The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1854-09-06

pIalneu OF II DuG sue r6JOlceu WHICH sue
heard them asleep; that she could rise and
o restlessly about. The night was
hot, and yet the west wind continued to
blow strongly; the moon shone, but scarce
ly with SO bright a light as usual-there
was a film upon it, or perhaps, Ellen
thought it was the dimness of her own
weary eyes. She came softly up to Pau
lett, and watched his frame half naked
in the Inconsistencies of sleep, and up
on which none of the ravagcs of want
and exertion we're now concealed. The
flesh was wasted the strong chest show
ed the bones of the skeleton the arms
which had so strained their powers were
thin, and lay in an attitude of extreme
exhaustion. His sleep was deep his lips
open; his eyelids blue he would wake
in want, and soon he would be able to
sleep no more, till the last sleep of all
came in torment and anguish. Poor
Charles lay by him, his head on his
fathers body for a pillow, his limbs
drawn somewhat together, his clusters
of brown hair parted off his pale thin
check; and Alice, the darling Alice,
with more color in her face than any of
them, slept in deep repose, destined,
perhaps, to live last, and to call in vain
on those whose cares had hitherto kept
her healthier and happier than them
selves. The mother groaned with ar
guish; she measured what these were
about to suffer, by all she began to suf-
fer herself, and the sight of them SEEM
ed to scar the burning eyes which could
no longer weep. She sat down IN the
floor by Alice; her head fell against the
wall ; she caught at a little rosary which
hung near her, and pressed it in her
mouth, the comparative GOODNESS of beads
giving her a little ease her face fell on
her bosom.
When Paulett woke out of his deep
sleeps and as soon as he stirred, the lit
tie Alice came on tiptoe across the floor
to him, and said, "Hush father! my
mother is asleep at last"
"At last, my Alice! What could
not she sleep ?"
CT think she could not sleep. woke
up, and there was my mother; and
Charles woke presently, and she said
Charles should go out and try to bring
back some cold stones in a cup, and then
presently she sat down again, and went
to sleep"
He rose softly, and taking the little
girl by the hand, came up to Ellen's side,
and looked upon her. She was lying at
full length on the floor: her head was
towards him, but her face was turned up
on the ground, and her hair further hid
it; her right arm was fallen forward,
and the back of that in the palm of the
other. He did not hear nor see her
breathe. at is so, my dear Ellen ?"
he said. cart thou at rest Is there
no farewell for me?" He kneeled and
stopped lower and lower. His lips did
not venture to feel hers !; he longed that
she might be free yet shrunk from know
ing that she was gone. Butno, she had
not ceased to suffer; a low sigh came at
asst, and her parched mouth opened.
"Water? ?" she said, and lifted her
eyes and saw Paulett, and remembered
all by degrees. els there not a little
Oh no-nonel nay, 1 shall not want it,
soonI" She turned her face on Pau
let's breast, and soon after tried to rise
and push herself from him. "Leave
me, dear husband kiss me once, and
leave me; try to save MemI',
But Paulett folded his arms around
her. "Not so, my Ellen ;the chances of
life are so little, that it is lawful for me
to give them up, unless we can all seek
them together. Alas all 1 can do is but
to see them die Oh, if 1 could give
thee one minutes ease !" Alas you
must all die like this" said Ellen, who
was perishing like one of the flowers that
had died in the drought for wan of rain.
Water would have saved that life, spar
ed those sufferings. That burning hand,
those gasping lips, those anxious eyes,
revealed what the spirit passing away in
that torment would fain have concraled.
"Alice, come heal me hold my head.
Alice. Are you thirsty, poor child ?
Oh, do not grieYe your fatherl 1t will
be but a short time, my little girl-be
patient. Ellen tried to kiss her; her
husband kneeled and raised her head on
his shoulder bending his face on her
forehead, and numbering the last fare
well-the last thanks-the agony of his
pity for her suffering. The poor child
threw herself on her mother, gazing up
ward in want, and grief, and bewilder-
ment, in her face. MY Charles, " said
the mother, feeling about with the other
hand, but she did not find his head to.
bless it. my Charles, % she repeated
in a fainter tone, and her eyelids droop-
ed over the hot eyes.
Paulett saw nothing but his suffering
wife; heard nothing excepting her pain
full breath. AT that moment the door
opened and Charles stood there, paler
than ever, with glittering eyes. He held
the cup towards his father. Father
he said, there is water cunning down from
heavenl '
Paulett looked up and cried, go God,
it rains %