words
Mary ever u.sered--the last accent that
quivsred upon the cold, pulseless lip Of
Mary, was the endeared name Of Frank
w Woodville!'
My feelings had now completely over
come me. l sat beside her with my face
concealed with my handkerchief.
She seized my hand again, and with q
death-like grasp, uttered in a feeble. in
distinct tone, "tell Frank Wood,
4 momentary pause ensued, looked
around-one short, suppressed, spasmodic
grasp termin ated the struggles Of the love-
ly Mary. All was over. The spirit had
fed. and in its fight, had left impressed
upon her face beautiful serenity Of coun-
tenance. a plaeidness Of expression, as
! if the soul had begun to taste the joys o.
Heaven before it had left the clay tene.
ment of earth.
Should this painful narrative ever mee
the eye OF Frank Woodviile, fear it vii
open wounds afresh, which>have long beer
closed. by the soft plastic hand Of time
but which never can be cured.
In the course of a fortnight Frank re
turned, but not to his Mary. His sou
was congealed in agony. The prepara
tions for the nup,iaf knot were thrown
aside for the sad "habiliments of woe.'
All was sorrow, sadness and distress. Tht
hand that was to unite him to one, whom
he regarded more than all the world be
side, was motionless in the grave; tina
| voice wtich he had so often listened t
with ecstacy and delight, was now choket
in dust. The glowing cheek on which HI
had SO lately imprinted the parting kis
was now mouldering and mingling will
its kindred dust. All the sad memorial
left him in this general wreck Of all-wal
the sacred lock OF hair--a mound of eartl
and modest stone; which told hin
where his Mary lay.