The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-02-14


death, at the lowest estimate, Ill years
old, and the probability is that she was
several years older.
For fifty years she had enjoyed unin-
terrupted health, and, as far as | nave
been able to learn, she was never sick in
yer life, except at the birth of her chill
dren. For thirty years of her life, and
down TO within three years of her death,
she did not seem to undergo the slight
est change in her appearance; time exer-
cising but little power over her. The first
sign of decay was that of sight, which took
place about three years before her death
up to that time she was in the full enjoy.
ment,of all her senses and at one hun
dred and four yeBfs would have married
an old negro man of seventy-6ve il had
not objected.
Her sight failed not in the usual way,
but she become near-sighted, net being
able to see objects at a distence. Soon
after this her hearing declined, but up to
the time Of her death she could hear bet
ter than old persons generally do. The
first indication of mental failure WAS that
of locality, she not being able to fnl her
way to IA neighbor's house yet her memo
ry seemed perfect in all other respects.
She recollected her friends and old ac-
quaintances, but could not fiud her way
to their houses.
| ut first supposed that this was owing
to defective sight, but, on examination,
found that it was in the mind. Still her
locomoti'n was good she had the full
use of herself, and could walk strong and
quick, like II young person, and held her
self up so straight that, when walking
fIom me, | often mistook her for some of
the younger servants about the premises.
The next, end to me, the most singular
sign Of decline was, that she lost the art
Of waIking-not that she had not strength
enough to walk, but forgot how to walk.
The children would lead her forth and
interest her for awhile, and she would yet
the idea, which seemed to de ight her
very much, and she would walk about
the yard and porches until some person
would tell her she had walked enough
but she would no sooner take hsr seat, and
sit for few moments, before all idea Of
walking would be gone, and she would
have to be taught over again.
At length she became unwilling TO try
to walk, unless she had hold Of something:
take her by the arm and she would walk.
and walk well, but just as soon as you
would let her go, she would stop, and II
no further aid was afforded her, she would
get down and crawl like a child, aud at
length became so fearful that she refused
to walk all togither, and continued to sit
up during the day, but had to be put to
bed, and taken up like child. After a
while she became unwilling to get up al
together, and continued to he until she
died.
All the time she seemed 10 be in good
health, took her regular meals, and her
stomach and bowels were uniformly in
good condition. | often examined her
the best | could, and she had no pains,
no sickness, no aches Of any kind, and
from her own account, and from all
was able to learn, she was in good health
and all the while in fine spirits. The in
telIect and the mind seemed to be pei
fectly good, only that she did not seem
to know where she WAS all the time.
At length one Of the children said to
me that aunt Philis was getting cold, and
on examining her found il even so; the
extremities were cold-still she took her
regular meals, and did not complain OF
anything; and the only change that
recollect Of WAS that she slept little more
than usual. The coldness increased for
two days, when she became as cold, al
most as dead person. Her breathing
began at length TO shorten, and grew
shorter and shorter ill she ceased TO
breathe.
Death closed upon her like going into
soft, sweet sleep, and for two minutes il
was difficult to tell whether she was
breathing or not. There was no contor.
ton, no struggle, no twisting Of the mus
cIes, but after death she might have still
been taken, on slight examination TO have
been in a deep sleep. So passed. away
Philis-the only natural death ever wit
nessed.-NashViIe Medical Journal.
- -
Ramoyal hf fol pntlar