New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1859-03-07
JerroId,s Dying Moments.

In the life Of Douglas Jerrold by his son. we have
the following touching account of the great satirsts
last moments in his LIES When the doctor presently
suggests that he must not despondtbat he might be
we'll again-those blue eyes seemed to borrow last
flash, and to express almost scorn. he saw the
alsy spoken in kindness, and repelled it, for he had
no fear Of death. Then q faintness came upon him
again. and be gasped for air motioning all from the
window. ]" Let me pass--let me pass he almost
| whispered. But not yet. He was carried to bed
the sun went down. DR.. Wright had determined to
remain with his patient throughout the night. He
was easier-but sinking nUw-beyond all doubt
Yon could hardly believe 1t, in the night, when his
calm voice sounded again to speak OF friends to re-
member everybody, and to send kind messages to ALL
One child was away in America, and he sent him his
blessing. Then in the depths of the night, during
the intervals Of applying bags Of hot salt to bis feet
| he even talked of his newspaper, and bade me en-.
deavor to carry on his name in it. Then he would
lis back and mnrmur prayers and then, as the kind
again, Dear doctor! dear doctor but it's no use.n
And then he would ask the hour-for he had belief
that he should not die at midnight. :
Midnight came, however, and the grey dawn crept
coldly INTO the SICK room, and still the sufferer lay,
begging for fresh air. We cast the window open but
this was not enough we seized every fan that could
be found, and waved them before him. "Why teaze
dying wretch :" he said presently, to the DOCTOR
who was insisting upon giving him medicine. Then,
when the breath got worse and it appeared that in
the next minute he must be sufocated, he cried
"Christ Christ!H The sun mounted the heavens
slowly upon some most unhappy people that day.
Wife and daughters had passed the night sitting,
bling, in the dressing room, the open door of which
led to the sufferers bed. He could not bear their
tears but at frequent intervals asked for one then
the other, and clasped them to his heart. In the
morning, his sister arrived from the country. He
kissed her-then looked over his shoulder. He could
hardly speak above whisper now but he was seek
ing the second sister, to whom be had always been
tenderly attached. She was not there. With son
on either side of him. with the kind doctor still lean
ing over him. he seemed at perfect peace-resigned.
Still we waved the fans about him, giving him air;
and STILL at intervals he talked family but most col
lectedly. The dawn grew into lovely summer morn
ing. At 10 o'clock the patient was cupped. He
could hardly move in the bed, and said again, "Why
torture dying creature, doctor" But the cuppipg
took no effect, and the doctor went away to return
in q few hours
We were left alone with dying father Friends
were hushed in the room down stairs listening for
fAint word of hope. Daughters, sister, wife, were
sobbing in the dressing room. For moment to
fetch something for the patient, my brother left me
erer propping his pillow as he moved restlessIy He
looked with terribly eager look at me- then at the
opposite side OF the bed for the moment without the
face Of the dear boy, who had watched there night
and day. His mouth moved, and could read the
deep emotion that possessed him. He said again and
again, Eyes, yes" still looking at me, and then at
the opposite side Of the bed, bent down to listen
but he said no more Then, as raised spoon filled
with iced water to bis lips his eyes for the first time
wandered My brother returned and held him with
me. We saw dreadful change: We called to the
dear ones in the next room, and in wild agony they
gathered about the bed. For a moment, again his
eyes regained their light he saw all about his death
bed his head leaned against my breast he looked
up, and said, as one hand fell in mine and my
brother took the other This is as it should be- In
moment, without struggle, peaceful as child
falls asleep in its nurses arms he fell into his long
rest, with smile upon his face.