The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1869-11-19
RG, PA, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1869.

quiet ana tnOugnt1ul then languid and |
listless; then there would be now and |
then rosy tint on her cheeks-once SO |
full, but now wan; then, when she gave |
the doctor her little hand, he felt it fe- |
verish and looked thoughtful.
"Mother," said he to old Magdalen, |
"mother, be very careful. No night air,
no dreaming to the stars, no listening
to the far off breeze when it rushes to
the big pine forest. Take her out mother;
visit neighbor Worthiem, your kins.
man; 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.n
The mother did as she was bid, but
Trudchen remained thoughtful and list
less, and at last seemed unable to help
her dear old mother in her household
duties.
Thus the old doctor knew his patient.
He approached the couch carefully, look
ed awhile on the beautiful sleeper, took
tenderly her hand and felt the pulse.
mo pulse" said he, after long pause
-"What is this? 1t seems | hear her
breathing" said he, leaning over her.
eyes, hear it distinctly, but slow, very
slow. What is this? ? and no pulse"
"Karl," he said to the anxious lover,
"be careful not to be near her when she
awakes. Very weak, very weak.
should say on the very brink of eternal
sleep. If she awakes from this, be not
there. Break it softly to her. Her life
hangs on as fine thread as a spider ev-
or wove. Good mother of God, be mer-
ciful !"
The good old doctor was pious Catho-
lie, and kept up with mass and confess
sion at least rs wei! with the current
literature of the healing art.
"The mother of God" said Karl, with
deep emphasis which struck me, lis
tening with anxious sympathy. "The
mother of God, Herr Doctor, can avail
us nothing. She is, or was a creature
like you aud L; but her Eternal Son:
yes, He can heal now as when on earth.
May He have merry"
The doctor looked puzzled feeling
once more the pulse he said after a
while:
"No pulse, no pulse. Karl make a
vow, make vow. Perhaps there will
be mercy from the Mother or else from
FROM the Son"
And the pious, good old doctor cross
ed himself while saying this.
"My vow is made long SINCE" said
Karl, with the same emphatic tone.
"Long before l came. shall add moth
ing to it; but keep it shall, ,"added he,
the tears breaking forth, "yea, l shall
keep it, whatever may happen"
And then there was long pause. AT
length said Karl:
, "He knows best"
am sure the doctor felt curious abou
t his vow. So did l. But we both KEEP
silence and watched the long night will
intense anxiety. At length the morn
ing came. The breathing had becom,
, slower and slower. The hands were
clammy cold, the feet were cold, anG
| lOWdIu HDUH lllc uOClpT Sdlu
Goods will be done. Trudchen is il
Paradise. For surely such as she de
serve no other place."
, 1t came not unexpectedly. 1t wa!
, foreseen. The mothers eye had watch
ed so long that she was prepared for the
bitter loss. Yet bitter, very bitter, was
the cup to drink for a mothers love
Very bitter for him whose soul seemed
absorbed in the contemplation of what
remained of her whom he loved so long
so WELL for whom he had toiled an(
r struggled, and whom to make happy
r was the life of his soul.
Long they gazed upon the lovely be
ing, lovely in her sleep, a sweet smil
resting on her still rosy lips--an imag
of calm repose, of blissful expectation
At length the matron was the first t.
rally from the stupor wherein they botl
seemed to have fallen.
"Karl," said she, "thou camest il
time. She Went loving thee. She i.
happy, Karl" she said, putting her arm
with motherly tenderness around hi
neck; "thou couldst not have made hel
happier. Let us ask God to give III
strength to bear this stroke" and ther
bursting out in tears she knelt besid,
the couch. The young man knelt, tn,
doctor knelt, and / myself kuelt down
Soft and steady rose the voice of tn,
matron. What simplicity of language
What real coming to God What sub
dued prayer for strength What ten
der remembrance Of Trudchen's low,
and dutiful piety.
And when she ceased, the young MAJ
in deep cultural tones said. "Thor
knowest, Lord, what | vowed. Happy
she is, for with Thee she is; | thanh
Thee even so, for it was Thy will.
shall do it Lord, shall do it,"
! After while the neighbors came ad
ding their mite of consolation; and thel
they busted themselves with the las
atfeCtiOnate care to be bestowed upoi
the remains of one whom all seemed t
love. remained yet few hours, anC
in the afternoon took my leave from
the mourning mother and the sorrow
ing betrothed, / cast one more glanc
upon the beautiful form which had con
taincd the spirit of Trudchen, ant
mounting my horse, waved a last adiel
to my newly made friends.
TO BE CONTINUED.
,