Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-11-19
CHAPTER w.


In an obscure street in the suburbs of
the City, in dilapidated hut, bearing all
the evidences Of poverty and decay, stretch
ed upon low bed of straw, lies suffering
female, whose wan and emaciated cheeks
and difficult respiration betoken the last
stages Of disease. Standing by the bedside
is the kind-kearted physician, with his
thumb upon her wrist and gazing intently
upon her eyes as if contemplating the havoc
which disease has made with these once
lovely features. A young and fragile girl
over whose head not more than ten sum-
mers have passed, is kneeling at her feet
vainly endeavoring to suppress the keen
anguish which is lacerating her bosom
IS h1shed in silence ffFaff o. Fde grave,
save when the pale sufferer gives vent to
her agony in exclamations of pain, or when
her grief-stricken daughter, unable to re-
strain her emotions, breaks forth in sobs SO
pitcous as to wiring the stoutest heart. The
good old physician stands still and motion
less as if completely absorbed by the So
lemnity of the scene and the intensity of
his feelings. For more than half GEN.
tury he has practiced in the invalid s fam
lily {; he has closed the eyes both of her father
S and grandfather as they grew dim in death,
G and he has performed the last act OF kind
o ness to her once noble husband, when raw
= ing with the delirium of mania-portu, he
n went with curses on his lips into the pres
g ence of his Maker. He still recollects the
n light of inefable Joy which frightened the
d eyes of her mother as she gazed for the first
ID time upon her newborn babe, nor has he
e forgotten how eloquently she would tell OF
le her precocious genius, or how glowlngly
ID portray her gilded prospects for the future.
Ee And is it possible that this haggard crea,
ly ture who is breathing her last in this OBJ
tn scure hovol, with scarce one sympathizine
heart or one ministering hand to cheer Oh
be alleviate, is the wreck of one who had beer
ed thus petted and caressed Often before
IN has he witnessed the struggles ofthe dying
IS, pilgrim as he battled with the cruel monster
al but never before has his bosom heaved 81
be wildly and unanimously, as he strives t
calmly deliberate upon what course 1t VII
he be necessary to adopt. The last feartu
nw crisis is evidently swiftly approaching, ant
nd while his professional engagements lmpe
ere ratively demands his presence elsewhere
of his generous nature rebels at the though
ng of leaving her to grapple with the grlr
lg monster, with no one near to bid her adie
'ut as she sets forth upon her dark and gloom
nd, journey.
seu At length after administering tranqul
.. 80 izing potion and consoling the sobbln
III child as best he could with promises
you speedy return, heis on the eve of departin
on when the door is softly thrown ajar, and
= tall and dignifed looking gentleman enter
!, us bearing on his arm an elegantly dress'
For lady; who with cordial but silent co
graduation to the doctor, noiselessly Gid
up to the bedside of the dying woman. +
re a moment she stands as if paralized by Il
of appalling scene before her, with her ha
rms pressed to her forehead as if to drive ba
d of the mighty rush of memories which thr'
op- ten almost to overpower her. BurStl
And the earth chain which binds it, the men
mo- ~ is again busy with the sunlit scenes
d in halcyon childhood. Once more they
zzie LIGHT hearted and merry little prattle
ac- guilcless and innocent as they came TO
from their Makers hand and free and So
, Of tive as the winds of Heaven. Once m
Thy, they are gayly tripping along their fa'
pers its paths in the gloomy old forest, 7
but weaving the wild flowers in wreaths to q
Dung each others brow, and anon vieing "
ealed the merry mock-blrd as ne Poulo niI -
n be- GUS carols upon-the perfumeG DreeIes :
and the village school house emDo"ereu q,
Hon. the shady grove, and the grand old 3
Ga ca nary with its classic haunts, WIN u -
/ our and other scenes pass by in rapid rev
of his like a panorama moved by some u
after hand. And here stretched upon this
of straw, bereft of every necessary OF