Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1856-02-14
Beath of tina I.ittle Bltnd Row

The wild winds of winter wero sghing
drear and sad around the magnificent man.
sion which Indiana has erected for the edu-
cation Of those of her children whom mis-
fortune has smitten with blindness The day
had been dreary and cold. The evening WAS
come, moro dreary and colder still. The In
mates Of the Asylum, gathered as they usu-
ally arc of an evening, in voluntary groups
in tho various rooms appropriated to their
convenience aud usually 30 joyous and
cheerful, were hushed and sad. 1t was not
fot the winds rudely whistling without, for
they found no ehink nor granny for admit
tanee. 1t was not for the cold, for by the
munihcence Of the people we are provided
with every means of protection. 1t WAS not
for any griSfs or heart-aches, arising from
treatment and discipline uncongenlal to the
generous and affectionate nature of children,
for Of that tho inmates Of this Institution
happily know and suffer nothing. II was
that one OF their number, the brightest, the
best, the most beloved of them all, lay sick
and dying.
As the evening advanced, word was passed
around, that the beloved JOHN HESRY desir-
cd to bid as all farewell. We gathered about
his bed, teachers, pupils, and all. There. no
lay, the beautiful boy, calmly awaiting the
transition from life TO death. He was one Of
those ethereal beings, seeming more allied
to heaven than to earth. He seemed some
child angel, straysd away from Paradise, sc-
cepting for time homo among the chill
lren Of earth, but retaining affinities and
sy,npsthies for his heavenly home, of which
he hss faint remembrsnces. Often had no
appeared, while in health, unconscious Of all
around him, a. IL holding converse with un-
seen beings Often might you see his coun-
tonance lighted up by smiles, as II some
bright and beautiful vision were passing be-
fero him. Often would his highly sensitive
soul seem thrilled with emotion from his
own communion Of thought with the spirit
nal. As we gathered about him on that sad
evening, taking his hand for a farewell grasp,
he said to each, "meet me la heaven" And
well mayst thou say. thou lovely boy, meet
me In heaven" There is q heaven for such
as thou Thy home is there. Thou s0emest
not Of the earth, earthly; but of heaven,
heavenly.
At the still hour Of midnight q gentle
knock at our chamber door swoke US. We
= we'll knew what It meant. The boy was dy.
iHg. We arose, passed into the room, sal
down by the bed, and took his hand in ours
Life was fast ebbing Out. He lay quiet, as Il
asleep, only breathing incgularly. Without =
groan, without q sigh, without a motion o
limb or of muscle. he ceased to breathe, and
all was over.
Heavily wore the night away. The day
came and went. Another night another day
and yet another still, came and went. Attht
close of tho third day, the evening al
vanced, there came to the door venerable
stranger. seeming in haste. As he entered
he said to the attendant 81 wish to see my
son, JeRN HsYaY." "Alas," ssid tho at
tsndant, "JoHx HKsaY il dead" Thon
bowed tho father In overwhelming sonow.-
His full heart gave way and tears streamst
down his manly cheeks. We contacted hin
to the chamber whore lay the boy. yet beau
tifal but pale and cold shroudsd for the grave
Then bowed again In grief that manly form
over the pale face of the dead. All heart
answered In sympathy to the emotions Of In
tense, sorrow thrilling the soul Of tho be
ro.Jd.
When the morning came, we assembled il
the chapel TO perform the funeral service owe
our loved and lost one. With stricken hcari
| we listened to the words Of consolation fron
the man OF God, who spoke to us Of fail
and Of hope, and Of heaven.
When the services were over and tn
father was about to depart for his homo in tn
North, with the remains Of his child, th
coffin lid WAS raised, and wo gathered abol
the bier to look once again, and for the la
time, on the face we had loved. Then mar