Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1873-02-22
Communicated
A Death Bed Scene.
BY THE AUTHOR OF TRUE BRAVERY

BY THE AUTHOR OF TRUE BRAVERY"
In a small, dark room, the abode of
, poverty, man lay dying. He was
yet in the prime of life, but to gaze
upon him as he lay there upon his
hard couch, one wonld imagine he
had beheld the winters of half CEN
fury. His dark hair was scattered
with grey, his brow furrowed, eyes
sunken, and the marks of q life of
dissipation impressed III indeible lines
upon his countenance.
A woman sat cronching. over the
few handsfull of Goals which compose. d
the fire, her hands olasping her Knees
and from time to time giving vent to
low means as she glanced at the mo-
tionless. UNCONSCIOUS figure on the
bed. She would have been both
young-looking and pretty, but want
and care had done their work and she
too was prematurely aged. A CLEAN
Of hope dawned in her dull ewes as
she heard a quick step outside the
door and man, with a kind, benevo-
lent countenance, entered
"How is your husband to-day,
Mrs. Cray p he asked
an o better, Doctor; he is in kind
OF stupor come and look at him
Doctor Norris face grew grave at
the sight of his patient, knowing he
had passed all human help, and man
that he was, his heart grew sad to
think what a blow the intelligence
would be to the wife, who in spite of
neglect, GOODNESS and i'll treatment
still chung to this man whom she had
promised to love, honor and cherish
until death should part them. She
now saw the Doctors look and cried
out in great fear-"O, doctor. don't
say that he is dying DR.. Norris
bowed his head; he would not trust
his own voice to speak, and with low
moan the woman sank upon her
knees by the bedside and buried her
face in the tattered covering.
Doctor, she said, lifting her hag-
gard countenanoe, "he is not fit to
die so 0, send q preacher quick,
quick, that he may pray for MIN and
may be do good to his soul r
DR.. Norris went on this errand of
mercy and IN half hour Mr.. Dray-
! ton, faithful, Jealous minister of
Christ, stood in the death chamber.
As he glanced at the stricken wife
and the dying man he ipvoluutarily
sent up a volcelesa prayer-"God be
merciful T. -.-..... .....
There was soul laden with guilt
upon the brink of eternity, going into
the presence of that God whom he
grieved and often led. The precious
blood of Christ had not been applied
to the washing away of his sins; with
out hope and without God in the
world, he must stand before the Judg-
ment Bar; what remained for him but
endless torture and woe
The dying man, now partially
aroused from his stupor, moved rest
lessly and began to talk in delirlous
murmurings. The present seemed
blotted from his memory In mag
ination he went back to the happy,
innocent days of his boyh cd he
spoke of the old house down in the
country; the cool spring under the
hill; the wild str ,wberries in the
meadow and then of his mother, and
repeated in low tones portions of the
prayer-"Our Father Learned at
his mothers knee; then of Annie, and
at the mention of her name the wife
looked eagerly up. "Poor Annie p
he said, "she was by far too good and
pretty for me | did not do a good
part by her, and she was never hard
on me, though | almost broke her
heart, poor wife but | loved her,
yes, loved her p u. '...s.. r.-|
There the desolate wife took be-
tween her own her husbands hand
the hand that in moments of angry
drink had even struck her, and kiss
ing it over and over again bathed it
with her tears.
Suddenly his eyes opened; con-
seriousness was restored he appeared
unable to realize his sltuation.-
What is the matter p he asked of
his weeping wife. Il am not ill |"
Mr.. Drayton saw there was no time to
be lost and replied, TRY and make
your peace with God, for you have
only an hour or two to live.
Am l dying? you are testing l
cannot die | am not fit to die 0 save
me p
That is not in my power, but there
is One mighty to save; believe in
Him, trust to Him " .
1T is too late now" moaned the
man in anguish of soul 81 have spent
too many years in sin. l am lostl
lost r
Christ came into this world to
save sinners" said Mr.. Drayton
Though your sins be as scarlet He
can make them white as wool He
hath no pleasure in the death of the
-