The mountain Democrat., 1865-12-16

of my body. l was. dead In all but nv
mind: yet l could hear as distinctly as
ever. If my body was dead, nv spirit
still remained within. 1t might have been
fifteen minutes after my awakening to the
consciousness Of my situation, that
heard the footsteps Of Mrs. Bell upon the
stairs. l knswy she was coming to call
me to breakfast. HeE footsteps paused
at the door Of my room, and she gave
loud rap. Then all was silent, as If she
was listening. Another rap louder than
before, and then all was still again.
. He must sleep sound not to hear me, ;
| heard her say aloud to herself and
thought in rather petulcnt manner; and
if she did. the good woman was not to
blame. This is the third time | have
been to call him and he makes no answer.
l must wake him or the boiled ham will
not be fit to eat;' and she called aloud
my name.
l strove with all my power to break
the bonds that held the, and to answer
her. But it was all in vain my fetters
were stronger than those ever forged by
man for his brother. heard the door
open, and knew that she had entered the
room, although could not turn my eyes
toward her. She approaches the bed and
again called me by name then uttering
a wild cry ofterror, and the exclamation,
Good heaven he's dead !! she rushed
from the apartment, while strove with
all my power to call her back.
| heard another exclamation Of sur
prise as she announced from the window
the fact of my sudden demise to tre gar
dener, and told him to run for Dr. Viii.
lowly as soon as possible, and send the
first person he met for Cousin john
And then the good woman sank down at
my door, as she afterwards assured me.
through fright and emotion. Presently |
heard the rapid walk of a man outside
the door and then a voice, that at once
recognized as cousin Johns, s,asked, When
did this happen, Mrs. Bell?'
Il hardly know answered the good
woman. Il found him as he is, stone
dead, when | came up to call him for
breakfast. Where can the Doctor be?-
Oh there he is now
He seemed to be we'll when he left my
house. heard John sag. Then ] heard
another footstep-one that had known
for many years-and DIR. Willowly came
up 20 the chamber.
What is that you tell me, Mrs, Bell :?
Surely my old friend is not dead?' and |
could detect tremulousness in his voice
which he was seeking to conceal.
Il think he is, sir but perhaps you
can do something to restore him to US
again
Mrs. Bell here burst into violent fit
of weeping, while the two gentlemen came
close up to the bed.
DR.. Willowly bent over me, and placed
his finger upon my pulse, and then open
ed my shirt and placed his hand upon my
heart could see him as he bent over
me, and tried to tell him with my eyes
that was still alive, and aware Of his
presence. Slowly the moments went as
be tried to detect life, and at last he ceas.
ed his efforts and stood upright beside
the bed. know that it was in answer
to cousin Johns look that the Doctor said
= Our friend has indeed gone, and no ef
fort on my part can bring him back to
life. He must have neglected the warn
ing that have repeatedly urged upon
him, and retired to rest as soon as he
reached home, after partaking Of hearty
dinner. Death is more often brought
about by this habit than people think, or
even those we'll versed in medical science.
Our friend here has fallen victim TO this
very habit
And yet observed cousin John, his
passing from life to death must have been
a very easy one. There are no signs Of
and we're it not for the palor
that has settled over his features, should
think that he was merely sleeping
Probably he passed away without
pang, from the sleep of life to that which
will remain long unbroken. Last even
ing, as | walked with him from your
house, we talked of death as we stopped
a few minntes by the churchyard wall
vet we little thought that he would so
soon be lying there with the multitude
Poor fellow poor fellow I
And knew, by the huskineSs of the
Doctors voice, that tear for me was in
his eye.
Sooner or later we must follow, re-
piled cousin John. My cousin had reach
ed nearly the age Of forty, and there is
vast number who never see two score and
ten. He has been useful man in society,
and will be missed sadly
There was no tear in my relatives eye
q he said this. His voice sounded too
natural for that; and | could not help
thinking that he had not much regret at
nv Adden demise. as, not having made
nv will, he would lie the sole heir to the
snug little property that had amassed |
Turing my lifetime.
He will be missed said the Doctor,
shall miss him and so
will those he has befrirnded in the kind
1ess of his heart. And of these there
ire many. But we must not stand idly
lere. Let an undertaken at once be call
ID, and the remains prepared for burial.
when should1he funeral take place ?
asked cousin John.
Il should say to morrow afternoon, tax.
ng in the circumstances of his death and
he state of the weather, replied the Doc
or.
All this time l had been trying to break
he bonds that held me down, but it was
Useless. could not speak; | could not
move. There was no way that | could
give sign, and they all passed from the
'oom and left the alone.
The undertaken came, and ere long I
vas robed for the grave. Then he went
lway, the door was carefully closed, and
was again left alone. As they closed my
eyes | had attempted to resist their ef
orts, but that was equally futile with all
nv other struggles; and now day and
hight were alike to me.
The watchers were in an adjoining
-oom, and once an hour they came to see
hat all was secure. They spoke in low,
-oo.CI toDac nc neonle do IN Such Occa-