Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-07-30
For the Spirit of the Age.
The Death of a Friend.

Reader, the occurrence which L am
about to describe to you, and the circum-
stances connected withit, will perhaps lead
you back to the time when you sat by the
bedside of your dying friend, and witness
d the conflict between life and DEATH
The subject Of the present sketch exhibit
ed those noble qualities of an honest, sober
and industrious husbandman, who earned
his bread by the sweat of his brow. AS a
neighbor he was kind and indulgent, and
equally beloved and respected by all who
knew him; and as friend he was ever
ready to bestow any favor which would in
any way add to the comfort and happiness
of those around him. The smooth stream
of his life flowed placidly down the chan
mel formed in his younger days, unrufled
by the storms of politics, and unadultera-
ted by the fantastic vagaries of wealth and
fame. Forty years of a life thus spent
had placed him amongst the foremost in
the ranks of upright and pious men, and
indelibly imprinted his name and nature in
the minds of his fellow-men.
But the time was rapidly approaching
when the scenes of his life were to have
an end. The missiles of disease which so
frequently infest the journey of human
life, struck deep and heavy into his mortal
frame and bore him prostrated upon his
couch, there to suffer the pain and anguish
of three long weeks, and finally to breathe
out his life amidst the lamentations and
sorrows of his family and friends. Not
withstanding the numerous remedies that
were brought to bear on his shattered con-
stitution during the time of his illness,
none seemed to arrest the progress of his
malady, merely acting as palliatives At
length, worn down with suffering, his limbs
extremely emaciated, his countenance hag
gard and pale, his manly form reduced to
a mere skeleton, he began to despair of
ever entering the highroad to health again,
and contrary to the earnest entreaty of his
friends, he obstinately refused to comply
with the directions of his medical attendant.
Seeing this, and the approaching dissolu-
ton, the state of his case was plainly laid
before him, and being informed that he
must die and be no more, with a voice
) scarce audible he said, Let me die and
go to my God!'
Although helpless as an infant, and
shocked by the torture of his pains, yet his
mind remained firm and correct as with
christian resignation he submitted to his
! inevitable fate. At length the period ar
: rived when the stern demands Of the mes
: senger of death, +" Dust thou art and unto
6 dust thou shalt return" must be fulfilled
As if strengthened by some super-humar
power he retained his voice clear and dis
! tinct, and casting his dim eye heavenward
: he exclaimed: Glory! glory to Goo 7
! The scene was closed his task was finish
6 ed; he had acted his part in the CRANE
= drama of human life, and his pure spirit
. mouhted on majestic pinions, silently wing
- ed its way to land of peace and repose
= . No bell tolled his death-knell; nor was tn
voice of the eulogian heard to sound hi
; praise; the clarion note of the trumpe
" that sings of fame was not heard to ech
:, around his grave, nor was the random gu
~ heard to herald his departed soul but tn
!, gentle breeze that famed his feverish chez
- whistled his death -dirge as he was born
] calmly to his tomb. Nothing broke tn
- deep silence that reigned save therumblin
- of the sod that covered his mortal remains
as it fell in ominous sounds upon the dar
/. cell where he lay. No towering monl
ment now marks the hallowed spot, 4
% tombstone tells the biography of his life
Il The lowly weed that nature has planted o
~ the mound of clay blooms over his grave
~ ~ and the course of his life has built mont
80 S ment in the memory of his friends fl
no more lasting than the inventions.of geniu
n99 can create or the accomplishments of a
- can afford.
Int When we peruse the gilded pages
lin some great chieftain' life, we are delightt
it at the brilliant achievements and victori
nd therein portrayed, butwhat contrast wht
or. we review in our minds the charitable dee
ret of some honest individual scarce know
no beyond thelimits of his own neighborhoo
,er And yet in forming true estimate of mer
in character we are to look to honesty as t
w. fountain of all true greatness, as the pm
IN t,na saltens Of all truth, charity and hone
eo- HERN ANDO.