Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-04-12

Brother, az GeOrgeEOwn College.
A short time before Paine died,
/ was sent for by him. He was
prompted to this by a poor Catholic
woman who went to see him in his
sickness, and who told him, among
other things, that in his wretched
condition, if anybody could do him
good it would be a Catholic priest.
This woman was an American con-
vert formerly Shaking Quaker
ess) whom | had received into the
church few weeks before. She
was the bearer of a message to me
from Paine. | stated this circum-
stance to Father Kohlman at break
fast, and requested him to accom-
pany me. After some solicitation
on my part, he agreed to do so, at
which I was greatly rejoiced, be-
cause | was at that time quite
young and inexperienced in the
ministry, and was glad to have his
assistance, as | knew from the great
reputation Of Paine, that l should
have to do with one of the most
impious as well as infamous of men.
We shortly after set out for the
house at Greenwich, where Paine
lodged, and on the way agreed upon
a mode of proceeding with him.
We arrived at the house; a decent
looking, elderly woman probably
his house-keeper) came to the door
and inquired whether we were the
Catholic priests.
"For," said she, "Mr. Paine has
been so much annoyed of late by
ministers of different denomina-
ton calling upon him, that he has
left express orders with me not to
admit any one to-day but the clergy
men of the Catholic Church"
"Upon assuring her that we were
Catholic clergymen, she opened the
door and showed us into the parlor.
She then left the room, and shortly
after returned to inform us that
Paine was asleep; and, at the same
time, expressed a wish that we
would not disturb him.
"For," said she, "he is always
in a bad humor when reused out
Of his sleep-'tis better to wait a
little till he be awake"
We accordingly sat down and re-
solved to await the most favorable
moment.
"Gentlemen," said the lady, after
taking her seat also, 81 really wish
you may succeed with Mr.. Paine
for he is laboring under great dis.
tress of mind ever since he was in
formed by his physicians that he
cannot possibly live, and must
shortly die. He sent for you to-day
because he was told that if any one
could do him good you might
Possibly he may think that you
know of some remedy which his
physicians are ignorant of. He il
truly to be pitied. His cries wher
he is left alone are heart--rend
ing. 20 Lord, help ;mep he vii
exclaim during his paroxysm o.
distress. God help mel Jesus
Christ help mel repeating thu
same expressions without any, thC
least variation, in a tone of voice
that would alarm the house. Some
times he will say; 20 God, what
. have / done to suffer so much ?
Then shortly after; But there il
no God!' And again a little af
ter: 'Yet, if there should be, what
will become of me hereafter ?
Thus he will continue for somt
time, when on a sudden he vii
scream as il in terror and agony
and call out for me by name. Or
one of these occasions, which ar,
very frequent, / went to him, anC
inquired what he wanted. 'Sta,
. with me- he replied, for God
: sake, / cannot bear to be left alone
0 ] then observed that / could no
Z always be with him as / had mucl
to attend to in the house.
: "Then, said he, send even
\ child to stay with me for it is
y hell to be left alone Inever saw,
L she continued, ga more unhappy,