The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1871-08-30
NO. 8.


) provement in the symptoms. "Do no
!, imagine for moment" was the reply
that L feel the smallest solicitude about
the result. I am like an old watch,
with a pinion worn out here and q
:, wheel there, until it can go on nc
longer" Being aroused from sleep
by the name of a clergyman, have
no objection to seeing him." said JEFF
ferson, ''as a kind friend and good
neighbor." His grandson understood
from this that he did not desire the
attendance of the clergyman in his
;. official capacity, having formed his
religious opinions upon mature study
and reflection.
HIS LAST HOURS.
His parting interview with his fam
, lily, on the I'd of July, was calm and
composed. He told his daughter she
would find in a certain drawer some
thing intended for her. 1t proved to
be these verses
A DEATH-BED ADIEU FROM TIL. J. TO NJ. R.
Life's visions are vanished; its dreams are
no more;
Dear friends of my bosom, why bathed in
tears?
go to my fathers; welcome the shore
Which crowns all my hopes, or which
buries my cares.
Then farewell, my dear, my loved daughter,
adieu
The last pang of life is in parting from you.
Two seraphs await me, long shrouded in
death;
I will bear them your love ON my last part
ing breath.
Tohis grandchildren he spoke many
words of wisdom, the cardinal points
of which were ''to pursue virtue, be
true and thruthful." One of the chill
dren, a lad of eight years, seemed
somewhat bewildered- George" said
the old patriarch, with smile, "does
not understand what all this MEANS"
Then, when all had been said, Jeffer
son murmured lowly but audibly those
words which have murmured through
mems hearts for eighteen centuries -
"Lord, now lettest Thy servant depart
in peace"
On the next day, Monday, July 8,
his slumbers were evidently those of
approaching dissolution. He slept
until evening, and then awoke,
seeming to think it was morning, say
ing, "Is this the Fourth of July 2"-
eft soon will be-" was the reply. Then
he sunk again to slumber. At nine
in the evening he was aroused to his
medicine. INC, doctor, nothing more
in a clear, distinct voice, and fell into
a disturbed slumber. In his sleep he
sat up in his bed, went through the
forms of writing, spoke of the Com
mittee of Safety, and said it ought to
be warned.
As midnight approached, the friends
stood watch in hand, hoping for yet a
few minutes of life, so that his death
might be hallowed by taking place on
the glorious Fourth. Their pious |
wish was granted. At four o'clock in !
the morning he spoke in a clear voice |
perfectly conscious of his wants.
These his last audible words but still |
he lived as the slow hours wore on
At ten he made some sign, which his
faithful old servant understood to in
dicate desire that his head should be
raised. At eleven he opened his eyes
and moved his lips. A wet sponge |
was placed to his mouth this he suck
ed with apparent relish. This was
the last evidence of consciousness which |
he gave. At fifteen minutes past noon
he had ceased to breathe.
All through these hours a similar
scene had been enacted hundreds of
miles away. On that same day,
few hours earlier, died John Adams,
the senior of Jefferson by eight years.
Just half century before, the Decia-
ration of Independence, that immortal
document whereof one of these two
dying men was the author, and the
other the most eloquent advocate, had
been formally put forth to all future
ages as the corner stone upon which
was built the structure of the United
States of America: