The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-01-20


to move mountains, Mahommad would have
done much better if he had commissioned |
Ayesha to undertake that miraculous operation |
for him, instead of attempting it with his own |
skeptical lips.
And Mrs. Fleming kissed Ruth, as if to
thank her for the new hope inspired by those |
confident words.
r. Dl persuehst o Some reygebs,s.
D,oeh die Daiiern Woiken zn sehsi,sa!
pr game G,oinn mslnes Lebeas
I. 1T n'siIisH W. hast "a beiptiytfnr
Life and death go hand in hand together. |
The deeper the wound, warmer the life-blood |
that gushes from it, The de ae of the Choral
wall follows quick upon the Bacchic gush The |
funeral hymn is heard, ere the last echoes of
the blushing, torchlighted Epithalamium have
died away Yon rose, so lovely, is deepest
cankered Of all the bouquet Where find we
loyelier glow than upon the hectic cheek Where
treadeth hell-fend closer than upon the de-
parting angels he'll
That night, by his own request, Gilbert Con-
greve was brought to Mrs. Fleming apartments,
to part with her and Ruth forever. Death had
smt him suddenly, just as he was beginning to
put trust in life. Death, not the quick stroke
OF disease, whitening the brain and palsying
the limbs but by the fell bullet, winged with
malevoent aim, and meant, though his heart
to find Mrs. Jennings. Mr. Clinquant had
found his tomorrow. Fate had given him his
revenge. He and Gilbert Congreve had met
there had been quarrel, challenge, in which
Chnquant persisted, spite of all conciliatory
means; and here was the result, this bleeding,
dying man Twas sad, twas wicked-but thus
it was.
| When they brought him in fainting with loss
of blood and pain, Ruth and Mrs. Fleming
were reading together. Jaspers mother knew
1t all, as they laid him upon a bed in her own
room, and, while Ruth fell swooning to the floor,
she was terribly clam.
Stand back!" she cried to the throng of
eager gazers who had followed the litter, and
the tones were so startling in their imperative
that all withdrew at once. Only the physician
and Mr.. Congreve's friend remained.
"ls the wound mortal?" she asked, in the
same commanding tones. The doctor hest
tated, but her eye transfxed him, and he muir
mured
Eyes"
The sound of her voice reused the wounded
man somewhat. He motioned feebly with his
hand, and, with a half smile Pickering about
his blue lips, whispered:
"The expiation is complete. have died for
you, Martha"
Mrs. Fleming shuddered, while a great gasp
rose in her throat, as she laid her own hand
upon that bloodless one, oh so tenderly! but
her voice did not tremble as she asked:
How long can he live?n
"Not longer than through the night"
Gilbert Congreve reused himself with pain
fui effort from the lethargy that was sleeping
his numbed senses.
81 have work to do" said he, reckoning his
friend to the bedside; and then, feebly but calm
ly, he gave the necessary directions for the dis
position OF his property, and for his literary ex.
ecutorship.
Mrs. Fleming had not left his side. She sat
there, holding his hand, and administering ever
and anon the necessary anodynes She was
teartully calm, so anguishedly calm, indeed, as
to confuse the friend, and make the physician
tremble for her. She saw this, and sent him to
revive Ruth. The poor girls agony was pain
full to witness; but even she, when she came
into the room, and saw, through her tears, the
awfal lines of Mrs. Jennings set face, was
startled, and turned plying glance towards
her. Mr. Congreve had finished his directions
and now rested with closed eyes, exhausted
is there anything else you wish attended to
just now, Gilbert ?" asked Mrs. Fleming.
Yes tell them to leave us awhile-us two.
Ruth, must speak with Martha alone"
Do not agitate him, madam said the doe
tor, retiring to the Gthpr Eopm,
~ viii not," replied Mrs. Fleming, rising,
and closing the door behind them She only
and PROSTATE there on the sofa, did not question
Mrs. Fleming's right to exclude her from her
fathers death-bed The right was unmistaka-
bly, written upon those features, in their stony
resoute despair She Cniy Wept and trusted,
respecting, trembling before a love that took
such far precedence of hers The conference
was long, but at last Ruth heard Mrs Fleming's
voice call her, and going in, she found those
cold hands-the hand cold in coming death,
and the hand cold in overwhelming despair
clasped together as hefoFe. There sat the
Queen, in the dim gas-light, not with flashing
eyes, as she had seen her only the night before
only last night, all God but, despite her stony
look and her white cheek, full as calm as then.
A half smile of ineffably sweet sadness for
second broke over her face, as Ruth knelt at the
bedside, and she laid her other arm with ca
ressing gesture over the bowed shoulders
AS | wish it," said Gilbert Ccna1eve, with
a failing voice. "As wish it. Ruth-this is
your mother, from henceforth."
" Ny mother. Yes" murmured Ruth through
her sobs, and kissing the cold, clasped hands.
Ruth, we too have loved, done wrong, and
suffered; but love an, to the last"
as n.ortals seldom have through all ever,
and eternally!" The calm voice. in its unearth-
ly clearness and wondrous ntoned melody,
struck Ruth with an awe she had never before
felt, yet blended soothingy with her distress. as
the clear, hopeful note of promise Gears lark
like above the walled monotone of a Miserere.
You will love her, Ruth"
She is my mother
"And trust her--we are here as we are poW
through lack of trust, Martha
"Aye, and pride--which even my son cursed
bitterly, and which curses me-"
Hope and trust"
~ will"
Towards morning, when Ruth's first burst of
grief was over she sought the room where the
corpse lay, to weep beside it. But she saw there
tall figure in black, still holding the cold hand,
still gazing towards the moveless lips with stony,
fearless eyes, and she drew back not daring TO
intrude upon grief that was SO much profound
er than her own. Ere she could quite with
draw, however, she heard that voice, softened
wondrously now but still calm bid her come in.
And, as she knet again, she was clasped in those
arms, to that breast, with single, quick, pas
sionate gesture.
Ruth, daughter, mine, have only you. Let
US trust one another. He said: Trust -.
"And Hope too, mother"
Mrs. Fleming did not reply, but kissed her
on the forehead, twice,
HENRY WARD BEECHER ON THE Ed
UCATION OF WOMAN.
We educate our bows A man must 40 down