St. Charles Republican intelligencer. (St. Charles [Charles City], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1857-03-05

tlent could not, he felt certain, 1--we Dul
a short time. Disease had taken, evi.
IDENTIFY, too deep hold upon his vitals.
1t was plain, that his wife and daugh-
ter clung to him with most intense
affection that they were willing to
bear any privation so that he could be
spared to them. And it was equally
plain, that death would soon claim his
victim. ....
"Who are they 2" he asked himself
as he walked along-a question he
had already put more than twenty
times. That Mrs. Gray is woman
of education and refinement. Far bet
ter days has she seen. All, me. How
hard it must be for one like her to bear
so great change" ...r
With such thoughts passing through
his mind, Doctor Minor walked on,
until he found himself at the humble
residence of his patient. He knocked
at the door, and waited for some mo-
ments, but no one came. He knocked
louder still there was no movement
within. Lifting the latch he pushed
open the door and entered. No one
was in the room below He knocked
against the stairs. No one answered
He knocked again-the silence OF
death succeeded. His heart misgave
him that all was not right. Opening
the door that enclosed the narrow stair,
way, Doctor Minor ascended to the
room above, in which, on the evening
previous, he had seen his patient
The truth was soon revealed. On a
bed, lay sleeping the sleep of DEATH
the man he had called to see. His
wife sat by the bed side, her face
buried in a pillow.
She did not stir as he came in
The daughter was lying upon another
bed, with her face turned towards the
light. 1t was deadly pale.
For moment the mind of the ply
sician was bewildered. But quickly
recovering his selfpossession, he first
satisfied himself that life had fed the
pulses cf poor Gray He then laid
his hand upon the arm Of Mrs. Gray,
and called her name. Slowly raising
her head, she looked up wildly into
the doctors face. Gradually the ex-
preston of her countenance changed,
as her thoughts became distinct, and
she murmured in tone that was in
expressibly sad .
"Too late, Doctor! Too late !"
"The Lord givetb, and the Lord
taketh away" he replied, scarce think
ing of the words he was uttering.
The stricken wife did not reply but
the words gave. her strength She
arose to her feet, shuddering as she
did so, and moved by similar thought
with that which prompted the doctor,
passed from the bed Of death to that
upon which lay her daughter. As she
took Annals hand, the girl started up
with low, affrighted cry.
What is the matter, Anna % ask
ed the mother, in soothing voice.
"Oh, such a dreadful dream Fa-
ther Yes, yes, it is too, true !" and
clasping her hands together she sunk
upon the bed, weeping bitterly ""
anna, dear !" said the mother, for
getting for moment her own deep
sorrow in pain for her child. He is
free from his terrible suffcrings. We
must think of his release, not of our
bereavement. Our loss is his gain
Think of that, Enna." ..- -. ..
But Anna wept and sobbed, while
her whole frame quivered. Nearly
ten minutes passed, before Doctor Mil
nor could get the mother and daugh-
ter calm enough to speak with him ra-
tionally. q > ..#.. -
LET HE call in some of your
friends, now. You must retire from
this, sceue. Your hearts are already
sufficiently tried" said the doctor.
:" We have no friends" was the re-
ply. ta..,... 49,, .-...... .,...
"Some of your neighbors," ! mean.
I'VE know none. We are total
strangers to all around us. $3.50.
81 will find you neighbors, y the doc
tor said, leaving the room as he spoke.
He went out, and knocked at the door
of the adjoiring house. An old wo-
man answered the summons.
Mr.. Gray, who lives next door to
you, died this morning. Won't you,
and some of your neighbors come in
and lay him out ?" ...,.
Mr.. Gray l thought he would
not stand it lohg. He's gone then, is
he? All. Well, he's better off l should
think. He's kept me awake many an
hour with his dreadful coughing. Oh,
yes Fll come in. Poor souls How
are his wife and daughter ! often
thought that l would call in and see
them in neighborly way, but they
didn't look as if they had always been
poor people, and, some how or other,
it seemed to me, that if ! called in it
would not be agreeable. ! did not
think the poor man was so far gone,
or would have looked in at any rate"
"Thcn come in with me at once, if
you please. Mr.. Gray has been dead
for some hours, and they have been
alone with his body ever since"
Dear bless me /! Is it possible !?
l will put on another gown, and be in
presently
Mono. Never mind the other
gown. The eyes Of the wife and
daughter are too full Of tears to see
what you have got on Can't you get
neighbor to come with your"
Yes, sir. Mrs. Gordon, across the
street will come in a minute, l know"
:" "Then run over for her, won't you ?"
eyes, l will"
And the kind hearted old woman