The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-08-16

sud one they did not expect"
II MY iriend," lnterposes the physician, look
tg grave, I'VE are going to get married To-.
,orrow, If it is possible. So let us lie down
no compose ourselves. We must keen our
, ayes quiet, if We wish to get better"
| don says Martin, quite short a have
deemed her fortune, and can die happy. 1t
| only 10 go on losing to a certain point, and
:" Yes, yes, we understand all that" observes
e physician, handing to the sick man small
s. ass, containing potion which he causes him
- swallow. We know it is good system p
Cost me years Of reflection and calcula.
On, and three fortunes, to bring to perfection ::
X u knew knew--they called me mad Mar.
q; and went on all for her; years of calcu-
| uon; 1t is only TO go on to certain point,
Id then-to-morrow -
The physician motions Lsette and Paul to
leck their sobs. Martin sinks into sumber.
f5s I'd men the physician addressed them again
! My dears," he says, ave must avoid these
scenes. Do as he bids you, since there is no
| l. lpediment"
There is no resisting such an Injunction as
gas, backed as 1t is by the argument of Paul's
hye. SO, when he is gone, the young people
a4k the matter over, and finally determine that
tEey will be married.
|
p ace-not on the morrow, but within the short
eapossible delay-and Martin reapses into his
fFNmer state, fuctuating between consciousness
ard lunacy. Hence their altered language and
| manner towards each other, on this morning.
fs her.
me spring has not yet set in, but the morn.
lfS is bright, clear, and cheerful--one of those
irsermediate between the winter and the first
SEASON, when the whole face of Nature is "a.
d,Aht with the joyful smile, which precedes the
oFening of the earliest buds and blossoms of
tte new year. The air, though cool, is inviso-
rG6ng, the sky is cloudless, the sun gloriously
brilliant. Everything discourses eloquently Of
the resurrection of Nature from the grave OF
winter The sparrows, who quarrel on the win
dcw' sill for the favors Of Lisette, are more than
usually loquacious, and the startling within has
m..ce than once, apparently under feelings OF
aEsmy excitement, croaked out the words I" sa-
CT d blue" which might be supposed to have a
We y direct reference to the state of the sky on
tt same bright morning
Jaartln has passed a restless night, and laid
tb| solicitude of his daughter and of his SON.
IN law, under heavy contribution Towards
I'd hour OF light, he turns uneasily, and pres
en- NY, making an effort, sits up in the bed
~ lette and Paul are by his side instantly.
Ttey look strangely at each other for they per-
&c We an alteration in him.
:" Tomorrow tomorrow! sacred blue I"
sF'eked the startling, hopping wildly about in
hie cage.
-dartin, heaving deep sigh, gazes awhile
| at eaul and Llsette, then, in a faint voice, bids
hia open the window.
! cFnot breathe" he says, in gasp.
DTf papa" responds Lisette, caressing
hin, Fart thou worss?"
he looks at her still with that strange, wild
lock, and presently answers
Worse; no, child. Better, better, much
better. 1t is the end"
80 she thought though she said nothing. So
thHght Pau, though he held his peace hnt
thcs had each conveyed to the other the dark
thSaght in the mind of either when they ex,
Oh nged that first glance of alarm.
te is quiet for few minutes, during which
tf he has twice or thrice passed his hand
oh how thin, how wasted it is across his
da ap forehead. How pinched and drawn in
hiS face How CLASSY bright his eyesl Draw
I'M deep breath, presently he gazes at them
DO with an expression of undefnable seren-
ity
l have had Dream" he says, in hollow
Vo e. Il think | have been mad. Lisette,
mI pet, what has happened?"
l
an e, but Martin calls him by name, and asks
wb re he is going.
Papa" answers Lisette, "thou art not so
we | sent him for"--
Jfartin shakes his head.
at Is useless" he says. Come here, Paul"
e makes the young man return to the bed
sid and stand close to Lisette
Thou wilt take care of her, boy" he con-
| tim es, when l am gone"
Papa, dear papa" sobs Lisette, falling on
his heck. Paul, too, cannot restrain his grief
anC for few moments both give way to their
gre It anguish. The voice Of Martin recalls
the 4 to a sense of their position.
My children" he observes, "you must take
cot age. Death has laid his hand on me, but
| s.n grateful for the mercy of dying in my
sen es. have had dream, terrible dream.
My past life has arisen before me and oh
how, bitter, my child" he presses Lisette to
his BOSOM, as she sits BY how bitter is the
recollection of having failed in my duty to thee!"
Dear papa" she says, "thou vert always
goo' and kind. Pray do not speak such cruel
wo1's; l cannot bear it, papa"
embraces her fondly, and pauses, as if
rect lecting himself. The whole of the past ;"
he says, pursuing the thought in his mind,
"aISi when | have heard thee pray so fervently
by ray side, my child, 1 have tried to pray with
thet, l think prayer came last night, for the
rst,time, after that terrible dream, and repent
anc' too for feel to-day to comprehend what
thoI hast said of Almighty mercy and forgive
ness | would have thee pray yet again, my
| love
How refuse so solemn request! She sinks
on her knees, clasping the thin hand of her dy.
ing parent, and, with Paul kneeling by her side,
offers up simple but fervent appeal that the
departing spirit may find repose in the bosom
| of the Father Eternal.
| She comes to an end, and silence reigns, till
heagain speaks.
Read now" he says, calmly, "read me
| what thou wilt"
| She takes the Great Book, and with solemn
mari Ter, though with streaming eyes, turns over
its pages till she has found the chapter she
seeks. 1t is the one that speaks of "the
Resurrection and the Life" of the bright
gloriss of the future, of the final triumph of
the believer. She reads it with fervor, and he
Listers, as though rapt. Suddenly, he ex-
claims, after her, ooh, death, where is thy
sting? Oh, grave, where is thy victory?" L
understand it now To those who die in Him,
there isno death it is only passing from dark
ness into light, from to-day into the morrow of
promise. Enough, enough, my child! Kiss
me, and thou too, Paul, for the day is gone,
the night is far spent -
BE speaks family, repeating passage which
occurs to him, but which he does not complete,
for he sinks back in the arms of his children,
and, even as they embrace him, the light goes
out of his eyes, and with a sob his spirit de-