Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1858-11-25
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HaqTHE RIGHT ARM;
aE1 edi .n, OR THE f..as. 81.
PATRIOT ANDTIiE TssAiroR

Fifty years agD a terrible storm shook
the city of London. At the dead Of the
night, when the storm was at IT'S high
ese,' an aged minister living near the
suburbs of the city, was aroused by an
earnest cry for help's Looking from his
window, he beheld rude man, clad in
the coarse attire of the sweeper OF the
public street. In few NONE nts, while
the rain came down in torrents, and the
STERN groWled above, the preacher,
le4nfngs on the arm of the scavenger,
threaded his way through the dark su-
burbs. j. a2' i2h
That very day strange old man had
fallen speeGhfess in front of the scdv-
euger 5 rude home The good hearted
s1reet.sweeper had taken him in: laid
him on his own bed-he had not spo-
ken once-and RaN sheF'was dying
This was the story of the rough man
And now, through dark alleys, among
miserable 'tenemehts; that seem to top
pie down upon their heads, into the
lepeliest aud drearicst suburbs they
pass. That white haired minister. and
his guide. At last in u narrow court.
and mp, flight of. stairs that creaked
beneath their tread, and then into the
death Fopm, fr @ .,-.-
IT was, in truth, miserable place
* RlimmeriHg- light stood ON bro
ken. chair. There was the rough walls
there the solitary garret window, with
the rain beating through the rags and
straw, which stuffed the broken panes-
aud there amid heap of cold ashes the
small ,yalise which it seems the stranger
had i1vith him.
In one corner, on the coarse straw OF
the ragged bed, lay the dying man
He Was but half dressed-his legs were
concealed by military boots.
The aged preacher drew near and
looked upon, him. And he looked
throb-throb-you might hear the
death-watch ticking iu the shattered
wall.
1t was the form of strong man
grown. old with care more than age.
There vas face that you mightlook
upon once, and yet wear in it your me
mory forever Let us bend over the
bed and look upon that face.
A bold forehead scanned by one deep
wrinkle between the brows-long lock.
of dark hair, sprinkled with gray-lips
firmly, set, yet quiyering as though they
,lrad life separate from the life of the
man-and then two large eyes vivid
burning. unnatural in their study glare
All. there was something SO terrible
in that face-something SO full of unut-
terable loneliness, uBspeakable despair
that the aged minister started back in
horror.
But look these strong arms are clutch
ing at the vacant air-the death sweat
atarts in drops upon the cold Urow--the
man is dying
Throb !-lhrob l-throb beat the
death watch in the shattered wall.
"Would you die in the faith of ,
Christian p faftered the preacher as he
knelt there on the dark floor.
The white lips of the death stricken
man trembled but made no sound
Then, with the agony or death Cpnr
him, he rose into a sitting posture Fo
the first time, he spoke
e"''Christian he echoed in that decl
tone which thrilled the. teacher Ia IN
heart, will that tiith give me back m,
henor.! Come, with aie-with me lar
fir oyer tie. water Efa We are there
This Is my natiye home. fopdtr IS th
church il which L kneit in ,hildhoo,
4yonder the green on which srortc'
TIsa. a boy But another flag thar
that waived when | was a child. Anc
listen, old man; were to pass thi
street as I passed when but a child, tn
lE -tf - Do -'-.l .. ~ - -H az