The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-02-26
50 90 A YEAR, IN ADVANCE.

Dr0ther was 70 bnare. \uo n0u manifested
such frenzied rage during her chas,isemen
that my uncle locked him up in IN empt,
room, imprisoning him for some days. y
She cried, but seemed to think much lighte
of the matter than Its influence had al
ready faded from her variable temperament
Hencef orth, however, she shared our uncle'l
brutality with US. What would have com,
of this-how far we would have been abb,
to endure it do not know, had he refrain
ed from one act. In fit Of sheer maligancy
he one day took pair Of scissors, and cut
off a quantity Of Katy's hair. 1t was long
and beautiful, und she had been excessively
proud oft.
That night, when we had been ordered of
to bed, there was an expression in jacks
face which frightened me. lie had been un.
conscious taciturn all day--we never talked
much together of late, but this day fewe,
words than ever passed between US. | tried
to draw him into conversation without sue
cess. And noticed that he trembled very
much when he lay down beside me. 1t was
night, of all night' in the year, he omit ed
| to do SO.
Unable to slecpfor long time, lay lis
tening to the win5without. 1t was wild,
blusterous night such a one as had always
exerted an unauht influence ever me: such
a one rs | shall, now never contemplate
without horror, to my dying day. (Some-
times l fancy that lay will be its counter
party Nomoon was visible as looked out
of our curtainless easement, and q rack Of
heavy black clouds moved rapidly and con-
tinuously athwart the face OF the heavens
The wind made a dismal clainor among the
chimney pots, and now and then a fierce
dash Of rain drove against the window
panes. Fearing to speak to my brother,
and as scared and troubled in my mind as
| though some evil influence were abroad
Was there not ?-l lay listening, until from
sheer WEAKNESS tumbled, as from preci-
| pice, into the arms Of sleep.
That brought no relief. My dreams par
took of my mental disquiet. At first they
were confused, formless, chaotically horri-
ble. was harassed by an overpowerins
nameess dread, haunted by an overchang-
ing phantasm which nothing could exercise,
and the presence of which inflicted unimag-
Unable misery and apprehension. This hor-
ror grew, like one of the evil gcnii in the
Arabian Nights, until it filed up my entire
Imagination, and then abruptly ended.
stil slept, aboriously, painfully, as oDprcss-
ed by heavy night-mare, yet, by strange
c!airv vovance, became conscious of.the exis-
tance of external objects. i saw the black
shadows of the floor, the impcnesrable dark
ness brooding in the corners of the room,
and heard the wind raging without. More
than that, though my brother lay with his
back towards me. and his face to the wall,
saw his face as distinctly rs if it were 'front.'
ing mine in monday. And Q DO not pretend
to explain these phenomena, and can hardly
expect to obtain credence, though it was SOY
| knew his thoughts. O. the-mortal agony
that it was to know them and be unable to
stir hand orfoot to prevent their execution
Gently and cautiously he put the bed
clothes aside; gently and cautiously he step
ped over me; lay watching him through
un awful medium which dispensed with or
troubled midnight sky, another at the mir
ror-what dreadful attraction was there in
his own face, then, wonder !--and he stole
across the darkened floor, and GU, of the
room. My preternatural vision followed
him.
Up the black staircase. To my uncIe's
room
The blood surged and throbbed in my
brain. There was duzzling fash AS of
polished steel before my eyes, and then a
great darkness. With cry Of horror, |
awoke, my hair bristling. My brothers. place
was vacant.
slipped from the bed and stole after him,
mortal terror in my heart, my blood con-
gealing to ice, my knees knocking together.
In the midnight b!ackness his outstretched
hands met mine-wet with what l knew
must he blood
Why should write more? Boy as he
was, he died on the gallows, myself barely
escaping the same fate. Katy, waking up
to that night of horror, never closed her
eyes in the sweet sleep of sanity again. My
life has been passed in self. punishment from
my native land. am lonely old man, the
last of my race. And my story is told.
HE DIED POOR"
'It was sad funeral to me- said the
speaker, the saddest have attended for
years.
That Of Edmundson:
Yes.'
slow did he die!'
'Poor-poor as poverty. His life was one
long struggle with the world, and at every
disadvantage. Fortune Knocked him all the
while with golden promises that were never
destined to know fufllment.'
yet he was patient and enduring re-
marked one Of the company.
patient as a Christian, enduring as mar
tyr was answered. 'Poor man he was
worthy of better fate. He ought to have
succeeded, for be deserved success
'Du he not succeed p questioned the one
who had spoken Of his persev erance and en-
durance.
'No, sir. lie died poor, as l have said.
Nothing that he put his hand to ever sue
ceeded. \ strange fatality seemed to attend
every enterprise
4 was with him in his las. Moments said
the other, 'and thought he died rich
mo, ne has left nothing behlnd,' was re-
piled. 'The heirs will have no concern as
to the administration Of his estate.'
lie has left a good name,' said one. and
that is something.
'And legacy of noble deeds that were
done in the name of humanity remarked
another.
'And precious examples said third.
Lessons OF patience IN suffering, OF nope
in adversely, of heavenly confidence when NO
sunbeams fell upon his bcwilderei path,
was the testimony of another.
and high truths, manly courage, heroic
fortitude.'
'Then he died rich = was the emphatic
declaration. sRicher than millionaire who
went to his long home the same day, mis-.
erable pauper in all but gold. A sad dfuner.
al, did you say: No, my friend, it was
rather triumphal procession. Not tn,
burial of human ciod, hu, the ceremonial
attendance on the translation of an angel
Did not succeed! Why, his whole life was
series of successes. In every conflict b,
came of victorious, and now the victor,
crown is on his brow. Any grasping, soul
less, selfish man, with share of brains, ma,
gather in money, and learn the art of keep,
ing it !; but not one in hundred can bravely
conquer in the battle Of life, as Edmundsor
has conquered, and step forth from the
ranks of men a Christian hero. No, no, he
did not die poor, but rich-rich in neiehbor.
ly love, and rich in celestial affections. Ani
his heirs have an interest in the administra.
| ton Of his estate. A large property ha,
been left, and let them see to it that the,
do mt Ioca nracinus fhipr, tbro,rb r,I.,