Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-05-17


affectiOnate ana reflective, yielding 10 the
deeper sentiments Of her emotional ma.
turc, and making herself the companion
of the King in'his decline.
In 1919 she was attacked with llnger-
ing and fatal illness. Her sufferings at
times were heart rerding To witness, but
her sublime confidence in God kept her
mind serene, and brought the sweetest
anticipations OF another and better
world.
The old King fingered by her bedside,
her affectionate watcher and nurse. They
talked together daily of Christ, of redemp-
ton, and Of the joys of Heaven. The
only hope of the sinner is in the blood and
righteousness of Jesus Christ. Do you
feel this hope, my daughter? Does 1t sus-
tain your
Nothing" says an English clergyman
who witnessed these interviews, lean be
more striking than the sight OF the King,
aged and nearly blind, bending over the
couch on which the Princess lies, and
speaking TO her of salvation through
Christ as matter far more interesting
than the most magnificent pomps of
royalty"
As she grew weaker, he caused the ply
scians 10 make statement of her cOndi-
ton every hour. When he found her
sinking, the old detection and gloom be-
gan 10 overcast his mind again. He felt,
like Lear, that he had one true heart 10
love him for himself alone. This love
was more precious to him than crowns
and thrones The world offered nothing
to him SO sweet as her affection. She was
his Cordelia. One gloomy day messen-
ger came to the Kings room to announce
that Amelia had breathed her last 1t
was too much for the King; reason began
to waver ard soon took It's flight. This
was caused by poor Amelia" he was
heard saying, rs the shadows deepened
and the dreary winter OF age came steal
ing on.
Thou'll come more,
Never never, never, never, never!'
This was in 1910. The remaining ten
years Of his life were passed, with the ex-
ception OF few brief intervals, in the
long night of mindlessness, and the last
eight years were still more deeply shad-
owed by the lost Of sight. In May, 1911,
he appeared once outside of the Castle of
Windsor, and henceforh the people saw
him no more. Withdrawn from all eyes
but those who watched his necessities, in
silence and in darkness, crownless,
throneless, scepterless, there was for him
neither sun, moon nor stars, empire, wife,
nor child. The seasons came and went
the spring time lightened up the hills
and autumn withered the leaves-the
summer sunshine dreamed in the flowers
and the SHOWS of winter fell battles were
fought; Waterloo changed the front Of
the political world Napoleon fell; the
nation was filled with festive rejoicings
over the battles of Vittoria, the Pyre-
nees and Toulouse, but he was oblivious
of all. His sister died, his beloved
Queen died, his son, the Duke of Kent,
died-but he knew it not He was ofteu
confined in padded room; his beard
grew long he seemed like full person
ification of the character of Lear Once
he was heard repeating to himself the sad
lines in Samson Agonistcs:
oh, dark, dark, dark Amid the blaze of noon,
Irrecoverably dark. Total eclipse
Without all hope Of day.
Some incidents of this period are very
touching. One day, while his attendants
were leading him along one of the pas.
sages of the castle, he heard some one
draw quickly aside. "Who is there?"
HoNtb INV iNih
He was answered in well-known
voice.
" am now blind" said the King.
:" ! am very sorry, please your Maj
esty."
But" continued the King, q am
quite resigned; for what have we to do in
this world but to suffer as to perform the
will of the Almighty"
lie at one time supposed that George
III. was some other person than himself,
who was now dead He protested to ,eel
great respect for the deceased monarch
lie was once heard saying, | must have a
new suit of clothes, and | will have them
black, in memory Of George III"
In the summer of 1914 he had some lu.
cid intervals. In one of these he was Wis
tied by the Queen Once, on entering the
room, she found him singing hymn, and
playing sweetly on the harpsichord
When he had finished singing. he knelt
down and prayed. He invoked blessing
upon the Queen, his children, and the Ma
ton and concluded with petition that
God would avert his own dreadful calam-
ity if it was the divine will; if not, that
He would give him resignation to bear it,
One morning he heard the bell tolling at
Windsor.
:" Who is dead ?" he asked
Mrs. please your Majesty"
Mrs. S.. She was a linen draper.
She was "A good woman, and brought up
her family in the fear of God. She has
gone to heaven, and hope | shall soon
follow her."
As the world receded, leaving him moth
ing but soiicitude, he iancied that the
angels came to visit him and to minister
unto him. Old friends long dead came
back again; they wandered about his
lonely rooms and sat down in the empty
chairs; they clustered around hun at the
tme OF nrnvcrs His hnari was eyer turn