The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1858-08-05

AT the residence of his father i'm Fairbank.
Buchanan county, Iowa. on the Goth JULY, 1858.
BENJAMIN, second son of A. b. and S. Ward
aged years and months
The circumstances attending the death of this
little boy Were of the most affecting charac fer
and calculated to excite--in the of those
who witnessed the scene-feelings of the deep
est gloom. 1t was Sabbath evening the SOM
bre appearance of the heavens at noon day had
quietly changed into that of the most exquisite
loneliness. The air was bahmy, fragrant with
the odor of flowers The clouds were Of the
cumulo stratus" kind, which when beheld i'm
the sky, have the appearance of n low, broad
strata of rock, surrounded by tower of virgin
snow. The rays of the setting sun flashed and
sparkled as they were reflected from the concaye
mirror of the sky, and all things, both animate
and inanimate, seemed enveloped in halo of
supernal light, so calmly was day vanishing be-
fore the approach of night. Many had been de-
coyed-by the loneliness of the evenng-from
the seclusion of their homes, and seated them
selves beneath an awning, quietly to while away
the twilight hour. Presently, before the group,
appeared three little boys, just returning from
frolc in which they had been INDUCING, laugh
ing in all the exuberance of their youthful
hearts. Upon the face of one of them there an
peared several small black spots, having In
their appearance a strange regularity. Upon
being asked what he had upon his face he made
no reply. but with convulsive movement of
the limbs, turned and ran towards his father.
who was standing near he extended his arms
and caught him in his embrace One moment
he regarded,-with most searching glance his
little son,-and the next, in the very tones of
despair, he uttered the words, " he is poisoned"
In moment the little sufferer was Mt home
Medical aid of superior character (Dr. j. A.
Ward,) was in immediate attendance, and all
that affection could dictate or the most consum-
mate skill effect, was done for the relief of the
sufferer, but without any beneficial effect he
had taken so much of the poison that it seemed
to have infused itself throughout the entire sys-
tenn before its effects were externally visible, SO
that he was--in all probabili ty past help
when his situation was discovered, and in ago
ny altogether indescribable he passed the night,
and the next morning found him stiff contend
ing with all the energy of his young life)
against nearer approach of the monster death
but his arm was puny-his struggles were vain.
HE acas doomed, and at half past ten 0 clock
the poison had done its work. Ii had entered
the bosom, coiled itself there, and eat out the
life of one of earths fairest buds, just as it was
beginning to blossom. Bonnie .cas dead! There
are times in the life of almost every individual,
when the depths of the soul are stirred, when its
deep fountains are unscaled, and when temp
ests of grief pass over it and leave it laeerated
and bleeding. We frequently see the strong
ent happiness, and humanity is Shocked
Steamers founder at sea, and hundreds go down
to old Oceans depths, victims of an untimely
fate. A fiery arrow is shot from the heavens
and a city is destroyed, and nation mourns-
But to see a child, innocent and lovely harm
less and perfectly dependent, under the infiu-
cncc OF n virulent poison, undergoing pain the
most eNcruciating, and, although selfnhicted,
yet Ignorant of the cause of his suffering and
deprived of relief or comfort from those to whom
he had always looked for the qualification of
every wish, and at the same time to be wholly
unable to allcyiat. his distress or, in his cease
less opportunities for help, to make him know
that help Is impossible, is something which duls
the edge of all other grief, and however melai-
choly 1t may be, 1T must ever lack that sting
which parent feels when child in all the
agony of death, asks that which cannot be sriy-
en-, nor any reason assigned to the sufferer why
it is withheld.
10 the parents, in this case, such anguish il
equalled only by the fortitude with which it is
endured, and may they know that it is God who
hath thus chastised thcm-that the rod is in
his hand-and may they draw nearer to him,
that the blows may be inflicted with less Sc
verify and the utility Of the lesson ,rhich this proui-
dence teaches be more apparent
The subject of this SKETCH while playing in
the vicinity of a drug store, picked up Il small
ar hlled with Conium. 1t being pleasant to
the taste it is supposed that he ate Of it freely.
lie lived fifteen hours, and, lying in the grave
yard tonight, :" Little Bonnie" sleeps the sleep
that knows no waking. A. All.
Fairbank, July 9th, 1858.