The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1869-05-29
VOLUME XIV.

I caught her in my arms, but recovering
Immediately the brave woman said "K arl,
sir; Karl is coming 2 and she went to the
bed-chaInber. She knelt down before the
couch whereon lay her daughter, seeming
ly asleep, her eyes closed, her hands clasp.
ed over her breast She knelt down and
wept. .u.L .4 'Ma
| stood in anxious expectation, The
voices became louder and louder. could
hear the tramping of horses and footsteps
Soon l saw mass of men approaching
the gate, Stopping, they gave hearty
Hurrah for Karll Hurrah for Trud.
chen u l saw young man shaking hands,
with words of thanks to all, then lifting
the gate latch and hastily walking up to
the door.
He saw me, greeted politely, went into
the house, and said with voice thick with
emotion: ~
"Mother motherl"
The mother stood in the door, put her
finger on her lips, opened her arms, and
what an embrace What long, long EN-.
brace That bronzed face of the young
Switzer quivered, tears rolled down; and
the mother! shall I ever forget the ex-
preston of thankful hope and grateful
lovel .....' g.
1rudchenH" asked Karl, at last.
"All yours, my Karl, my boy llyours,
but i'll and weak. Look in"
Thus saying she led him to the bed.
chamber, where Trudchen lay seemingly
asleep. Karl trembled all over with emo.
tion. He approached knelt down, took
one Of the clasped hands, kissed it, then
rose and softly left the room.
Though not a physician, knew enough
to sec that there was a case which, unless
handled with care, might turn into death,
or worse even-lunacy.
"Be careful" said |. "Do not try to
awaken your daughter. Watch her. She
may sleep on the whole night. Stay with
her. When she wakes to consciousness
be guarded. Violent emotion might kill
her"
The mother thanked mo. Invent out to
the gate, and told the assembled friends
the state of affairs, begged them to
leave quietly, and to send up the physician
from Wetterbrunner.
In the meantime Karl told his story. It
was that of many others. After year of
toll in the new world, he heard OF the CALI
fornia gold mines, made up his mind, went
to work bravely, kept sober and steady,
made what in Berne Oberland might be
called 'good pile" and hastened to re-
turn so as to keep his word with his be-
trothed. On his arrival at Wetterbrunner
he generously treated his numerous friends,
who, in their enthusiasm, began to ring
the church bell, and accompanied him to
his future home.
1t was deep in the night when the ply.
sician came-an elderly man, not only the
physician Of the villagers, but their friend
and real benefaCtor. He knew of Trud-
chen's faithful love and enduring expeeta-
ton. During the third year of Karl's alb
sence she began to be quiet and thought
full then lsnguid and listless then there
would be now and then rosy tint on her
cheeks-once 30 full, but now wan then,
when she gave the doctor her little hand,
he felt it feverish, and looked serious.
"Mother," he said to old Magdalen,
smother, be very careful. No night air,
no dreaming to the stars, no listening to
the far-otf breeze when it rushes to the
big pine forest. Take her out, mother
visit neighbor Wortheim, your kinsman
go anywhere, mother, and give her
change. Perhaps she may fall in with
some Of our sturdy mountaineers, who
may replace what seems to be lost"
And the mother did as she was told, but
Trudchen remained thoughtful and list
less, and at last seemed unable to help her
dear old mother in the household duties.
Thus the old doctor knew his patient
TIn .nI fhn l..
awhile on the beautiful sleeper, took ten
derly her hand, and felt the pulse.
"No pulse" said he.
"No pulse" repeated he after lonl
pause. "What is this2 Itseems / heal
her breathing" said he, leaning over her
" Yes, / hear it distinctly, but slow; very
slow. What is this and no pulse? ~
"Karl," he said to the anxious lover
abe careful not to be near her, should
she awake. Very weak, very weak.
should say on the brink of eternal sleep
If she awakes from this, be not there
Break it softly to her. Her life hangs Oh
a thread as fine as spider ever Wove
Good mother of God, be merciful, be mer
ciful!'
The good doctor was a pious Catholic
and kept up with macs and confession a
least as well as with the current literatnr
of the healing art.
"The mother OF God" said Karl, wit
a deep emphasis, which struck me, listen
ing with anxious sympathy, " the mothe
Of God, Herr Doctor, can avail US moth
ing. She is, or was, a creature like 20
and [; but her Eternal Son, yes, He ca
heal now as he He did when on eartl
May he have mercylH
The doctor looked puzzled; feeling ono
more the pulse, he said, after while
"No pulse, no pulse. Karl make
vow, make VOW; perhaps there wfll t
mercy from the mother, or else from th
Son.
And the pious, good old doctor crosse
himself while saying this.
4 my vow is made long since" sal
Karl, with the same emphatic tone; "lou
before came. shall add nothing to Il
but keep it shall, added he, the tea
breaking forth; "yea, | shall keep
whatever may happen"
And then there was q long pause. 4
length said Karl, He knows best"
/ am sure the doctor felt curious abol
the VOW. SO did /. But we both kel
silence, and watched that long night vii
intense anxiety. AT length the mornir
came The breathing had become slow
and slower. The hands were clamm
cold, the feet were cold, and toward noe
the doctor said.
Goods viii be done Trudcben is
Paradise For surely, such as she deserl
! no other place"
It came not Unexpectedly Ii was for
seen. The mothers eye had watched
long that she was prepared for the bitt
/, loss. Yet bitter, very bitter, was the cg
to drink for mothers love. Very bitt
! for him whose soul seemed absorbed
t the contemplation Of what remained
i her whom he loved so long, so well
!, whom he had toiled and suffered, aI
! whom to make happy was the life Of /
soul.
It Long they gazed upon the lovely bein
Q lovely In her deep, q sweet smile restii
on her still rosy lips-an image Of cal
3 Fepose, Of blissftll expectation. AT leng
the matr0n was the first to rally from 1
EsupoF wherein they both seemed to ha
. fallen.
y Karl said she, thou canest In tin
She went loving thee. She is hapI
g Karl, 2 she said, putting her arm WI
4, X motherly tenderness around bis nee
thou couldst not have made hbr happi
e i.et ls asx God to give us strength ID b.