Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1860-06-07

THE DEATH-BED OF A IION.-Eyery one may not be
scientific but every may at least be close obserV
er OF nature animate aud nature inanimate Ii plain
people with good eyes and open hearts, would but keep
notebook for their original observations, and ot down
IN few words the simple facts OF life among Gods lower
creatures the great men Of the day would always have
good store OF fine materials to deal with. The phOSO-
phcr would stand at the grand platform of TRUTH
and build with stones lily heWn to his hand instead
Of having to send his thoughts wide the land in
search OF straw wherewith to make bricks for the house
Of his wisdom or perhaps to gather offers for the wad
died WgWam of a nOmadic theory.
Do animals understand what death is? Do they
recognise its coming signs ~ asks the unintated-
mo" says gifted philosopher Of our acquaintance,
you never see animals experimenting the meaning OF
death" Very well, them here is a tact
The writer once srayed into menagerie in the north
OF England, which had camped for day Or two in a
little mountain metropolis y large elderly lion was
making involuntary tour of the country In company
with his wife and fine family OF young people What
an insult to put the desert monarch into such vulgar
ctaptrap travelling carriage this
But what is the matter with that grand old lion lie
in pain surely he is in pain. His breathing short
and drawn with effort his nosrils are spread WIDE
lips drawn back and that great shaggy chest heaves
easily. He is suffering from bronchitis, for he evidently
cannot bear the keen air of the north. He is cOuchdn
but now he lifts his head high, and looks round and
round the show in the hundred faces of that unteeng
crowd as if searching for. sympathy.
DuI NJ Iu6y CaLlOI ICdu Ills eye Ol mute
nothing to them but great taWny hon. with a
shaggy and tuftcd tail. Suddenly he him
self up to his full stature throws back his grand head
uters tremendous desert roar and falls down heavily
on his side-dead Dead but with an imperial gesture
such as Caesars when he fell
Look at the widow She has been taken short and
stately turns up and down the den-a very Juno in her
gait, and temper too. But she stops looks nquiringy
at the PROSTATE figure draws nearer bends her head with
anxious, bewildered look and then, as if at last re-
cevng the great ea she throws herself down upon the
dead monarch with great abandonment Presently ur
comes the heir crown prince be was-he is the young
king now He stops short in a fierce, brusque attitude
spreads his nOstriis, flashes bis eyes, and aloud
That long and searching gaze, truly. But at las
he, too, filings himself down. with great sounding Rol
upon the dead body Of the old lion Up comes the
looking keeper and fogs away the widow and the son
But they watch their opportunity, and stalk forward
again. and throw themselves down in the attitude
OF grief Again the hateful whip, and again they sprn!
to the further end Of the room, with short mpatien
roar Three times did this take place, and three time
did they return to the position abandoning them
selves to the eloquent symbols of grief OF man
can say that they have been present a. the deahbed
hon; and never can the scene, touching and yet
Il grand, be forgotten by the writer.