Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1863-08-07

though here and there little ingram
matical or inelegent, each sentence came to
me briefly worded, but most expressive, full
of excellent counsel to the boy, tenderly
.bequeathing "mother and Lizzy" to his
care, and bidding him goodbye in words
the sadder for their simplicity. He added
a few lines with steady hand, and as seal
ed it, said with patient sort OF sigh. 81
hope the answer will come in time for me
to see it )" then, turning away his face, laid
the flower against his lips, as if to hide
some quiver of emotion at the thought of
such a sundering of all the dear home ties.
These things had happened two days be-
fore. Now, John was dying and the letter
had not come. had been summoned to
many death beds in my life, but to none
that made my heart ache as it did then, since
my mother called me to watch the depar-
ture of a spirit akin to this, in its gentle
mess and patient strength. As Invent in
John stretched out both hands. .t-.- ,s,
II knew you'd come l guess TN NOV
ing on, ma am"
He was, and so rapidly that even while
he spoke, over his face ] saw the gray vail
falling that no human hand can lift. / sat
down by him, wiped the drops from his fore
head, stirred the air with the slow wave of
fan, and waited to help him die. He stood
in sore need Of help, and j could do so lit
tie for, as the doctor had fore-told the
strong body rebeled against death, and
fought every inch of the way, forcing him
to draw each breath with a spasm, and
clench his hands with an imploring look, as
if he asked, How long must | endure
this, and be still !" For hours he suffered
without a moments murmurng. His limbs
grew cold, his face damp, his lips white, and
again he tore the covering off his breast, as
if the lightest weight added to his agony ::
yet, through it all, his eyes never lost their
perfect serenity, and the mans soul seemed
to sit therein, undaunted by the ills that vex-
ed his flesh
s soLDIERLY SYMPATHY.
| One by one the men awoke, and round
the room appeared circle OF pale faces
and watchful eyes. full of awe and pity; for,
though stranger John was beloved by all.
Each man there wondered at his patience,
respected his piety, admired his fortitude,
and now lamented his hard death for the
influence of an upright nature had made IT.
self deeply felt even in one little week.
Presently the Jonathan who so loved his
comely David came creeping from his bed
for last look and word. The kind soul
full of trouble, as the choke in his voice, and
the grasp of his hand betrayed; but there
were no tears, and the farewell of the friends
was the more touching for its brevity.
"Old boy, how are you p faltered the
"Most through, thank heavenp' p whisper,
ed the other.
"Can l do anything for you anywheres p
"Take my things home, and tell them
that / did my best
"I will 4" / will p
"Good bye, Ned.
j "Good bye, John, good bye =
They kiss each other tenderly as women
and so parted 70" poor Ned could not stay
to see his comrade die. 7ot
i For little while there was no sound in
the room but the di ip of water from a stump
or two, and Johns distressful gasrs as he
breathed his life away. l thought him
nearly gone, and had just laid down the fan
believing its hel p no longer needed, wher
suddenly he rose up in his bed, and cried
out with bitter cry that broke the silence
sharply startling every one with its agoniz
ed appeal: "For Gods sake give me air ?
1t was the only cry, pain or death hat
wrung from him, the boon he had asked ant
none of US could grant it, for all the air
that blew were useless now. Dan flung W
40 urindn,u tba frst raJ straoE of J,u,,-
warning the grey east, herald of the com
t ing sun. John saw it, and with the love o
} light which fingers in us, to the end, seemed
! to read in it sign of hope, for over hi.
: whole face there broke that mysterious ex
t preston, brighter, by far than any smile
, which often comes to eyes that look thei
t last. He laid himself gently down ant
stretching out his strong right arm, as if tt
grasp and bring the blessed air to his lips il
, fuller flow, lapsed into mercful uneonsci
business, which assured US that, for him suf
: fering was forever past.
!, As we stood looking at him the ward mas
ter handed me a letter, saying it had beer
( forgotten the night before. 1t was john
letter, come just an hour too late TO gladdel
the eyes that had looked and longed for
r SO eagerly-yet he had it for after hat
cut some brown locks for his mother, ant
, taxed off tie ring to send her, telling hov
2 well the tailsman had done its work, kiss
ed this good son for her sake, and laid th
, letter in his hand, still folded as when
drew my own away.
That's fine strain" said one gentle
man TO another, alluding to the tones of
singer at concert the other evening. - es,