Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-06-15
fir.siht StaNing,
From the Greensboro Times.
The Roaming Invalid" at Elm Cottage.

The Roaming Invalid" at Elm Cottage.
Did you never kind reader, hear of the
"RoamiDg Invalid or the hero Of "Ten
Years in Bedp We'll, if you have, you
doubtless felt some curiosity to meet with
such a remarkable case Of affection; and /
really wish you had been at Elm Cottage,
my rural home, a few days ago to share
with me in this rare pleasure. But as you
were denied this privilege, let nae tell You
something about him and his visit.
For some two or three years past my at
tention has been arrested by paragraphs
in the newspapers, abiding to Jeffris, the
Rockingham Invalid, who after ten years
Of prostration upon his bed had by some
seemingly miraculous interposition ofProvi-
dencs been partially restored, and now,
though entirely bereft of the use ofhis lower
extremeties, was with an almost superhu-
man energy wandering, hither and thither,
over the country to dispose of a little vol
ume, containing a photographed sketch
OF his life and sufferings; from the pro-
ceeds OF which he INDUCED alaudable hope
Of obtaining an honest sustenancc. Of
course my deepest sympathies were aroused
in his behalf; and as | felt no little solicit
tu9e to form the acquaintance of one who
seems like a kindred spirit, the hope some
times suggested itself that in his perigrina-
tons my humble home might chanceto fall
in his path. You may well conceive the
qualification which l felt, when a short
time since the tidings reached me that he
was sojourning for a while at a neighbor-
ing town and that, Dec ~VoLente, he would
be with me in a few days with the inten-
ton of enjoying a transitory relaxation
from his toilsome journcyings by my bed
side. Promptly at the designated time,
my aged father, who felt scarcely less in
terest in the invalid w~ayfarer than myself
was ready with his vehicle to carry him
from an adjacent depot. Our meeting, you
may well conceive was tender and affecting,
just such a one as you would imagine be-
tween two pilgrims over Sahara's burning
sands, whose paths at length bring them
face to face at some green oasis, where be-
side its limpid'brooks they might talk over
the experiences oftheir journey. The hours
whiled almost insensibly away in pleasant
communion; each fairly exhuberant with a
stream Of quiet, grateful happiness that we
had been permitted to enjoy this pleasant
little interchange Of thoughts and feelings
privilege which each had long desired
Each had much to communicate to the
other about the experiences of the past
many little correspondent incidents in hi
history TO suggest and compare many LITTLE
condolences from which to educe eviden
ces Of the special ~interposition of divine
super-ruling Providence.
Each was within a very few months {
the same age; each was the victim of tn
same remorseless disease; and each ha
been stricken down at the very threshol
Of manhood Just as the mantle of maturit
was falling upon his shoulders. But hel
the parallel failed; for whilst the strangt
invalid was able unattended to roam hui
dreds of miles FROM his mountain HON
blessed with an iron nerve and buoya1
health; his companion was stretched like
mass Of stone upon his couch, with a sy
tenn helplessly shattered by disease, al
daily expecting the fearful summons fro
across the dark valley.
But the time soon came when he cou
tarry no longer-his active, industrio
disposition urging him on his mission aw
TO the Sunny South" where his only
naming, and now venerable parent, }
survives. And in all the assembled hou
hold there was scarcely a fearless eye.
Ny W bosom was bursting with en-
tons, struggling in vain. for uttersnce; a
as the last glimpse of his revolving ch
vanished from my vision, as they boreh
over the Threshold, | could not suppr
the mental ejaculation, farewell, foreve
No, not forever we shall meet aga
Yes blessed inspiring assurance! the b
ridden sufferer and the invalid wande