The Oxford intelligencer. (Oxford, Miss.) 1860-18??, 1861-01-09

dered their professional services, but nursed
him day and night with all the tenderness
and devotion Of which the human heart is
capable; but alasl they could not stay the
sure and steady march Of death, aud on the
following Monday week after the accident,
all hope of his recovery was given over. lie
then asked to see his parishoners and nu-
merous friends, and the door of his room was
open to all. My pen now falters in its,task,
and the heart is surcharged with unutterable
emotions, for the scene that opens upon our
memory, staggers the human mind to con-
template CT realize, and my pen is almost
stayed, for who can portray by words, those
two last daysl-and we feel as if We were
trcading upon holy ground. There lay this
man of God, amid the desolation and wreck
Of Nature, the world receding from beneath
his feet, yet his face all radiant with the
most seraphic smile, and looking as we have
imagined st. Stephen did as he gazcd above
the falling stones and dust and blood that
enveloped his earthly house, exclaiming,
: Lord Jesus receive my spirit"
There was no night Of death there; but
the dawning of an immortal day its earliest
beams shining full upon him, as he lay with
his face turned towards the open gates Of
heaven, so soon to receive his glorifed spirit.
The entire day was spent in exhortations,
singing, prayer, and short sermons, as he
called them; and truly it seemed the ''housc
Of prayer, the very gate of heaven" He took
each one by the had, exhorting them to pre-
pare to meet that God to whom he was now
fastening; asked after absent ones, sending
them his dying admonitions, and invariably
concluded with the touching appeal, "Lovc
one another" Several coming in at ono time,
and some one remarking, Here are more of
your parishoners come to see you," he took
each one by the hand, addressing them in
dividually, and there was much weeping
around his couch, when he exclaimed,
GLORY be to God! here is little heaven
begun below" lie would repeat again and
again, "liappy day, happy day." and looking
up into the face of his brokcn-hcarted wife,
he said, whilst the most angelic smile lighted
up bis face, "Is'nt 1t happy day, my dear !"
Thus passed Monday, and those who were
privileged to witness how dying Christian can
glorify Godin his death, will treasure it as one of
the hearts most sacred memories. As the eve
ming advanced, he seemed desirous that the
Bishops, Green and Otey, who had been tele-
graphed for, should arrive and Bishop Otey
reached his bedside that same evening. His Joy
then seemed complete, and full to overaowIng,
and at two o'clock. in the still hour of night,
when the outer world was wrapped in Sleep the
stars alone keeping watch, little band of Chris.
tans were kneeling aroundh his dying bed, trking
with him the cmblems of the "Last Supper
and as our Savior srid to His disciples, the last
they would take with Him, until they drink it
new with Him in His Fathers Kingdom. The
communion was administered by Bishop Otey,
and the responses of none were so clear, distinct
and emphatic, as Of him who cat and drank, with
his sandals on, his loins girded, and his staff in
hand ready to depart, rejoicing in his deliver
ance. Early Tuesday morning, Bishop Green
and the Rev. Mr.. Crane and wife, (sister of Mrs
Ingraham,) from Jackson, this State, arrived
and he seemed now to have only one wish unful.
filled and that one was the return of his absent
son, to whom he wished to give his dying injunc-
tions. This day. too, was spent in singing
prayer and praise His prayers were full, sub
lime, and overwhelmingly touching. He prayed
for his family, his friends, his Church, his coun
try, and for all mankind He stood upon the
banks of the cold Jordan of death; its chilling
waters dashing around him, and with one foot
planted firmly upon the "Old Ship of Zion" in
which he was taking passage, and the other light
ly touching earth, he prayed his last prayer and
preached his last sermon, until the "old ship"
Tossed her moorings and glded silently and
sweetly over the dark waves into the port of the
New Jerusalem. II they who heard him be-
lieved not neither will they believe though one
arise from the dead We heard Bishop Otey re.
mark to him as he held his hand now cold in
death, Like Sampson, you have slain more in
your death than in life"
A grateful, happy smile was his only res.
ponse, and closing his eyes, he seemed dreaming
Of heavenly things. Angels seemed to be how
ering near to bear up to the crown the gem al
ready polished for the setting, As the evening
advanced he grew gradually weaker, and about
o'clock, those who stood around his bed sang
the ''Gloria In Excelsis, " and "IIow firm foun-
dation," when his joy became ccstatic; he would
reach up his hands towards Heaven, cross them
upon his breast smile upon all around, and
demonstrate in every possible way his great joy,
xclaiming-"Beautiful, beautiful angels I" until
nature gave way, and at quarter after ten
o'clock, he calmly folded his hands upon his
breast and passed away without struggle or
groan. All felt Heaven very near, and the cold
river of death very narrow, where he crossed
When morning dawned upon that sorrowing
household, he was sleeping as sweetly as a child
rocked in its mothers arms to rest As we
stood and looked upon that calm, sweet face,
with the impress of the faded light still lingering
there, we involuntarily exclaimed-"Done with
earth; no more will the weary feet tread the