The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1873-08-26
!. ! Selert Stury.
Death and Burial Of Little Nell,
BY CHARLES DICKENS.

For she was dead. There, upon her.
little bed, she lay at rest. The solemn
stiffness was no marvel now. r.,,,.t.., -,
/ She was dead. No sleep SO beautiful
and calm, so free from trace of pain, so
fair to look upon. She seemed crea-
ture fresh from the hands of God, and
waiting for the breath of life not one
who had lived and suffered death.
Her couch was dressed with here and
there some winter berries and green
leaves, gathered in a spot where she had
been used u. favor. -, ;-.'','-t -. -
ssWhen die, put near me something
that has loved the light. and had the sky
above itsf it aflwaa9ys a9 - These el were egret her
She was dead. Dear, gentle, patient,
noble Nell was dead Her little bird
poor slight thing the pressure of fin
ger would have crushed-was stirring
ninbly in its cage; and the strong heart
of its child mistress was mute and mo-
tionless forever. -, - -. ~
Where we're the traces, of her early
cares, her sutferings and fatigue? All
gone. Hers was the true death before
their weeping eyes. Sorrow was dead
indeed in her, ,bnt peace, and perfect hap
piness were born imaged in her tran,
quill beauty and profound repose, ). ,@H sal5
Aud still her former self lay there,uln
altered in this change. Yes. Tie ,oA
freside had smiled upon that same sweet
face; it had passed like dream through
haunts of misery. and care; at the door
| of the poor schoolmaster on the sum
mer evening, before the furnace fire upon
1.-THE cold, wet night, at the still, bedside
| of the dying 10y, there had been the
same mild, lovely look SO shall We
know the angels in their majesty, after
death. ia- .
The Old man held one langlid arm fiin'ii IN
his, and the smati hand tightly folded to
this breast, for warmth 1t was the hand
Fshe had stretched out to him with hel
last smile-the hand .hat led him on
Through his wanderings. Ever and anon
he pressed it,tp bis lips; then hugged II
ito his breast again -niurmusing ~-thati
iwas warmer now; and as he said it, he
looked in agony to those who stood
around, as if imnoring them to help
Eher. Iad,r3 81, ,ea.fN
! She was dead, and past all help, OF
ineed Of it. The ancient rooms she had
seemed to fill with life, even while hen
own was waning fast-the garden she
lhad tended-the eyes she had gladdened
1.-The noiseless haunts Of ,msny. q
thoughtful hour-the paths she had trod
kden as it were but yesterday-could
KNOW her no more. ,'...5 ..,.. s
| lit is not" said the schoolmaster, as
The bent down to kiss her on the cheek
and gave his tears free vent, "it is notir
this world Heaven s justice ends. Thinl
what it is, compared with the world tc
which her young spirit has winged its
flight, and say if one deliberate wisl
depressed in solemn terms above this
lhed could call her back to life, which O.
lus would utter it ?'''
| When morning came and they could
,tspeak more calmly on the subject o
their grief, they heard how her life .hac
closed.
| She had been dead two days. They
/ were all about her at the time, knowing
that the end was drawing on. She dice
soon after daybreak. They had reat
and talked to her in the earlier portion
tof the night, but as the hours crept on
lshe sunk to sleep They could tell, by
what she family murmured in hel
dreams, that they were of her journey
Iings with the old man; they were of nc
painful scenes, but of those who hat
helped and used them kindly, for sh,
often said, "God bless your with grea
| fervor. Waking, she never wandered il
her mind but once, land that was at beau
ltiful music which she said was in th,
| air God knews 1t may have been.
J Opening her eyes at last frem ayer,
quiet sleep, she begged that they would
kiss her once again. That done sh'
turned to the old man with lovely
smile upon her face such, they said, a.
j they hS;l Eeyer seen, and never coul(