The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-10-23

wounded. keeping up his strength with
stimulants, aud lesseniug his pain by ad-
ministering opiates. Now he came to
him for the last time; knowing there was
nothing more to be gained by medicine or
human skill, he came to add one more
death scene to the many he had witness
|sed; but, as he afterwards told me, he
had seen none more impressive than this
We were standing round the bed, in-
tently looking at the sad picture before
us. when l recollected the touching re-
quest of the private, who had called me
to him. softly laid my hand on Blacks
forehead so as to attract his attention,
and said:
Black! Private Malony has been ask
ing for you. He wishes to be remember
led to you
'Ay, ayr said Black. with difficulty
It's like the man. He's good man
Captain. Thank him, sir and tell him
and all the men for me, that prayed for
them with my last breath. You'll not
forget this, sir, will you?'
mo, Black l replied, you may de.
pend upon it, the regiment shall know
that you died happily, like good man,
and that you had time enough, and heart
enough to think Of others in a Christian
spirit, even at the last 3
oh, yes, sirl he said. oh, yes! But
tell them, oh, tell them, that it was only
religion that made me happy
He had scarcely uttered these words.
when a change seemed to pass over his
features, and each of US by the bedside
instinctively stopped forward, in great
anxiety to discover what it was. 1t al
most seemed to take US by surprise; and
yet, in point of fact, we had for some time
been waiting for and expecting the
change.
The doctor put his hand upon his pa.
TENTS pulse, 6xedly looked at him for
moment, felt his feet and put his hand
over bis heart; then, looking toward me
he said in a tone of unfeigued sorrow:
Poor fellow, the scene is closing.
felt dreadful numbness and tingling
pass over my body, aud an indescribable
feeling of awe oyershsdowed my thoughts
My breath was suspended until relieved
by deep sigh, and my eye fell upon Cor
poral johnson. Such picture of manly
grief / never beheldl
A few moments passed, ana strange to
me it seemed that poor Black partially
recovered from the fearful faintness which
had come on so suddenly. He only rail-
lied enough to express few more words
/ wet his lips with water, and gently pas.
sed my handkerchief across his forehead.
His eyes opened slightly, and with the
utmost exertion, and in broken syllables
he said:
My Bihle-my Bi ble-is below my
pillow. Oh, give it to my-to my-to
my-mother!' he sighed. God bless her
God bless s
He drew deep, deep breath, then lay
motionless. Again slight breathing oc-
curred heard dreadful rattling sound
observed sort of quiver. and the body
before me was lifeless Westood motion
less around until the doctor stopped down,
placed his ear owe. the heart, and gave
sign that it was all over.
With heavy heart turned and went
away. Some time after chow long could
scarcely say woke as from reverie, and
found myself sitting on form at the fur
ther end of the room. I then remem,
bered his wish about the Bible, and went
back as noiselessly as 1 could. On ap-
preaching the bed, ] found Corporal
johnson still there. He slightly turned
away his cad, but could see that he
was overcome with grief, and in his hand
l observed lock of hair, his last memen-
to of poor Black,
What sincerity of love, what nobleness
o! feeling, what earnestness of grief, was
that wounded man capable oil | gently
removed the sheet which covered the face
of the corpse A soft smile Gas is usual
believe in cases of death from gun shot
woupd) seemed to play over his calm fea-
lures, ard whether it was my Imagination
pictured it or not, l cannot tell; but a
look of heavenly happiness seemed pic
tured there. I passed my hand below
the pillow, and removed the Bible, whose
words bad afforded comfort in life and in
death to that brave soul. Mahy of the
pages were turned down, as l afterwards
found, at the most beautiful passages oi
inspired writing. As I was in the act oi
turning to the fret page. piece of paper
few out from between the leaves and hut
tered to the ground. carefully recover.
ed it, took last look of the face knew
go well, and left Johnson still by the bed
then left the hospital to walk to my tent
which was not for distant. The night wa,
calm and lovely, the stars were twinklins
in the heavens, and as my mind was dwell
Hing on the grand death scene: (grand be
cause triumphant over fear aud death
I could hear the vedettes calling aloud
'All's weli!' On reaching my tent an
xiously- looked to the loose page whiel
Black had thought worthy to be kept il
This Bible 1t was an extract which b
had cut out of Shakespeare, which ha,