Huntington advertiser. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1874-1921, 1875-11-18

4
but / am as positive as | am that |
am writing this, that arms came up
in the water and beckoned TO me. ]
had not before thought of drowning
myself, but the water motioned ne,
calling me, drew me towards it.
/ | followed down the street, bat
| whenever l saw the water there were
white hands over it beckoning me on.
| / came to street leading to a bridge
and followed that and walked on
the bridge.
! Again the question came into my
mind and again / answered them.
| Was MY life mine to take? Yes, was
mot life-even the life of a criminal
better than death? No. Is there
no hope anywhere? None.
| Just then a little tug darted out
from the dock and came towards the
bridge. 1t was dark but sill I could
see the hands in the spray made by
the tug, and still they motioned me
to come. The tug came nearer, dar.
ted under the bridge right below me,
and without a thought, | jumped in
to the waves left in its wake.
Was | sprry when felt myself il
the water? No, kept saying as |
was going down-down-down-"l
is better to end it now
I came to the surface rs | knew |
must do, and there was a man bend
ing over ME, attempting to catch me.
My first thought was that it was Sas
tan, and | struck of his hands and
sunk again. When | next rose the
nah caught me by my clothes, but |
thought | broke away from him, and
went down again. | went through
all the tortures of drowning, and pass
ed into the happy state that follows,
only to be dragged from that back to
+, life. do not know what said to
| the men, for | became unconcious
again, and when next ! came to my.
self | was lying in the hospital and
! a Sister Of Mercy was bending over
me-
"Oh why did they not let NE die?'
moaned.
She made no answer.
| There was bottle standing near
me that she had Just laln down, and
read on the label "laudanum." My
mind was active again, and | deter
mined to accomplish what | had un.
dertaken in some other way
"Can | have some water?" ask.
! ed.
"Yes," anil she turned away, leav-
ing the bottle still on the table. JOY!
| grasped it, poured its contents
down my throat, and again tried to
escape for myself.
1t was OF no avail. When tho at
tendant returned with the water she
saw my condition and the empty
bottle and understood what to do. l
had taken too much and Was begin
ming to move, but she ha.tened the
recovery with a stomach pump.
Again | was brought back to world
from which would have gladly os-
caped. think | cursed them all for
not letting me alone, wlrcn The Sister
sat down beside me, placed her hand
upon my lips, and bade me be quiet
in such tone of authority .that.I dar-
ed not resist.
"Rash man, Row dare you take
that which does not belong to you 2
"l'ou do not know what my life
will be" | moaned, give me any
thing but life
"Are you such a coward ns that
she asked. scornfully.
"CowardY
"Yes, coward. B cause you think
life will be hard to bear yoi want to
escape from it. Are you a man"
You cannot Judge" answered.
Il can Judge she said. Do you
think you arc the only one who finds
life a burden to him? Do you think
you will find q pleasanter hell in the
other world than tha one you picture
your life will be hcre?'
you cannot judge for mer ] re-
piled.
"Oh, coward, coward, y she repeat
ed, with scorn, "to think you can g.
cape from yourself either there or
here. tell you there Is hut one
he'll, and it reaches from this world
right on throagh into eternity"
| gazed on her eye. with wonder
at her voice and words and / saw her
face for.the first time. Living or
dead shall never forget it, Do not
Ask me TO describe il: | cannot; but
such suffering | never saw written on
human face.
"You have suffered p / asked.
Il do not care to talk Of mJsclf,'
said she.
But | persisted. "Sour face is The
face of one who has suffered" | said !;
"heip ne if you have help for any
one. Show me what TO do. Mou-
day will bring disgrace TO me II )
live; why should liveF"
She was silent for what seemed a
very long time. afI then she sat down
beside ne.
Each Of u.s. she began says 10
himself that his sorrows and MS
troubes are greater than ever come
to mortal before perhaps you are
right, | may help you. -,
Il was once the pos,essor oi III
That woman's heart aspire IN; j
wa. a wife and mother. Our home
was full OF icve aD's happiness; our
! lives were rounded GU, with love.
Heaven seemed near to Us because
our love was of heaven, but death
llaf no place IN our thong hts or our
g.