Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-08-11

unostentatious sincerity, exercise fhe true and
holy devotion of Christian charity.
They soon arrived at the place designated,
and found themselves in the midst of the most
wretched poverty and destitution. They en-
tered the house, the tottering and frail condi-
| tion of which seemed scarcely to possess sta
| bility enough to render momentary delay
beneath its ragged cloister secure, and asked
| of one Of the inmates who confronted them at
the entrance, to point the way to the sick wo-
mans chamber.
The poor woman who seemed to recognize
the physician, pointed up narrow staircase
| before them, and shook her head as she NUT
| tered to them that it was nearly over, and
that it was now too late to do the old lady any
good.
They Immediately FASTENED to the patient,
but the great Object Of their curiosity was not
there. The good lady, they were told in an
swer to their inquiries, had just left, to avoid
| being seen by any strangers that might be COM
| ing in. In one corner of the miserable room,
upon mockery of bed, which with plain
| pine table and single chair, constituted the
| whole furniture of the apartment, lay stretch
| ed the inScnsible and dying patient.
Charles seemed to take particular interest
| in the case, and his friend permitted him to
have the entire direction of their proceedings.
As they had been adnionshed at the door they
found the poor woman past all hope. Charles
| turned to the apparently half starved being,
nurse, and asked her if she knew anything of
the character of the patient.
She replied that she knew but little, and had
been with her but q few days, at the request
and under the pay of the good lady, who had
been SO kind and benevolent to all the poor.
All that she knew of this COED lady was that
she lived in - street, which information was
eagerly received by Charles, and noted down
in his memoranda. The old lady, continued
the nurse, had evidently seen better days, and
while she seemed to bow with Christian resig-
nation to the Affections that were upon her.
she yet, at every interval of strength, prayed
to be spared, il possible to hear of her SON
her dear Son-whose name was ever on her lips,
after which, she often said, she thought she
could die happy.
''Poor woman - exclaimed Charles, she then
has son, who perhaps possesses the means of
atfording every comfort and consolation to her
in her dying hour, and he knows not how
wretchedly destitute she is. But pray" con-
tinued he, in his Interrogation OF the nurse,
'bv what name, as you have said, did she call
upon he son 20
ssCharles,'' replied the woman, "Charles was
the name that never left her lips, while she
had strength to utter ito
s'Charles,'' slowly murmurcd he-let me
look upon her face, and in an instant he has
tened TO the bed, and raised the light covering
that had hid her emaciated features from him
his eyes seemed to start from their sockets,
in the wildncss Of their glare, as in the last
convulsion of death he recognized her.
ssMother! mother!'' he exclaimed, and fell
lifeess by her side, with his arms locked a
round the decrepid form.
The dying woman raised her eyclids, and
looked upon the stranger who had thus arous-
cd her. smile passed over her palid fea-
lures, her lips quivered as if she would say,
s.Charles,'' and in an instant she had breath
ed her last.
oil
speechless and motionlcss at this affecting
scene. After every means of resuscitation had
been used upon Charles almost without effect,
his friend discngaged his arms, and carried
him in his unconscious state to the cab, which
stood at the door, and placed him in it.
\ few hasty directions were given, and
purse delivered TO the nurse to use for every
requisite to the deceased and the doctor drove
with every speed to Charless residence.
Early that day the corpse removed to
the residence Of the son, and the interment
conducted with every attention and respect
that could be given,
Charles remained in his unconscious state
for several days, ere he was able to under
stand what had taken place. He gradually
recovered himself SO far as to reason with his
friend upon the circumstances that had trans
pircd.
His mother had believed him lost to her for
ever, after an Intellectual effort to discover him,
during his absence on his visit to the island.
She had believed with truth, the massacre of
her husband and arrived in a strange place,
with her health enfeebed and destroyed by
shpwreck that she had experienced in the
vessel in which she had departed for the is
land, she had fingered out miserable end tc
her existence in the most ahject poverty and
restitution.
AS soon as his recovering energies permit
ted, Charles sought the hovel in which his
mother had lived, and dealt out the most lib
eral compensation to all who had in any way
administered TO her relief.
But everywhere that he sought to bestow
his reward he was met with the assurance of
the unworthiness and undeservedness of the
recipient, and confirmation that the good
Christian lady had done everything.
To see this lady, and to express his feelings
personally to her, seemed now to be the only
object cf his life, and the only desire that he
felt before the grave. He had noted her res
idence given by the nurse, and resolved to
take the earliest opportunity of seeking her,
ere his own fast ebbing energies should find it
too late.
Early in the morning of subsequent day,
the carriage was ordered to the door, and
Charles, taking the directions from his memo
randa, gave his coachman the address of the
good Christian lady.
In little time, with all the convuIsion of
feeling that such situation as he was then
placed in could excite, he was standing in the
parlor awaiting the presence of the ph1lan-
throphist. In moment the lady gaiiy enter
ed the room, unconscious of the character and
business of her viSitant.
AS soon however, as she discovered she was
before gentleman and stranger, as II check-
! cd by surprise, her eyelids fell. and she drop-
ped low and graceful obeisance. Somewhat
| confused, she took her seat, and modestly
| asked, if there was not some mistake in her
| answering to his call.
| Charles inquired as we'll as he could, into