The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-01-07
Last Words.

However Psychologists may question The
Importance of the feeble utterances OF the
dying, it is certain that mankind in gen.
cral finds Il deep significance in the last
words Of those who are vanishing into
the unknown life.
He raves ~ said the physician, when
DR.. Adams, rector of the high school OF
Eliuburgh was passing away; but as
we catch the last words OF the raving, our
own eyes are dimmed 1t grows dark
boys" stretching forth his hand you
may go.' All my possessions for a
moment Of time" moaned Queen Eliza
beth. Wesley, calmer, said, as he died,
" The best Of all is,God is with u.s." And
deaf Beethoven, whose soul had ever
been filed with harmony, exclaimed glad
ly at the last, " | shall hear"
Is volr 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 part
ing words of Dr.. William Hunter " If
| had strength to hold pen, 1 would
write how easy and pleasant a thing it is
to die Or the assurance Of President
Edwards, as his dying grasp loosened on
hard forms of dogma, Trust in God and
you need not fear"
Byron said YEARLY, al must sleep
now,' and Goethe, turning to his wife,
called for " light, more light"
DR.. johnson died in tumult of unea-
siness aud dread. Cowper sank to rest
as peacefully as child. &c am taking
a fearful leap into the dark" cried Hob
bcs the deist, and, Now, Lord, Lord,
receive my soul" whispered Herbert on
his last sweet day."
Politeness was no longer u ruling pas.
sion, but chrism, when Chesterfield in
dying said, "Give Dayrolles chair"
and surely something was forgiven Of
Charles the Second when he bade fare
well to earth's pomp and wickedness in
" Don't let poor Nellie starvc."
Haler's last words were, feeling his
own pulse, The artery ceased to beat. I"
Petrarch died suddenly and silently in
his library, his hand upon book, and
Sir Isaac Newton was winding his watch
when he was usherod into the life that
hath no end
Talma, the great actor, exclaimed pit
fully as he went, The worst Of all is, |
cannot sec," and John Locke murmured,
" o the depths of the riches Of the good
ness and knowledge of God ~ The dy-
ing admonition of the learned Grotin to
his race was, 4" Be serious" Scarron, the
French wit, said family to his weeping
frierds, All, mes onfans, you cannot
cry as much for me as | have made you
laugh in my time and Lord Thurlow,
in reckless wonder, exclaimed, I'm
shot, if | don't believe I'm dying"
When poor Robert Burns gasped with
his last breath, " Don't let the awkward
squad FIRE over me !" he did not allude
to his commentators and critics. yet what
"A significance should tho words have for
them And how little Anne Boleyn
thought, when awaiting the executioner,
she claspcd her fair throat, and said that
" it is but small, very small" would link
her forever to the heart of Christendom.
Yes, we cannot doubt that many of the
most eloquent sermons mankind has ever
listened to have fallen from dying lips.
Caesar grievcd, Aud thou, too, Bru-
tus John Quincy Adams, This Is
the last Of earth :" Nlirabeau's frantic
cry for " Music" after his life discord I;
George Washington's " 1t is well"-do
they not grow richer in meaning every
day And is it not still blessed to re-
member the last moments of Melancthon
the friend of Luther. "Do you want
anything ?" asked his loved one eagerly.
" Nothing but heaven he answered
greatly, and went smiling on the way
Hearth anil Home.