The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1857-12-12
Death-bed Consolation.

i nave OUCH WOuuGIGQ W IliU ttil ttGllCloJ C'tll
have to say at death-bed; though, sup
pose, he is seldom present at any-eXcept
his own. 1t must surely be an awkward
place for him. A man who thinks this world
all, must find it hard to say any thing con-
solatory to one who feels that all is fleeing
away from him. How consoling it must be
for wife to be told by her husband-"we
are about, my dear creature, to part-and
to part forever; but let not that disturb You;
! let me remind You that it is universal law.
You are nothing but chance composition
of organic molecules, nor am | any thing
more; we shall never have individual con-
seriousness again. But let me tell you for
your unspeakable consolation, that you will
pass into new forms, and then sublimely,
though unconsciously, last forever" The
consolation is "unspeakable."
On the other hand, the Christian at a
death-bed has often Just as little to say;
not because nothing can be said-but be-
cause little need be. Twill give you an ex-
ample.
was recently asked one summer evening
by friend-a medical man in the country,
with whom l was staying-to visit the cot
tage of a poor fellow whose wife was dying
of consumption. 1t was just one Of the
common cases; the germs of our national
plague were in her constitution from the
beginning.
l told her gently as | could, that human
art could do no more, and that she must pre-
pare to die. The husband was sitting by
her bedside. saw shudder pass through
his frame, and that hope had only that mo-
ment been dislodged from his heart; he
looked at me with peculiar expression of
mingled stupefaction and horror. But he
broke out into no wOmanly complaints, for
he was a strong-minded man. After a mo-
ment, he turned fixed look of peculiarly
solemn tenderness on his wife, and gently
laid his hand in hers, as if he would arrest
her as she was setting out on the dark pas
sage. On the other hand, to my surprise,
she was far less affected than he. She re
ceived the tidings with calm and silent ac
Quiescence then said simply, 81 am pre-
pared for it; have sometimes felt it must
be So" She glanced at the open Bible
which her husband had been reading to her.
and turning to him, said, eve shall meet
again; know whom | have believed; and
you know Him too. In our Fathers house
are many mansions, and he has gone to
prepare place for u.s." She quoted some
of the passages which glow with the poetry
of heaven and Immortality; and as he lis
tened, his sorrow seemed to catch bright
CLEANS from the reflection of her own calm
enthusiasm like dark cloud at the close
of wintry day, which the sitting sun sud-
denly lights up with glow Of transient
splendor. | sat gazing upon them in speech
less sympathy. They did not seem sensi-
bic Of my presence; for they were absorb
ed in those all-unutterable thoughts which
make the presence Of all the world just
the same as solitude. Neither did they
say much; they were talking with their eyes,
and were speaking volumes IN moments OF
time.
The cottage window was open; the set
ting sun shone in with flood of radiance /;
the evening zephyr, laden with the fragrant
breath Of jasmine and honeysuckle, gently |
stirred the window-curtains to and fro, as
though ministering spirits were stealing in
and out of that peaceful room. AT any
other moment | should have regarded all
this as horrible incongruity. | can recol-
ect that once or twice in my life, in the
chamber of the dying, l have lifted the win
iow-curtain in the weary morning watch, !
md, as | looked into the cold gray dawn,
md saw the last pale stars so peacefully |
shining, and heard the faint preluding twit-
ter of the birds beginning their matin carol;
Or, more incongruous still, caught a glimpse
Of the broad sun lifting up his jocund face
from the horizon, and calling busy, thought
less world to renewed activity and care-I |
have thought it almost Il sin in nature to be
50 deeply peaceful while humanity lay wrcst-
ing there in its last agony. But had no
such thoughts ON this occasion. The setting
sun which shone through and through the
LIQUIDS which lay on the horizon, and turned
hem to molten gold, seemed to me a fitting
emblem of hope which thus converted the
darkest sorrows Of life into a diadem Of glory.
The living world it was which now looked
SO cold and dreary. 1t was we-the living
who seemed to have our faces toward the
bleak north, and to be journeying from the
Jun. To him. to me also, from sympathy
ne seemed the enyiable She was about to
)e born---born into immortality; while we,