Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-03-26

under the sash. The old passenger storm
ed and finally went to the conductor with
his complaints. The passengers, imagin-
ing themselves freezing to death, all sided
with the we'll man. He closed the window
and peremptorily forbade US to raise it
again, brutally remarking that one sick
mans whims should not freeze q whole
train to death
Still the wood was crammed into the
stove, and the hot, putrid air, freighted
with poison, was inhaled by the foolish
passengers In the meantime the invalid
had leaned heavily unon our shoulder.
feebly remarking, as he did so, that he
had not far to CO.
/ only wish to live to see my mother,
who will be waiting for me at the depot
The cars stopped at the station
Twenty minutes for refreshments, said
the eating-house runner. Still the invalid
stirred not We thought him asleep and
did not attempt to wake him.
Close upon the heels of the runner,
ine-looking old lady followed, and passed
through the car. She returned and slow
ly passed where we sat, looking closely and
anxiousIy as she did so. She was evident
ly disappointed in the object of her search,
and stood hesitatingly in the car door.
Were you looking for some one p We
ventured to inquire.
20, yes, sir, for my son, whom we ex-
pected on this train from California. Bat
| fear he is sick
Here is a gentleman asleep on my arm,
We replied /; he is a stranger, and may
possibly be the one you are looking for
She quickly came forward and peered
into the face of the sick man. She started
as though corpse had met her gaze. 4
strange, peculiar feeling, thrilled over US
as we watched her countcnance. She lifted
the hat gently from the sleeper's brow.
No. she murmured, it cannot be-
The sleeper's arm laid over the end Of
the seat, and upon one of the bony fingers
heavy diamond ring glittered in the light
Of her lamp. She saw the gem, and almost
convulsively snatched the hand. As she
pressed the ring it opened, and she saw
her own miniature-her gift to her boy
when he went from home.
It's him it's him Wake up, How
ard You are home again, God be prais-
ed! The carriage waits
But the boy did not wake, even at the
sound of mothers voice. As she lifted
his head tendcrly from our shoulder, be
fell forward heavily into our arms. The
half closed leadcn eye, told the tale,
uds dcdd
The shrek of the mother as she was
made aware of the terrible truth-so full
of heart-brokcn agony-will not be forgot
ten for many day. She swooned and fel
heavily upon the floor
We carried out the wasted form Of tn,
sleeper, and then the insensible mother
Fast and holly our tears fell, as we strait
ened out the attenuated limbs of the con
sumptive, for we thought of the mother
bitter waking
The sick one, wandering back over lanC
and sea, to die at home, did not have tC
60 far. His mother was in waiting, but
not to see him alive. lie was taken to hi:
home in the hearse instead of the family
carriage.
We thought then, and still think, tha
with sufficient pure air, the boy might hav,
lived to look upon his mother again, AN,
returned her holy kiss, and died with hi
weary head pillowed in her arms.
He was poisoned in that foul and heate'
pen CAYUGA.
Life Illustrated.