The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-05-18
wenly.one, and very lovely.

twenly.one, and very lovely.
But the hour had come for John Maclean
10 Sn,er the scenes he had so long spoken
off, True TO his life, his deaihbed was calm
and confident. He had been somewhat
changed BY Allan's departure, and Jessie
had once or twice surprised him in tears
His treatment fher, TOO, was in measure
kinder, bu! the world saw nothing 10 indi-
cate that he was not the same stern man.
II was an evening in summer, and the
clergyman who had been his pastor many
years, stood by his side, and Jessie knell at
his feet. His large hand, now pale aud
thin, lay outside the sheet, and his gray
hair, carefully combed back from his fore.
head, foaied over the pillow. He had sent
for his children, and they were coming
One by one they entered his room, and
stood around his bed. The twilight gath
cred around them, and the Elders voice
broke the Stiffness. sst .-,.a
twas softer than ever before, and they
said il tremtIed as he spoke OF days long
past. He recounied much Of his life, telling
them Of lis trials, doubts, and difficulties
and spoke peniieniially Of his errors. Most
Of all he longed 10 see Allan, who came
not; and having charged his children sol.
emnly for their future lives, he prayed
earnestly for his wandering son. His voice
grew fainter and fainter, and more and more
broken, and at length ceased entirely. An
hour passed, during which he seemed 10
sleep heavily. Then Ike sounds Of horses
fee. were heard, coming swiftly towards the
house, and he woke suddenly, and staring
wildly in Jessie's face, said, Tell Allan !
blessed him,'-and shiver passed through
his giant limbs, and he died.
A moment afterwards Allan entered and
threw himself down by the bedside but
there was no mis,aking the counlenance Of
death, and deep silence reigned in The room,
broken at length BY Allan's sobs.
1t was dark; but Jessie iel,he way along
The bedside 10 Allan, and knell by him, and
put her arms around his neck and whispered,
lie blessed you, Allan; and Allan thanked
God audbly and the Two wept together
while !he pastor prayed.
The bell olled sixty mine in tho solemn
night time, and all the people knew by the
passing bell that John Maclean had gone
from among them. Old men woke and
turned restlessly, and were afraid 10 sleep
again, and rose, and SAT at their windows
till the morning dawned, Watching the
clouds that drifled across The stars. II was
strange, ,unpleasanlly strange, TO think Of John
Maclean Us dead and standing before God.
Children cropt from their rooms TO their
mothers doors, and asked who was dead
and hearing that il was the gaunt and barsh
old man, rejoiced steallhily and slept more
soundly for The relief they felt. No one
wcpt Tor MN uur jessie; ana eyenheI tens /,
wee soon dried.
A week afterwards Allan and Jessie left
the village together. They had some diff
Gully with the elder brothers, but Allan i'm.
pe,uously silenced them, and took his sister
away with hrm. Years passed, and no one
heard OF them, and The village changed, and
the church grew older.
One autumn day a hearse entered the vii.
lage, followed by a single carriage. They
passed down the street 10 the church, and a
servant lei them 10 inquire for the sexton.
He was easily found and, with his aid,
coffin was lilled from the hearse, carried up
The aisle, and placed under the pulpit
Shortly afterwards the sexton was seen Dig
sing grave by The side Of Elder Maclean's
and old Mrs. Bavey, who lived across the
street, at once OWNED the truth. Putting on
her shawl and bonnet, she walked across 10
the church door, and entered. Two men
and lady were kneelng by The coffin Of a
child. Jessie Maclean had brough, her
first daughter to sleep BY the side Of its stern
grandfather.
Her Hei5i;lhsgd 5;lhssgd and brother, with herself,
were the mourners. SIoS|S SIo&,ja aaA ah after the
usual custom, the people began 10 fill the
church,; and the clergyman, who had been
sen, for, came up the aisle. The elder
brothers had let the village two years be-.
fore. The prayers were said, and there
weIe many tears shed; and then they laid
The coffin in the grave, and tho people dis.
perced.
"Will you go with US, Allan!" said the
husband Of Jessie. Allan stood at the head
Of his fathers long grave, looking steadily
down a, the grass above il.
Will you go with us, Allan! no repeated,
but without reply.
"Come, Allan, como," said he at length,
seiziug his arm.
"Robert, promise 10 bury me here"
at shall be so."
Grasping each others hand, they strobe
rapidly 10 the carriage, whittier Jessie tear
fully followed them, and they drove away.
Ihavc met Allan frequently, ofla,e years,
IN the city; and Jessie sometimes comes 10
the village but Allan, never. In the church
in the city, one Sunday not long ago, I sat
by her side, and, starting up from dreamy
lis,lessness, I was for an instant carried
back 10 the old church in the olden time,
and turned my eye swiftly around half fear.
ing ,ha, John Maclean had seen me sleep
ing. Blu, saw only the cold, calm face Of
Allan, who sat near me; and looking up al
the LOFTY roof, and around at the stained win.
dows and then a, Jessie's face again, real.
lied how far away was the boyhood that I
dreamed Of.