The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1856-11-12

|
cap.
"a patieni," said J. rushing from the
room, just IN TIME TO upset black boy who
ran violently Against me. Alternately rub.
bing his bruised sides; and gtinning from
ear to ear at The adventure, he informed me
that amsssa was took sick in grest hurry
and then scamPered of, having just pointed
out large and conspicuous house, quite
near TO my own, as the residence OF the sick
man. had often before noticed il for the
elaborate arrangement of ils. extensive gar
! dens. p.r,s---s ...-. =.
Ia few moments was in The chamber
lsof the first patient 10 whom had been call
ed during my residence in NJ. TIE
room was large and brilliantly lighted; bo.
quets of delicate flowers were scattered over
it-evden,ly illness had been totally unlock
ed for by the master of the dwelling. As
entered, the face of my patient was hidden
from me by the pillows in which il was bu.
ried. The wife, young slight thing, half
sat, half reclined beside him, her head
bowed on her bosom, her pale hands tightly
locked one in the other. She raised her
eyes as l entered, and on seeing me sud-
den CLEAN of something, which, if j, were
not hope, had all its beauty passedovsf her
features.
"Doclor" she cried wildly, advancing 10
meet me. Doctor, save hiin--save him !"
Before had time to answer, voice from
the other side Of the bed s1aered in low,
sono,ous, bu, self-possessed Bne:
"It is too late !" "
CHANGING quickly that way, saw>the gray
haired minister. On his hands were great
red spots of blood; the pill RS, the sheets
were marked with III and on the white dress
OF The yong wife glitlsred also fresh crimson
stains.
''He is dying" SAID the old man, rever-
emily kneeling al the bedside; "human aid
is Of little consequence now. Again say il
is loo late. Abnef, my son, my boy, do
you hear me-you are dying"
''l approached the bed, Rnd as did so
The SICK man raised>his head; and saw be-
fore me The beautiful despairing face of the
morning. The dark eyes were fiercer and
brighter, aud deeply sunken in their sockets,
while the heavy masses of hair and beard
gave The ghas,Iy complexion q still more un-
healthy -Aud -.-ILs aaa 81 Ia a,btaod pss-
sell. Al a glance saw that the case was
hopeless, and tha! the little | could do, was
almost as we'll undoEe. Life was ebbing
fast--morlality versng into Immortality. !
caused his face 10 be baihed and the colted
blood 10 washed from his nostrils and beard
that was ALL
Meanwhile the old man sat there on the
beds edge, clasping one of those colorless
hands in his own. He kissed the almost
lifeless forehead, he bent over The dying man
with the anxiety which none but father
could feel a, such..a moment.
"Abner, AbLer," he whispered, edo you ;
can you hear mel If you can give me
some signal"
The eyes, gradually assuming a dull,
dreamy look, closed weanly, and opened
again very slowly.
A low vail burst from the wife. The old
Clergy man turned upon her 9sickly, and sa,d,
with bitter imperiousness
"Be still, l must speak with him." Then,
again bending over the bed:
"Abner, have you thought Of DEATH p
Shall we praY--have you made your peace
with Gods"
There appeared TO be SOFT Of couvulsive
effort on the sick mans part 10 attain sit
ting posture. For momen! he seemed
possessed of perfect strength.
"God p be echoed hoarsely sfather, how
dare you name Him? God! You, who
made me what am; you, who goaded me
in sin, "and all for money, money! Was il
SO precious 10 you that must sell myself,
body and soul, marry for III Don't speak
TO me OF God. There is none--no God-no
God ~
He sank back onhis pillows exhausted
Blood burst anew from his mouth. He tried
ITO move, but the words vscfe drowned ia
the warm tide that bubbled over his chest
And she, the wife stood there in marble
calmness, and heard that which was 10 bias
the rest OF her young life her hands were
clasped again, her eyes fixed unifincaingly
on the floor She neither moved nor spoke
Looking al her, you would have felt YOU
very heat melt with compassion, SO wild
so forlornly miserable was the expression Of
that sweet grlish face. ..-e
| "Abner, Abner, my son." was ell the
father spoke with blanchsd, quivering lips
The momenary fiush faded from the dy
ing mans features. stood beside him and
wiped the blood fiom his mouth, and knew
ihs, in q few moments all would be over
There was no struggle. but there was tha
gathering shadow on bis forehead which il
So terribly understandable. Seeing this, the
intense despair on his wifs's face grow iri
fls more slstuesque, and hes hands locked
the mselves involuniafilv tighter I'LL blood
gushed from the smooth palm that came iu
contact with the finger nails. Not wore
was spoken, not a sound broke the deep still
ness of the chamber, but the Indislinct ant
oppressive breathing Of the dying man.
thought il grow fainter and slower, aud ben
{, down 10 place my finger on the wrist, and Il
listen moro iulcnily but the old man wayc'
Il me fisrcely, jealousy away @