The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-01-16

sa ..Ial !, wickham, without much beg
II dare say you would, ind find some
comtetitors for the honor. but j say
old fellow. I dom = like 10 DO talking this
way about d dead mans sweetheart
in the room with his corpse; and poor
Will looks 50 c0nfoundedfy ike he
heard end !. 1. understood, !, us--let's change
/ was conscious Of n horribly grim
amusement In this conversation, and Q
triumph In the fact that Carter had
thus been true to me.
It was about nine O'Clock the next
morning flor heard each hour rs It
was marked solcmnly by the old hall
cloclk) that I'm unusual tfarlping Of feet
npproached my door, and entering. u
burden was deposited by the sido of my
bod. I knew what IL was. In n mo
ment was lifted up and placed In my
coffin. / remember now my cratnpcd
position, for IL was too narrow for mo
the uncomfortable arrangement OF my
head, and even the most unimportant
circumstances seemed to impress them
selves upon my acntely sensitive
nerves.
NY funeral was fixed for four In the
afternoon and before the time ar.
rived was borne into tho parlors, andmy
coffin placed between the folding doors
Soon knew that the rooms were fill
ing. heard smUthered sobs around me.
I heard the minister give out tho hymn,
and tho quavering, sorrowful notes Of
the music now rose through the rooms,
almost ceasiDg ever and anon from
agitation, and then taken up again: !
heard my own funeral sermon preached,
and the dreadful announcement follow.
ss,t11 1ttIr fJ
at the grave" The coffin was opened
for u last lingering look; tear after tear
dropped upon my face, strove despe-
rately to open my eyes, aDd--I sue
ceeded
j have an indistinct impression Of
shrieks and u general confusion, but /
knew nothing more for many days,
when / awoke TO reason In my own bed.
Opening my eyes, / saw DIR. Jenkins
bending over me. How Is It, my boy2"
he said kindly, us he caught my look Of
recognition.
/ hesitated for moment to collect
the scattered rays Of memory, and then
said slowly, as my recollection con-
nected the past with the face bending
over me: "You~are-an- gre -gious-
ass
my dear fellowl" said the kind old
man, hugging me heartily. "Why, the
boy has his senses back againl" And !
convalesced rapidly from that moment,
though IL was long before my nerves re-
covered from the shock they had sus-
tanned; and, nh, what nursing ] had I
] was really received like one brought
back from the grave. suppose busy
Martha and gentle Mary so minlstefed
to their risen brother, but they could
not have surpassed my sweet mother,
my noble old father, and my darling.
About two weeks after the events /
have recorded, / was sitting up in an
easy chair, with footstool ut my feet.
My eyes we're resting upon the bright
head Of my Carter, who had been read
ing TO me. Laying my hand upon hers,
said Garter, do you know what was
my greatest JOY In coming buck TO life?"
Her head went down until her face
was quito hidden, and went on;
Twill you not say over again what /
heard you say In this room just two
weeks ago to-day"
ooh Will and she hid hor face
against my arm.
'.WilI not my darling tell me that she
will bless my fife with her lover"
After u moment shc raised her head,
and without looking toward me, turned
over tho leaves Of the Bible In her hand,
thcn placed IL In mine, pointing TO q
verse. read:
whittier thou gocst, ] will go; and
where thou lodgest, will lodge; thy
people shall be my people, and thy God
my God"
My Carter IL an old lady now, with
grandchildren; but to my eyes her
sweet face, with It's full caJ-border, be-
meath which the wavy white hair Is put
back, is MS beautiful us IL was forty
yours ago.