Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-07-24
CHAPTER XIV.

We had been absent about three weeks,
when one morning as [ was sitting i'll my
room, resting from "sight seeing" Owen came
in. Heheld note in his hand, and thought
seemed distressed
Il have just received this telegram from
home, Matte" he said, giving me the paper
as he spoke.
"Is any thing the matter, Owen"
"Aunt Patsyis very i'll. 1fyou would like
to 20 home at once, can make arrangements
for us to leave in few hours"
eyes s; do let us 60 on as soon as we can"
The telegram was as follows: "Aunt Pat
sy is very i'll; come as soon as possible" 1t
was signed with Johns name.
I felt, from the first, that this was to be her
last illness, and 1 almost reproached myself
for our absence but she was as we'll as usual
when we left home.
What long and anxious night that was to
me! And when the morrow came it brought
no comfort.
John met us at the depot. He said aunt
Patsy was little better, bit the physicians
still considered her very i'll. She had pneu-
monia, and as she had become delrious, they
were afraid she would not recover. She had
been calling necessarily for me, and they
hoped, after l arrived, she would not be so
restless.
As soon as I had taken off my wrappings, |
went Immediately to her room. AS ap-
preached the bed, she said
"Mattie, don't letNellie be out in the rain ;
she will certainly take cold. You ought to
be more careful of that child"
I saw she was thinking of the time when
Nellie had been left poor, motherless child
in my charge, and said
"Aunty, don't you know me?"
"Of course I do. You are Miss Nancy
Turner. Have you got on your pockets? %
I saw the attempt to make her recognize
me was useless; so took my seat by herside,
hoping she would know me after while
"How was aunt Patsy taken, Mary ?" l
asked
"It was the most sudden attack ever
knew, Matte. She was sitting in her chair,
with little Matte in her lap, when she COM
planned of feeling cold. Iputa shawl around
her. but still she did not seem to get any
warmer. I advised her to 60 to bed, which
she did, and I thought she was asleep, when
she called to me-
"Raise me up, Mary; I feel as if could
not breathe"
1 called John, and he lifted her up. She
seemed little easier then but knew she
was very i'll. "We sent for the DOCTOR" he
said "she had pneumonia, and we telegraphed
at once for you."
81 am glad you did. I should never have
forgiven myself, had l been away at this
time"
Just then aunt Patsy called me.
"Mattie," she said, "I am glad you have
come, child 1 have missed you. Where is
Owen?'
"He is in the next room, aunty shall call
him in ?"
"Yes; I wish you would all come in now +;
I have something to say to you"
Mary went out, and in few moments all
the family were standing near her bed.
"Children," she said, feebly, II have sent
for you to take leave of you. 1 am dying.
I am very grateful to you for your kindness
to me, and if my prayers will avail, you and
yours will surely be blessed in this life. Re-
member that my dying request is, that you al
ways love each other. Mary, are you here?'
"Yes, aunty," said Mary, coming forward
The old lady put her hand on Mary's head,
sIshe knelt by the side of the bed, and said
"God bless you, my child! You are very
dear to me. You must be good to her, John,
for she has brought blessing on this house" !"
"There is no danger of my not loving her
enough, aunty; she is the joy of my life" said
John, feelingly.
Aunt Patsy remained silent for several
moments, when she said
"Mattie, l leave you in good hands, child.
l know Owen will take care of you, and Har-
ry will protect Nellie. I am glad 1 leave
you all so happy, children! Bring the baby
to me, Nellie; let me give her my blessing
before I 60"
Shall I ever forget the contrast between the
pale, sunken cheek on which death had set
its seal-the thin, wasted form of the dear old
lady-and the bright, innocent, happy face
of the little child we placed in her arms
Matte did not seem to be frightened she put
out her hands and said-"aunty," "aunty."
Aunt Patsy was, for the first time, over
come by emotion, and fearing it might do her
harm, said-"Let me take Matte, now,
aunty, while you rest
She murmured blessing, but we could not
catch the words, and then l took the baby
and gave her to Nellie
None of us had left the room. Aunt Patsy
was lying quiet; but we knew not how soon
the end might come. At length heard her
speak in a low tone. I approached the bed
Immediately, and on looking on her pale face
saw it was lighted up with happy smile.
"Such sweet dreams, child, l have had 1t
must be that l am near my home. | saw
your mother, Matte; and she said she had
been waiting for me, and-now-I-"
The sentence was never finished. Our dear
old aunty lay dead in my arms
so what were life, if life wereall! Thine eyes
Art blinded by their tears, or thou could'St see
a. ,.1,fn