The Shasta courier., 1872-12-07
LAST WORDS.

however physlologlsts may question the
Importance of the feeble utterances of the
dying, it is certain that mankind in gener
al finds a deep significance in the las,
words Of those who are vauishing into the
unknown life.
"He raves J" said the physician, vher
DR. Adams, Rector Of the high School Of
Edinburgh, was passing away; but as we
catch the last words of the raving, our own
eyes are dimmed cit grows dark, boys,
stretching forth his hand "you may GO
"ADl my possessions for moment of time !!
moaned Queen Elizabeth Wesley, calm.
er, said as he died, "The best of all is, God
is with u.s." And deaf Beethoven, whose
soul had ever been filled with harmony, ex-
claimed gladly, II shall hear!'
ais your mind at ease?" Goldsmith was
asked by his physicians. "No, it is not "'
was the mournful reply, and he spoke no
more. How different the parting words Of
DIR. William Hunter! off l had strength
TO hold pen, l would write how easy and
pleasant thing it is to die" Or the as
surance of President Edwards, as his dying
grasp ioosened on hard forms of dogma,
"Trust in God and you need not fear"
Byron said weariiy, ~ must sleep now,
and Goethe, turning to his wife, called
"Light, more Light !"
DR.. johnson died in tumult Of uneasi-
2e5s and dread. Cowper sank to rest as
peacefully as child. IL am taking fear
ful leap il to. dark" cried Hobbies the
Deist and "Now, Lord, receive my soul ?
whispered Herbart OF his last "sweet day
Po!iteness we. no longer ruling passion,
but chrism, when Chesterfield in dying
said, "Give Dayrolles chair" and surely
something was forgiven of Charles the Sec
ond, when he bade farewell to earth's
pomp. and wickcdasss in "Don't let poor
Nelly starve''
Raller'a las. words we're, feeling his own
pulse, "Tne artery ceases to beat" Pc
trarch died suddenly and silently in his
library, his head upon book, and Sir Isaac
Newton winding his watch when he was
ushared into the life that hath no end.
Talma, the great actor, exclaimed pitiful-
ly and as lie went, 1.-THE vorst of all is,
can not see;' and John Locke murmured,
30 the depths of the riches Of the goodness
and knowledge of God v' The dying ad :
monition of the learned Grotius to his race
was, "Be serious" Scarron, the French
wit, said family to his weeping friend, 'Ahp
mes entdns, you canaot csy as much for me
as have made you laugh IN ;ime; and
Lord Thurlow in reckless wonder exclaim-
ed, "Pm shot, if don't believe I'm dy-
ing!'
When poor Robert Burns gasped With
his last breath, don't let the awk ward squad
fire over me ! he did not allude 10 ais CON-
mentators and critics, yet what siguii-
canoe should the words have for them =
And how little Anne Boleyn thought, VII en-,
awaiting the execution, she clasped her
fair throat that at is but small, very
small" would link her forever to the heart
of Christendom
Yes, We can not doubt that many Of the
most eloquent sermons mankind has e7er
listened to have fallen from lying lips
Caesars grieved "And thou Brutr1.,' John
Quincy Adams, "This is the last of earth;"
Mirabeau's frantic cry of emusic" after
his life Of discord; George Washington >
at is well''-do they not grow richer in
meaning every day? And is it not still
blessed 70 remember the las. moments of
Melanothon, the friend Of Luther ? "Do
you want anything? 2" asked his loved ones
eagerly. "Nothing but heaven" he an
swered gently, and went smiling on his
way.