Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1861-04-11
A TOUCHING sTopy

Democrat, in late editorial correspondence
from Dunkirk. New York -
"On the train last night which left Chi
chago on the Pittsburg and Fort Wayne road.
here was touching incident that showed
70, th like the monday sun, the deep and
Iasti,. q love Of a sister. There was on board,
IN the aeeping car, a young Lady from Al
bany. New York, the only sister Of pale.
emaciated Invalid who lay on a couch, the
motion of the cars as il seemed, Fastening
with a sort of Eager tremble the life from
him. A little over four years since. duty, a.
he tbouOht. called him from the store in which
he was engaged, to Kansas. he thought
some one there might be IN danger-he went
tortb--concluded to make his home there
braveiv toiled till he fell sick with consnmp-
t;on. and sent at last for his sister, glrl OF
aboI,t twenty. and his only living relative, TO
como and kiss the death damp from his brow.
She went, and ber gentle care seemed TO re-
yiye him, till be determined to set hls face
towards the east and there seek health, or
quiet grave beside bis mother.
They started, but the travel was too much
for his wasted energies, and at Chicago he
was earned on board the train, and LAID IN
the berth, as though he were an unconscious
infant. As he lay there, pale and coughing,
IL was beautiful to see with what holy, sister
Iy devotion would that girl watch beside him,
fearful least wish might be formed, but yet
unbreathed, that she did not anticipate She
wiped the clammy penpiration from has pale
brow. She gently smoothed back his damp
hair, and softly kissed his forehead as she
bent over him. At times be would rally
little, and ask how far they had come, and
then sink back exhausted. Passengers gath
cred about, ready and anxious to relieve him,
but ii was little they could do. AT tunes be
would, as be turned his weary head and
closed bis aching eyes, mutter-"O Oh hoU sLos0
Il never shall see my home q About mid
night he asked the conductor show fast they
were going p
About thirty miles an hour"
A." And am going faster get than dsdt :" be
muttered half unconsciously, as be opened
his eyes and turned his head which lay in the
lap of his sister, 50 he could the better look
up into her moistened eye.
A little past one, he asked bis sister the
hour. She told him. A few moments later
he reached out his skeleton hand 10 place
within hers. and almost whispered, kiss nae,
sister, before sLeep," and closed bis eyes.
Slowly the muscles of his neck relaxed, his
head fell gently TO one side as though be was
sleeping, his fingers loosed their scarcely per-
cepnble grasp, and he lay there a. qulst az a
babe on its mothers breast. He was dead
to the home be so longed to see, his spirit too
impatient to wait the rapid puisatlon OF the
engine, had left the body, anu gone 10 nod q
mother IN the invisible world. While the
cars we're rumbling along at q rate Of speed
fsarfrl, if one stops 10 think Of IL, death had
overtaken, entered, and borne of II triumph
victim, and FASTENED on for another one.
There we're more tears shed last night than
those that fell like rain from the eyes Of the
tired, wearied and loving sister. The car
seemed 10 become still-sllent as death, as
kind friends gently laid his head down from
her lap, and led her weeping away. There
we're fearful eyes, noistened cheeks, aud
trembling hands, ready 20 do all that could
oe done for the deserted prison house Of the
diving spirit, and there were kind words, but
none too kind for the sister who now stood
alone 10 ths world. And there were those
present who gladly volunteered 10 take
charge Of and accompany both The dead aud
living TO the home now completely desolaie.
They who Insist that man Is altogether de-
orayed-that there is not somewhere ~ the
1-art a spct that is ever alive to sympathy
or those Ia trouble, should have : en the
kindness manifested last night toward the dy-
ing, the dead, and the heartbroken.
WHAT CONSTITUTES a GOOD
EDITOR"
The editor Of the Alexandra Gazette gives
expression TO a iruism that should be read
and ponderei over by his brethren Of every
locality. Notwithstanding that the blk Of
| rhe Press Of the Union Is conducted with
degree Of tact that il really remarkable, yet
| too many are managed on the verbose
principle and for the special benefit OF those
whom the shoe pinches " We reprint his
| Frankiin-like hints in a conspicuous column.
Many people estimate the ability OF
| newsps per, and the industry and talent Of Its
editor by the quantity Of editorial matter
which il contains. Ii is comparatively an
sasy task for frotl writer to pour out daily
| columns Of wcrds-words upon any and all
| subjects. His ideas may flow in 81 one weak,
Washy. everlasting food" and his command
| Of language may enable him 10 string them
together ike punches of onions, and yet hls
paper way be a meager and poor concern.
| i}ut what IL the labor and toll Of such a man,
who displays his loaded matter ever so
argely. 10 that imposed on the judiclous, ,.wel
| informed editor, who exercises his vocation
with an hourly. consciousness Of responsible
| ties. and deyotes himself to the conduct OF
| ais paper with the zane care and asslduiiy
| that a sensible lawyer bestows upon suit, or
| a humane physician upon patent, without
| regard 10 show or display Indeed the mere
1 WrIAD2 ffdEt u INAAtAAAE . -
| norton of the work The care and the time
| employed in selecting far more important
matter. and the fact of good editor IS better
shown by his selections than anything else,
| and that we know is half the battle. But, as
we have said, the editor ought TO be estimat-
ed. and appreciated by the general character
of his paper,--its tone-its temPer-its unit
form consistent course-its prInelples-lts
aims--its manliness-its dignity-lts ProPri-
ETY.. To preserve these as they should es
preserved is enough to occupy folly the ume
and attention of any man If TO this be added
the. general supervision OF the ne"spaPef -
| tablisbment. which most editors have to en-,
counter. the wonder is bow they can ind
| time or room to write at all
sTHr SrAR-SPANGLED BANNER. The
history oftbe composition of this popular song
j. perhaps familiar to every one Its author
Francis 5. Kew, on the 18th Of September
IsI4. left Baltimore with flag OF truce tor
| a. r -. ,f friend of his who had been