The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-06-02

| and suffered those who wlllhully preferred de-
| struction TO follow their choice, yet that he
would be more eager to receive and welcome
them, IF they turned TO Him with sincere repent
| ance, even at the eleventh hour, than they were
to seek Him. Rising with the theme, and rails
| ing his hearers with him, his sermon impercept.
IDLY scared into . prayer, and lifted them-so
| one of them afterwards said almost to the
gates of Paradise as he implored, in the name
| OF them ell, that the sorrows Of their present
life might be turned to the blessedness of their
future.
When he ceased, the men crowded about him,
| some of them in quiet tears They pressed his
hands. They begged him in the same breath
not to expose himself and not to forsake them.
They promised, in humble, broken words, to
obey him to the death, if he would but stay
among them, and direct them. The bolder ones
commended with each other for the privilege Of
assisting him. He accepted the services of
four, on whose nerve and strength he could rely,
and promised to allow others TO serve in turn
| with them, if it should be necessary. he lent
al the books he had to the rest, and asked leave
forthem to assemble In the workshops, that those
who could might read aloud, and those who
could not might listen, for the remainder of that
day. On the morrow, of course they would re-
turn TO their work. They went submissively
where they were hidden. The panic was at an
end.
Thenceforward all went on in the penitentiary
with kind of grim and CHASTITY regularity. The
disease was kept as much as possible out of
sight. After the prisoners were locked up for
the night the guard went the rounds every half
hour for this is pestilence that walketh in
darkness; and most of the seizures occurred
between sunset and sunrise. The moment
man was found to be attacked either in cell or
workshop, he was carried off to the hospital,
where he went through the dismal routine OF
symptoms within closed doors. The night after
he died, if he did die, he was taken away pri-
vately, and placed in an unused shed, which
stood in field apart from any other building,
for two days and nights, after which he was
buried. This arrangement Herman insisted
upon-though, to guard against his patients
fears of being inferred alive, quite as much as
their danger of it, If he mended, he was put
as soon as might be into large store-room
adjoining the hospital, under the joint care of
the overseer and Mrs. Rodrick.
Except TO look in on the convslescents OF to
speak TO some one in the passage, Herman
scarcely crossed the threshold of the hospital for
two whole weeks. 1t was not that he would not
but that he could not. The dying eyes there
were fastened upon him. They held him FAST
and would net let him go; or if he went, they
| drew him back. The poor, cowardly, time-hard
ened criminals about him chung to that fresh,
| fearless, unsullied manhood of HIS as the best
spar, which might buoy them up over the fiery
waves of Gehenna. When death, the reaper,
was calling them to gather in the evil harvest
they had sown, no longhidden memory of guilt
seemed to them too hideous to leave behind, a
loathsome legacy to the shrinking soul of their
young physician; and he listened, patiently
mastering his own horror, that, if possible, he
might minister relief to theirs, and change it
| into hallowing contrition. In vain he threw
himself, when quite worn out, upon his pallet,
to try to catch few hours rest, even among
them. They shouted his name. They clutch
ed at his bed-clothes. They were in torment
| desth-hell- he must come and help them
out, and sleep afterwards! And he would arise,
and 60, with his gentle weary smile only little
wearier and more languid day after day, and
night after night, soothe them, give them their
/ medicines, and pray beside them His place
was one which no one else could fill, though he
allowed his assistants to spare him all the
physical fatigue that they could, in moving,
rubbing, and bathing the sick.
The chaplain came twice-a worthy, com
monplace, formal man, ossihed with his own
difidence-but the prisoners knew him little,
and cared for him less. He preached to the
well, but had to leave the sick to Herman.
Mrs. Rodrick watched over the latter like a
mother; but she scolded and coaxed alike in
vain. She could not obtain repose for him.
All she could do was to confront him resolutey
three times day, like grim destiny at every
turn, with cups and plates full of things that he
did not want, but which she compelled him to
swallow before she had done with him; and
this she faithfully and regularly did
| On the third Sunday, Herman was told that
Mr.. Broadstone and another gentleman wished
to see kim. Hoping for letters he went to
them as soon as he could. At sight of him,
| Broadstone started, exclaiming, "GoOd heav-
ems, boy, what You've had it?"
! Herman walked and spoke as if in his sleep,
and looked like the ghost of himself His
complexion was naturally so brilliant, that the
paleness of fatigue made very great difference
in his appearance "No," said he; $50 many
other people have, though, that believe I've
hardly had time to take my turn"
You sha' mt, then. We've come to take you
out. Mr.. Whittle, of the Legislature, Dr. Ar
den. DR.. Arden, Mr. - Why, what's got into
you? Sit down; sit down here my dear boy
| Herman had walked up. The blood gushed
into his cheeks; but he staggered, and was
glad to drop into Broadstone's offered chair,
as he looked from one to another for explana-
ton.
Gam to understand that 1 am pardoned
l have promised the poor fellows here to see
them through the cholera -
The deuce you have!" growled Broad
stone, in parenthesis."
But it appears to be diminishing, Then y
Aheml" remarked Mr.. Whittle, ascend
ing an internal rostrum with rumbling sound.
There is every disposition on the part of the
Legislative body which | have the honor
worthily to represent, to make each and every
allowances for sectional prejudice, sir, and edu.
cational fanaticism, and the obliquities of
youth. II your offences, sir, against the laws
and peace of this glorious Union, however
bounded, and the rights and property of your
neighbor, has been grievous, so has your chas-
tisement been sore and heavy, and it is to be
hoped efficacious, for to turn your mind and
effect your present and everlasting welfare.
Amen. He was deacon, and had Just come
from church. hold pardon for you, from our
excellent chief magistrate, signed and sealed
but before tender it to you, it devolves my
duty to PROFOUND to you one or two enquiries
on which / doubt not you will be able to afford
satisfactory rejoinders."
Poor Herman What a revulsion of feeling
Already in imagination he had stood at Con-
stances side In st. Peters, and seen her start
of delight. So it was only to be the same old
story over again 1t was lucky for him that
he had fought through his inward battle be-
forehand. Having conquered Satan within,
he had little more to fear from Satan without
Turning paler than before, be arose from his
seat, and, wishing to cut short the interview,
said, must ask your pardon, sir, for begging
that they may be made as short as possible, for
am wanted in the hospital"
"Ahem," repeated Mr.. white, putting on
b;S ~ hl.nv q honlr