The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-09-07
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THE GREAT DROUGHT.
CHAPTER VII.

taste OF that oblivion which was soon
to full upon them will an impene-
trabIe shroud. All but Ellen were
sooa asleep; but she the most weariei
OF all, could not close her eyes and
admit rest to her over-wrought frame
There was burning thirst in her
threat, which the small portion of
water sho and tho rest had shared
being all that remained for then,--.
Ind failed to s,ake., She had not
complained Of it; but she rejoiced
when She hoard them sleep, that she
could rise and move restiessly about.
Ine night VAS hot. and yet the West
wind continued to blow strongly; the
moon shone, but scarcely with so
bright a'light as t,sual-there was {.
fim upon it, or, Perhaps Ellen
thought it was the dimness OF her
own weary eyes. She came softly up
Is Pnulett, and watched his frame.
hlifnahed in the unconsciousness of
sleep, and upon which none of the
ravages of want and exertion We're
concealed. The flesh was wasted; the
strong chest showed the bones Of the
skeleton; the arms which had so
strained their powers were thin, and
lay in an attitude of extreme exhaus-
= tion. His sleep was deep; his lips
open: his cyelids blue; he would
wake in want; ana soon he would be
able to sleep 10 more till the 1t
Steep OF oil came III torment and
anguish: Poor Charles lay by him,
his head on his fathers body for q
pillow, his limbs drawn somewhat
together, his clusters Of brown hair
parted off his pale, thin cheek; and
Alice. the darling Alice, with more
color in hor face than any of them.
slept IN deep repose, destined per
haps to live last, and to call in vain
on those whose cares hitherto had
kept her healthier and happier than
themselves. The mother croanad
with anguish; she measured what
these were about to suffer by all she
began 10 suffer herself, and the sight
q. them seemed to scar the burning
eyes which could no longer weep.
:5'ia sat down on tho floor Inv Alice:
her head fell against tho wall: she
caDg'lt at q little rosary which hing
ncai' har and pressed it in her mouth
the comparative CoolEess of the beads
giving her a-little ease Her face fell
On hey bosom.
When Paulett woke "ut of lis deep
sleep, and as soon us he stirred, the
;ittl" Alice came Oh tip-t..e across the
f'oor to him and said, sIIush. father,
;:ly lnother is asleep 1T last. =
"At last, my Aii,,c! What! Coul,i
s:,a not sleep?''
II think she could not sleep. I
woke rp. and t:"re was my mother;
and Chor!cs wu4>., presently, and she
sald, Charles. go cut and try TO brine
back some cold stones in cup, auu
then presently she sat Down again
;.n.i went to sleep"
He rose saftly, and taking the little
3iri by the hand, came up to Ellen's
'.ittc, ami looild upon her. She was
ling ~ full length on the floor. ..er
;'"a'l WAS toward him. but her fac.
as t"rned upon the ground. and hcr
:'"'r further hid it: her right arm WAS
Ialien forward. ard the back Of that
land lay IN the palm Of the other.
ne did not hN3r iior see her breathe.
rs IT 50. ~: 'lcn?' he said. art
;'vn at rest? il there no farewell for
me- lie i1nealed, and stoope,l
lower md love-. His lips did not
Tenturn 10 feel hers; b., ionged that
"i'o might be free, yet shrank from
knowing that she was gone. But no;
&io Aai not ceased to suffer; low
Nlgh came at LIST, and her parcned
:nonth opened.
y atAr. she said; then lifted her
yes a@d saw Paulctt. and rememher-
Sd all by degrees. Is not there
little? OH, no hone. Nay, 1 shall
not want it soonr' i,ne turned her
iac@ OF l';iuiett's brv...;, and soon
aftcr tried to rise and push herself
rom him. "L-eavo me, dear hus-
ha..; l;iss ne once and leave me; try
- save themn'
;;ut Paulctt folded his arms round
he.'. "-a<ot SO, my Ellen the chances
oil iifo arc SO little that it is lawful for
M to give them np unless we can
~ seek them together. Alas! all |
IL do is bat SEQ thee die, Oh! if I
oiild give thee one minutes easel"
Alas! yo,. aust all die like this, ,
said Ellen, who was perishing like
one oE the flowers that had died in
the 'trou5sAt for want of rain. Water
could have saved that life. spared
those srfferings That burning
maud those gasping lips, those
anxious eyes, revealed what the
spirit: passing away in that torment.
wn"id fa1n have concealed. "Alice.
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