The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-08-20


need OF help-and could do so little; for, as the
doctor had foretold the strong body rebelled
against death, and fought every inch of the way,
forcing him to draw each breath with spasm,
and clench his hands with an imploring look, as
II he asked, How long must endure this, and
be still" For hours he suffered dumbly with
out moments respite or a moments murmur-
ing; his limbs grew cold, his face damp, his lips
white, and again and again, he tore the cover
ing off his breast as if the ightcst weight added
to his agony; yet through it all, his eyes never
lost their perfect serenity, and the mans SOU
seemed to sit therein, undaunted by the Ills that
veXed his flesh.
One by one, the men woke, and round the
room appeared a circle of pale faces and watch
ful eyes, full of awe and pity; for, though a
stranger, John was beloved by all. Each man
there had wondered ut his patience, respected his
piety, admired his fortitude. and now lamented
his hard death; for the influence of an upright
nature had made itself deeply felt, even in one
little week Presently the jonathan who so
his bed fora last look and word. The kind soul
was full of trouble, as the choke in his voice,
the grasp of his hand betrayed; but there were
no tears, and the farewell of the friends was
the more touching for its brcvty.
"Old boy, how are you;' laltered the one.
"NIost through, thank heayen.' whispered the
other.
Can I say or do anything for you any
Take my things home, and tell them that I
did my best
~ will will"
"Guod by, Ned
'GoOd by, John, good by"
They kissed each other, tcnderly as women,
and SO parted, for poor Ned could not stay to
see his cQmrade die. For little while, there
was no souid ip tle tGOm but the drip of water
from stump or two, ana JOINS dlstresstuL
gasps, as he slowly breathed his ne away
thought him nearly gone, and had 1u.9IlaIu uoWH
the fan, believing its help to be 10 longer
needed, when suddenly he rose up i'm his bed, ana
cried out with bitter cry that broke the silence
sharply startling every one with his agonized
appeal
For Gods sake give me air.
1t was the only cry pain or death had wrung
from him, the only boon he had asked; and
none of us could grant it, for all the air that
blew were useless now. Dan flung up the win
dow. The first red streak of dawn was warm
ing the grey cast herald of the coming sun:
John saw it, and with the love of light which
fingers in us to the end, seemed to read in it
sign of hope of help, for, over his whole face
there brol." that mysterious expression, brighter
than any smile, which often comes to ewes that
look their last. He laid himself gently down:
and, stretching out his strong RIGHT arm as if to
grasp and bring the blessed air To his Inns i'm 81
fuller flow, lapscd into mercifu unconscious
ness, which assured us that for him SUFFERING
was forever past. He died then: for thOuoh tI,1
heavy brCaths still tore their way up for n liz
longer, they were but the waves Of an ,,;
tide that beat unfelt against the WrP Il. rIiE
an immortal voyager had desertn" viii . sr,iIa
He never spoke again, but t" the end held my nv
last, could not draw Il owav' Oon bcinnJ me- e'
warning me as he did so that il was unsafe for
dead ana IlNp'G flesh to lie so long together: but
though W. hand was strangely cold and stiff,
and iC'dr white marks remained across its back
even when warmth and color had returned else
where, | could not but be glad that through its
touch, the human sympathy, perhaps, had
| ightcncd that hard hour.
When they had made him ready for the grave.
John lay in state for half an hour. Il thing which
seldom happened in that busy places but Il uni
versal sentiment of reverence and affection
seemed to fill the hearts of all who had known or
heard of him; and when the rumor of his death
went through the house, always astir, many
came to see him, and | felt tender sort of
| pride in my lost patient: for he looked a most
heroic figure, lying there stately and still as the
| statue OF some young knight asleep upon his
| tomb. The lovely expression which often
| beauties dead faces soon replaced the marks
! of pain, and lOngcd for those who loved him
best to see him when half an hours acquain-
| tance with Death had made them friends. As
| we stood looking ut him, the ward master
! handed me letter, saying it had been forgotten
| the night before. 1t was Johns letter, come
| just an hour too late to gladden. the eyes that
| had lOnged and looked for it so eagerly; but he
| had it; for, after | had cut some brown locks for
! his mother, and taken off the ring to send her,
| telling how well the talisman had done its
| NOEk, 1 hlSSGu IlllS 0OOU SOl LOT ucl Suhc, alO
laid the letter in his hand, still folded as when
drew my own away, feeling that its place was
| there, and making myself happy with the
thought that even in his solitary grave in the
Government Lot, he would not be Withou
| some token of the love which makes life bcauti
full and outliyes death. Then ! left him, glad tc
| have known so genuine u man, and carrying
| with me an enduring memory of the brave Nir
| @inia blacksmith, as he lay sercncly waiting fo
the dawn of that long day which knows N
night"
Turner Brothers IL Co. send us q c3Ies,
paper-cover edition Of James, Greenwood
seven curse OF London" A portrait o
! To author which is given gives the Likeness
OF a sh'ewd, active and earnest reporter, tn
man 20 work up such a subject in good style
Price, twenty cents.
We have received Nos II and ~ O
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nublishers make the following statement witt
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and to none others, gratis, Letters A and
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