Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-02-03
Alg 4amilg yanrnal 9ebots1 to Gs@qsfaafe teratnrl

ACCORDING to his request. But what was
70 arause and divert the mind Of dying
man was seated where / could have a
view Of the bar room and the card table,
in the room beyond it. There sat Mr.. NJ,
eagerly listening to the profane song ofthe
|drunkard, and watching the success of the
gamester at his play. This had been his
cup of pleasure, and he was striving to
drink It to his dregs, even if it should be
the last effort Of expiring nature. Ny heart
sickened at the sight, and turned from the
awful spectacle.
The feeling excited by this scene had
not passed away, before / was called to
witness one which / shall never forget. It
was no less Ihan the death of this niaera-
bic man. About week after our visit to
his wife, she sent word that her husband
was very i'll, and begged us to come imme-
diately to see him, and be company for her.
We fastened to. obey the summons. We
found the sick man confined to his bed, |
which was placed near an open window.
There he lay painting for breath, as though
each succeeding one would be the last. As
| stood and looked at him, the dreadful
thought came over me-poor man, you are
almost gone, and you are not prepared to
die My friend went to him, and asked
how he did. He answered, with some
feeling, 81 am very poorly, very poorly y
but it did not appear to me that he realized
his situation, or felt that he was Just step
ping into eternity. His old companions
we're constantly passing to and fro, and
fhora xuara co Ynonu IN fha noon, tbo+ vyo
thought it better to leave, with the prom
ise that we would return in few hours
1t was then mid-afternoon, and we return
ed in the evening. As we drew near the
house we were surprised to hear the awful
groans of the dying man. Three of his
associates entered the room at the same
time with us, but only one of them was
! perfectly sober. He went to the bedside,
and inquired of Mr.,M how he felt. Mr..
NJ eagerly replied, at the same time toss
ing and groaning in an awful manner, 20
| am very sick, very sick indeed What
do you think can be the matter with me
Do you think am dying?" This was the
first time that heard him speak Of death,
and what was the answer to his solemn in
quiry "No, no, you are not dying; you
are only getting discouraged. Keep up
your courage, and you will soon be better"
But such language as this could no longer
quell the tumult of his guilty soul. He ap-
peared like one just awakened from adream.
Despair had already set its mark upon his
pallid countenance.
Soon after this Mr.. B., whom have al
ready mentioned, came in. The moment
{ Mr.. M. saw him he called out in the utmost
phrenzy, 3D., what ails me ? am dying
4 am dying9 Tell me, do tell me, if | am
Y dyingp Mr.. B. stood speechless; and he
: became so agitated that he left the room
: without uttering a word. Mr. M. then be-
$ gan to Iub his eyes; and called to his wife,
is 'SWhat ails me? believe l am getting
l. blind IL can't see Do come and see
It what is the matter with me p His wife
d sat by the side of his bed and wept. Hi
Y. little daughter was brought to him, and h,
,e was asked if he knew who she was He
n cried out, in an agony of impatience, "Brin,
" her nearer-I can't see her! Why, wha
e. does all me (? What ails my eyes, that
r can't seew In this way he talked, an,
r. continued to rub his eyes, and striving t
al see, till they were so infamed that the,
is were dreadful to look upon. Every on
n in the room seemed pc rfectly confoundeC
nj There was not one there to comfort him
ne none to direct him to that Saviour, VIII
ee even turned a pitying eye toward the dy
o. ing thief, as he cried, 'Ilord remember n
" when thou comest into thy kingdom -
,d but he had rejected that Saviour when b
on might have fonnd him; and now it was
,s- though voice was heard ''Let him alon
3 he is Joined to his idols-let him alone'-
m For myself was as one palsied with horrc
as His strength was exhausted, and he l.
re comparatively quiet for few minutes; bl
nd suddenly he gave most terrific shrek, ar
ad cried out "There, there, they are comm
MS they are coming! The devil is coming
in take me !" At this moment his appearan
ed was truly frightful: he drew himself t
an gether as though whitening before the col
Ie- ing blast - then violently throwing hir
lot self to the side Of the bed, and seizing ho
to of his lovely wife, he buried his face in h
as lap. He again cried out, "Hold me, ho
1at me-don't let them take me ~ His wi
he did all in her power to soothe him, and
kuIeS dSSOCldtcS SuuCdNOISu W CdlIl
tho fear, by saying, 'Don't be afraid: you a
MIR. not dying. Why, NJ, there is nothing
nv hurt you we won't let anything hl
BON you we can keep them p at the sar
- time brandishing their arms as thou
old driving them away.
was so overcome by the dreadful see
his that / sank down upon a seat at the foo
i'm. the bed: every nerve seemed paralized
and the shock: and shall never forget W
hen what force these awful words were brous
,r of to my mind 81 also will laugh at your
be- lamily; | will mock when your fear &C
sup eth" knew that the man before me
and set at naught the counsels of Almighty G
the and would have none Of his reproof
was now his calamity and his fear had &c
first upon him. He was again exhausted
5 APP lstilled for few minutes then he be
? be to draw himself together rs before, cler
ever ing his hands, or seizing upon anyth
his within his grasp, he vehemently cried
eva 20 God, they are coming, they are com
sub there they are by my bed; they will
lie mer' Then pointing his finger, he W,
t he say, "There they are don't you see th
nutes Nv wife, take care of me take care of
> the don't let them have me p he appe
muse perfectly frantic with fear, rolling aud
| Ia ing in the most extreme anguish. 1t
sup shocking to see him start and tremble
while the bed shook ben cath him; then