The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1878-12-19

their mutual support, we had him ia.
ken to the infirmary. Many time
have sat by his bed, thinking it might
be the last, for he had complication
of disorders, and the doctors feared
the worst and between spaslns of pain
which left the poor face covered with
moisture, and the hands which lay on
the coyerlet trembling, poor Ramsay
would tell me his sad story. How he
supposed he had inherited some OF his
fathers feelings, for he never felt d
home or happy with mis- comrades ;
and yet how he hated him, and longed
only to find his mother, and hear her
speak lovingly to him before he died.
We put advertisements in the papers
for him, as he thought he had some
clue to her late history. But it was
useless no answer came, and he gave
up all hope on that subject, and was
resigned to die. 1t happened that we
were then leaving Scotland for two
mouths, and with many regrets, said
goodbye to my poor protege, exact
ing a promise that he should write if
could do anything for him. He
wrote to me several times, each time
giving q more cheerful account of
himself, and at last saying that he was
so much better as to be about to be dis
charged. 1t was a doubtful blessing
as is seemed to him, poor fellow, for
| he had no home, and no means of sup
port, and was not strong enough to
obtain work. However, we were just
about to return to Scotland, and we
took him into our house to train as a
servant. He learned everything quick
ly and well. 1 found plenty of my
husbands clothes which 1 could give
him: and with enough of the gentle
man in him to refine his manner, and
of the soldier to make him methodical
we thought he did credit to the house.
For time all went on well but
whether sudden prosperity spoiled
him, or what, cennot say. only
know he was a changed person; lazy,
untidy, unwilling, and going from bad
to worse, he made the other servants
discontented, untruthful and even dis
honest. So there was was no help for
it he had to 60. This, however, we
agreed to forget. The man was strong
and able to " FORK, and had moreover,
learnt to be good servant, and we
had left him to fill. the place of waiter
at club. where there was every pros
pect Of his doing we'll, if he profited
by his former experience and was
steady. ,s.ss-.s .u.1..1 = 80 p. 5ti,s i,l ,i..
This is what we said to each other
when we spoke of him last, before go.
ing abroad in February, 1876, and we
heard no more of him till he was dead.
can see all the weak points in the
story, and am quite prepared to be
asked, if what saw was indeed my
late servant, why did not recognize
him, and above all, how could mis-
take him for a visitor? This is the
only explanation glye to myself. In
the first place / had known the face
we'll when death was in near prospect
and anxious thoughts filled the mind ;
but since then the man had grown
strong, and had been accustomed to
see him in health SO long that the rec
ollection of his illness had passed
away for the time. Bu1 the face 1
had seen at first, dying, and in earnest
with added regret that he had been
ungrateful (Which 1, who knew, the
man, could well understand that he
would feeD, giving an intentness to
the speechless look which, was the last
he was TO give. remember one day
in his illness, when he had been talk
ing of his mother, and other things
which troubled him, and had given
him such comfort as could, he said ::
Ma'am, you must forgive dying
man for saying you arc the only wo-
man who has been good to me. 1
mean something better than if called
you 'lady.' The doubt as to wheth-
or should understand or be offended
at his speech was expressed so strong
ly in his face, that the matron of the
hospital, who stood beside me, at once
said: / am sure the lady is glad you
think SO we'll of her, but sorry you
won't cheer up about YOURSELF And
then l found voice TO say' Yes.' and
went away. 1t was the last time l
saw him As an invalid.
That So ell M. toll x~,, chort
But there is enc odd fact as a pendant
to this story. i ...
The man Pearson, whom we had
just brought all the way from the Ul-
TINA Thule of the ancients at great ex-
pense, gave warning that day, because
he said, the house was haunted.' He
gave no explanation, and said moth
ing, as the reason of his sudden wish
to 60 only reached me through my
maid. You will remember that he
stood at the door, apparently having
shown in my mysterious visitor.
Had his notice to quit come day
later, L should have said he had heard
other servants speak of the circum-
stance in houses where had mention
ed it. But he gave it that day, and be-
fore had mentioned it at all. Nor
have I heard up to this moment, what
he meant. Puzzled but not alarmed
myself [ would not risk frightening
my household, so when my maid told
me what he had said, only replied
'nOnsensep and that was the end of
it. lie left US, and the news of Ram
says death came afte: be had gone, or
think l should have felt inclined to
question him. 'a- is--
A BOY named Ruben Hale, of Ing
ham county, was sent to the Detroit
House of Correction, some three years
I