Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-02-13

| Il
heard many speak of it withxpressions of
lively pleasure, felt assured at Ire himself
was discontented with the dise,rse. If was
like thin, fitful sunlight, veilir lowering
December sky; or, like snow.l,Iinding the
eyes with glitter, yet in its actal self, very
cold and unsubstantial. l perceiyd that there
was that beneath all this sparlsh of words,
which few present understood VISIT private
grief! Was it some hidden agony warning
against unnatural restraint? L recognized
the evidences of insincerity, but whether tenn
porary or habtual, l could not discover
| When he ceased, l felt merely the silence :;
there was none of that strange sensation at the
cessation Of impassioned, nobly earnest deliv-
cry which had experienced often before.
| s'Certainly,' thought 1, ssthat man is either
| very heartless or very miserable.'
The congregation was pouring itself quietly
out, when in the usual organ voluntary, came
an abrupt but slight pause, followed by deep
stiffness. Immediately a human voice, full
and rare mans voice, commenced chanting
that celebrated solo from Felix Mendelssohn
BarthOldy's ssMessiah,'' 81 know that my re-
deemer Iiveth.'' Perfectly in time and tune,
although with no further accompaniment than
the few opening chords, the voice issued from
the choir, bearing to world-weary listeners
consolation and peace. 1t was not the noble
words, nor yet the nobler music, it was the
preston gathered by that fine voice from the
two, uniting in one glorious whole, till the
very atmosphere seemed to thrill with its
wealth of melody. On the last notes of the
solo, as it faded magnifcertly into silence the
organs accompaniment recommended, prov
ing by the purest unity of the two sounds the
successful intonation of the unknown vocalist. |
Many curious eyes were directed towards the
gallery, but the curtains were tightly drawn,
and the mystery still remained mysterious
Some casual movement, however, momentari- |
ly displaced a portion of the floating screen, |
and revealed to me glimpse of the dark,
handsome face had before noticed; and it was
no less dark, handsome, or discontented, than
when 1 beheld it then. 1 asked myself, in |
wonder, if that soulful singing and that mo- |
rose, unhappy countenance belonged to one |
and the same individual.
The close of this Sabbath day was destined !
to reveal to me a strange fragment Of the life
history of this very man.
The night fell, dewy and starry, but with an !
of atmosphere that was not, |
in that part of the country, an uncommon con- |
sequence on long continued rains. The |
ground was almost destitute of moisture, and |
the grass of that harsh, vivid green, so de-
structive to vision. The air was heavy and |
breathess, the very stars seemed to blink with
the universal drowsiness. We were just seat
ed at our plainly furnished tea-table, when
there came startling peal from the little pri-
mitivc knocker on the hall door.
GA visitor" said my wife, settling her cap.
ga patient" said I, rushing from the room,
just in time to upset black boy who ran vio-
lently against me. Alternately rubbing his
bruised sides, and grinning from ear to ear at
the adventure, he informed me that s'massa
was took sick in great hurry and then
off, having first pointed out a large
and conspicuous house, quite near to my oxn,
as the residence of the sick man. had often
before noticed it for the elaborate arrange
ment of its extensive gardens.
In few moments l was in the chamber of
the first patient to whom I had been called du-
ring my residence in NJ. The room was
large and brilliantly lighted; bouquets of deli
cate flowers were scattered over it-cvidenty,
illness had been totally unlocked for 10y the
master of the dwelling. As 1 entered, the
face OF my patient was hidden from me by the
pillows in which it buried. The wife,
Young, slight thing, half sat, half reclined be-
side him, her head bowed on her bosom, her
pale hands tightly locked one in the other
She raised her eyes as | entered, and on see
ng me, sudden CLEAN of something which,
f it were nos hope, had all its beauty, passed
over her features.
s'Doctorl'' she cried wildly, advancing TO
meet me, 'sDoctor, save him-save him!''
Before 1 had time to answer, voice from
he other side of the bed uttered in low, So
lorous, but self-possessed tone:
ssIt is too late -
CHANGING quickly that way, saw the gray
laired minister. On his hands were great red
pots of blood; the pillows, the sheets were
marked with it; and on the white dress of the
'oung wife glittered also fresh crimson stains.
sEHe is dying,'' said the old man, reverently
,neeling at the bedside; sslrlman aid is of lit
le consequence now. Again L say, it is too
ate. Abner, my boy, do you hear me-you
re dying 70
L approached the bed, and as [ did so, the
ick man raised his head, and saw before me
he beautiful, despairing face of the morning.
The dark eyes were fcrcer and brighter, and
IeepIy sunken in their sockets, while the hea-
y masses of hair and beard gave the ghastly
complexion a still more unearthy hue. He
lad ruptured bloodyessel. At a glance l
aw that the case was hopeless, and that the