Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1877-11-29

"oAoS Ill VIC nOrIllIly Vi TIE Stn OF Jul
W when he died. Though may remark IL
<. during the last three weeks of his life.
Il situation was such that his decease "
o confidently expected every day, his ulct
IS having assumed a gangrenous appearan,
a being excessively fetid, and discolor
d bllsters having taken place or the soles
/ his feet without any ostensible caus
d which baffied the usual attempts to ARE
: their progress; and wien we consider h
1 former habits, his advanced age. the feeb]
a ness of bis constitution. his constant hal
: OF using ardent spirits ad libitum till Il
: commencement of his last illness. so. f
f nom wondering that he died so soon. v
are constrained 10 ask. How did he live S
? long, Concerning his conduct during h
disease | have not much to remark, tn,
! the little have may be aomcwhat interes
ing. Mr.. Paine proiessed to be above til
fear OF death, and a great part of his cor
versation was principally directed to Civ
the impression that he was perfectly viii
ing to leave this world. and yet some part
of his conduct We're with difficulty recon
cilable with this belief. In the first STAGE
of his illness he was satisfied TO he LET
alone during the day, but he required som
person to be with him at night, urging al
Ills reason that he was afraid that he shoult
die when unattended. and 1t this period hi
department and his principle seemed to bt
consistent; so much so that stranger
would judge from some of the remarks HI
would make that he was an infidel. rec
ollect being with him at night, watching
ne was very ao?rehensive of speedy dis.
solution, and suffered great distress Of
body. and perhaps of mind (for he was
awaiting the event Of an application to the
Society of Friends for permission that his
corpse might be deposited in their grave
ground. and had reason to believe that his
request might be refilsed). when he re-
marked in these words, Il think can say
what they made Jesus Christ to say--mv
God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken
me" lie went on to observe On the want
of that respect which he conceived he me.-
tied, when observed to him that thought
that his corpse should be matter of least
concern to him; that those whom he
would leave behind him would see that he
was properly inferred; and further, that it
would be of little consequence to me where
L was deposited. provided was buried ::
upon which lie answered that he had no.
tl.;Rsr e4~tn o,' ar int ming Df,t
that nc was not SO Indifferent about his
co pse rs appeared 70 be.
''DurinS the latter part Of his life. though
bis conversation was equivoc;ll. his conduct
WIS Singular; be could not be left alone
night or day; he not only required to have
some person with him. but he must see
that he or she was there. and would not
allow his curtain to be closed at any time j;
and il. as it would sometimes unavOidably
happen. he was left alone. he would scream
and hallOo until some person came to him.
When relief from pain would admit, he
seemed thoughtful and contemplative, his
eyes being generally closed, and his hands
folded upon his breast, although lie never
slept without the assistance of an anodyne.
There was something remarkable about
his conduct about this period (which COM
prises about two weeks Immediately pre-
ceding his death). particularly when we re-
fleet that Thomas Paine was the author of
the Age OF ReasOn,' He would call out
during his paroxysms of distress, without
intc Mission, oh, Lord help me! God
help me! Jesus Christ help me! Oh,
Lord he'll me- ETC., repeating the same
expressions without the least variation, in
tone of voice that would alarm the house.
It was this Conduct which induced me to
think that he had abandoned his former
opinions. and was more inclined to that
belief w;,en understood from his nurse
(who is a very serious, and, believe,
piols woman). that he would occasionally
inquire, when he saw her engaged with u
book, what she was reading, and, being
answered, and ut the same time asked
whether she should read aloud, he assented
and would appear to give particular at
ten,ion.
Il took occasion during the night of the
5th and 9Th Of June to test the strength of
his opinions respecting revelation. Ipur-
pOsely made him a very late visit; it was a
time which seemed to suit exactly with my
errand; it was midnight, he was in great
distress, constantly exclaiming in the words
above mentioned, when, after consider
able preface, l addressed him in the follow
ing manner, the nurse being present: Mr..
Paine, your opinions, by large portion
of the community, have been treated with
Difference; you have never been in the hab-
it of mixing in your conversation prOfane
words OF course; you have never indulged
in the practice of prOfane swearing; you
must be sensible that We are acquainted
with your religious opinions as they are
given to the world. What must we think
of your present conduct? Why do you call
upon Jesus Chyist to help you! DO you
believe that lie can help you! Do you be
lieve in the divinity OfJesus Christ: Come,
now, answer HE honestly. want an an
swer from the lips of dying man, for l
verify believe that you will not live twenty
four hours l waited some time ut the
end of every question; he did not answer,
but ceased to eXclaim in the above manner.
Again addressed him: Mr.. Paine, you
have not answered my questions; will you
answer them? Allow ne to ask again, do
you believer or let me qualify the question,
do you wish to believe that Jesus Christ is
the Son OF GOd:' After pause of some
minutes, he answered.: Il have no wish to
believe on that subject | then left him,
and knew not whether he afterward spoke
to any person on any subject, though he
lived, as before observed. till the morn
ing of the Sth. Such conduct, under usual
circumstances, conceive absolutely unac-
cOuntable, though, with difiidence, would
remark, not SO much so in the present in
stance; for, though the first necessary and
general result OF conviction be sincere
wish to atone for evil committed, yet il
may be question worthy of able consider
alton whether excessive pride of opinion,
consummate vanity, and inordinate self
love might not prevent or retard that
otherwise natural consequence. For my