The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-10-15

went our.
Nobody said word for several minutes.
1t was a solemn sort of silence; even the
wind put on stealthy, sinister quiet, and
made no more noise than the falling flakes
of snow. Finally sad-voiced conversation
began, and it was soon apparent that in
each of our hearts lay the conviction that
this was our last night with the living
had SO hoped that was the only one that
felt So When the others calmly acsnowl-
edged their conviction, it sounded like the
summons itself, ollendorff said: f,fI
Brothers, let us die together. And let
us 60 without one hard feeling toward each
other. Let us forget and forgive bygones.
know that you have felt hard towards me
for turning over the canoe, and for know
ing too much and leading you around and
around in the snow-but mean well; for
give me. l acknowledge freely that l have
had hard feelings against Mr.. Ballou for
abusing me and calling me a logarythm,
which is thing I do not know what, but
no doubt a thing considered disgraceful
and unbecoming in America, and it has
scarcely been out of my mind and has hurt
me great deal-but let it go;I forgive
Mr.. Ballou with all my heart, and"
Poor Ollendorff broke down and the tears
came. He was not alone, for was crying
too, and so was Mr.. Ballou. Ollendorff got
his voice again and forgave me for things l
had done and said. Then he got out his
bottle of whiskey and said whether he lived
or died he would never touch another drop.
He said he had given up all hope of life,
and although ill-prepared, was ready to
submit humbly to his fate; that he wished
he could be spared little longer, not for
any selfish reason, but to make thorough
reform in his character, and by devoting
himself to helping the poor, nursing the
sick, and pleading with the people to guard
themselves against the evils of intemper-
ance, make his life benefcent example to
the young, and lay his down at last with
the precious reflection that he had not been
living in va in. He ended by.saying that
his reform should begin at this moment,
even here in the presence of death, since
no longer time was to be vouchsafed where
in to prosecute it to mems help and benefit
and with that he threw away the bottle
Of whiskey.
Mr.. Ballou made remarks of similar pur-
port and began the reform he could not
live to continue, by throwing away the
ancient pack of cards that had solaced our
captivity during the flood and make it bear
able. He said he never gambled, but still
was satisfied that the meddling with cards
in any way was immoral and injurious, and
no man could be wholly pure and blemish-
less without eschewing them. "And there
fore," continued he, Sin doing this act l
already feel more in sympathy with that
spiritual saturnalia necessary to entire and
obsolete reform" These rolling syllables
touched him as no Ineligible eloquence
could have done, and the old mad sobbed
with a mournfulness not unmingled with
satisfaction.
My own remarks were of the same tenor
as those of my comrades, and know that
the feelings that prompted them were
heartfelt and sincere. We were all sincere,
and all deeply moved and earnest, for we
were in the presence of death and without
hope. threw way my pipe, and in doing
it felt that at last was free of hated vice
and one that had ridden me like tyrant
all my days. While yet talked, the
thought of the good might have done in
the world and the still greater good l might,
n0so do, with these new incentives and
higher and better aims to guide me if l
could only be spared few years longer,
overcame me and the tears came again.
We put our arms about each others necks
and awaited the warning drowsiness that
precedes death by freezing.
1t came stealing over us presently, and
then we bade each other q last farewell
A delicious dreaminess wrought its web
about my yielding senses, while the snow
flakes wove winding sheet about my con-
quered body. Oblivion came. The battle
of life was done.
y
do not know how long was in state
of forgetfulness, but it seemed an age. A
vague consciousness grew upon me by de-
grees,a and then came gathering anguish of
pain in my limbs and through all my body
l shuddered. The thought fitted through
my brain, this is death-rthis is the here
after.'
Then came white upheaval at my side,
and q voice said, with bitterness: