The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1869-07-23

had come out the preceding fall. Hun
dreds of others had also been tempted
like him aud he found that the city was
overrun with them, each in turn DOOM
ed to disappointment. After remain
Ing with Lewis during the winter he
proposed to return North in the Spring,
with him and his wife, But her illness
detained him, and he now found him
self, as well as Lewis, in the midst Of a
raging epidemic. He remained, and,
like his brother, devoted himself to the
care of the sick. I'D .rIrU.. .. i..H.
Lewis Foster took his way home
through the solitary streets at slow
pace. The air was still, and rs difficult
to breathe as If coming from the mouth
of a furnace. Not cloud was in the
hazy looking sky, and the dust of the
ground was so pulverized by the drought
as to float for hours after 1t was dis
turbed, making it still more difficult TO
breathe. AS he went along groans Of
the dying, or shrieks of the living over
the just dead, alone met his ears; save,
at intervals, the voice of prayer. The
dead. cart occasionally broke the stiffness
as it rumbled along slowly, ever and an
on stopping at a door to add to its load.
AT length James reached his abode, a
neat verandah cottage with yard be-
fore it, once green and adorned with
flowers, but now parched with the
heat and dust. Mary was at the door
and flew to meet him. She threw her
arms around his neck and wept! For
meetings and partings, though for few
hours, at such time, were not without
emotion.
"You are safe, thank God !" she said,
gratefully.
"And you, dearest Mary" he said
folding her to his heart. "And the
children?'' . ....
"Both we'll. How is Mr.. Vinton?"
! Dead" he answered, in tone that
was methodical. This word of SO fear
full import, was then too common in
mems mouths to be uttered with the
emphasis and feeling which belong to
it ut other times. "Where is James ?''
"a negro came for him to see Charles
Wilbur" ...a...t
"Charles l met him on my way to
Vinton's not five hours ago, and he
went in with me, laughed with poor
Vinton, told him not to give up, for he
would get over it, aud then left US, as
he said, to see fellow clerk. Poor fel
low! l will go to him." .aJ
! "No; Lewis! you owe duties to mt
and the children! You will be the mex
victim, and then what would become
of me?" t.-H .....--
| "God !" answered Lewis, solemnly
and impressively, pointing upwards
"But will remain with you. an
quite fatigued, and need some rest!"
"Your cheek is flushed and your eye
heavy! Oh, James, If you should b.
i'll l" cried the wife with anxious.solici
tude. How hot your hands are! you
pulse is fearfully rapid Oh, God
what is this? He is i'll !" she exclaimed
as her husband suddenly grew pale ant
sank into chair, powerless.
, She spoke to him, but he did not re
ply. He grew black in the face and vi
; olent vomiting confirmed the fearful
suspicion of the poor wife! She gaze,
, upon her husband moment as If to as
sure herself of the horrible truth, ant
then the air rang with her shrieks 70
help! Her voice penetrated hundred
ears, but produced no effect. 1t wa
heard with indifference, and often re
, echoed by the dying, with insane wild
: ness. She ceased her shrieks and ad
: ministered to him whatever was a
t hand, and tried to shut her ears to hi
: groans of agony. At length she locke
up. 1t was James-her brother! Blu,
{ oh, horror! he was staggering along
and his countenance betrayed the fata
signs ofthe epidemic.
MARY" he said family, II have com
home to die!" AS he spoke he fell a
. full length upon the floor.
The cup of the poor wife was full
She kissed him and bade him live 70
her! He embraced her, and lookin
: toward Lewis bade her with his eye
| to look only on him. How dear to he
were both. Which could she least re
/ gard? Which could she resign
/. But we will not dwell upon scene S
: full Of pain. After enduring six hours {
suffering, Lewis Foster breathed hi
last in the arms of his wife, who tn
I noxt p,nn,ant fall ;,OanO;hIa ,,pon hi
body. An hour afterwards she wa
Q aroused by the dead carrier, who cam
to remove the dead body; for the re
: cross had been made upon the door b.
r an officer who had just before passed j
his rounds. She rose up aud gazed upo
) it as if in dream. She stood SILENT
3 in stuporof horror and saw the me
+ bear him forth, and then, forgetful thi
\ her brother lay dying in the same room
4 forgetful of her children, she followe
! and threw herself upon the corpse. B
Q main force the men removed her, an
: then drove on. She stood like a statu
Q till the cart was out of sight, when tn
: sound OF her infants voice within tn
y house recalled the mother to hersel
I She clasped her hands in silent anguis
5 and sought her fatherless childrel
James lying on the floor in the agoni'
e of death, first met her sight. She fle
j. to him, and he soon breathed his la.
upon her arm. ..
j. Again the dead cart came, and Il
: body OF her brother was borne from h'
!, sight. She sat upon the floor and move
Q not-nor scarcely breathed as the me
o went tramping out. She had her tW
: children firmly clasped to her breast, &
i II she feared they would return an
: deprive her of them.
/ From this day the plague abate'
h The number of victims was each NOR
n ing reported less and less, and hope b