The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1880-05-13
CHAPTER TX.

CHAPTER TX.
A SEASON OF DARKNESS.
Sing aloud
Old songs, the songs of the heart.
The power that dwelleth in sweet sounds
to waken
Vague yearnings, like the sailors for the
shore,
And dim remembrance
Is not this all 4 mystery?
The mistress Of the house to which
Horace was borne was gentle, moth
erly lady, somewhat advanced in yeaLs.
She received the wounded man with
true christian sympathy, and placed
him on a low bed in her neat little sit
ting-room. Before the arrival of the
doctor, he had given signs of retnrn-
ing life under her skillful treatment; !;
but as yet recognized none of his
friends.
The doctor, after a careful examina-
ton of his patient, gave but little hope
of his recovery, and forbade any at
tempt at his removal to his boarding
house. No kind relations were there
to tend at his bedside. 4 devoted
father, brothers and sisters were far
away, and no one knew how to direct
letter summoning them to attend the
unconscious sufferer.
But Gods watchful care was still
over this erring one. He raised up
friend for his hour of need, i'll Mrs
Norton, under whose care he was of
necessity placed. She was widow, and
still wore mourning for an only son.
He had fallen victim to disease in his
early manhood, when he gave rich
promise of an hOnored and useful life,
and his noble form was now slumber-
ing peacefully III a neighboring ccmc-
terry. Perhaps remembrance and love
Of him had prepared her to look with
even more sympathy on the young
man she had received into her house.
She knew nothing of his history, bat
he was Somebody's darling;" he was
''stranger, too" 50 she took him to
her heart as well as home and hourly
did she minister to his wants with the
tenderness of mother.
Weeks passed, and still there was
no favorable change in Horace.
He talked incessantly, often calling
Mother" ''Mother," now in gentlest
tones of affection and joy; again, i'm
ploringly, as i'll agony Of soul. Awhile
he seemed at home, a boy again,
sporting in freedom and happiness
amongst birds and flowers; but sud
denly he would spring forward in nor
ror, as some frighttul vision seemed tt
pass before him. Gently then would
Mrs. Norton soothe him to rest. NC
other hand could quiet him so well by
its touch no other voice so soon calm
his excitement Friends had beer
very kind in calling to offer their ser
vices, but the physician prohibited hi
seeing any but his regular attendants
He had spent day of unusual rest
lsssness, and his kind friend was sittin!
sadly by his side. She felt that ther
was little TO hope for, and feared, from
the circumstances under which he ha'
met with his accident, that he was no
prepared to meet his God.
The shadows of evening were steal
ing through the room, the hour SCENE
favorable to sleep. She thought sh
would sing-in a low quiet tone; pei
haps he might be lulled to rest. Sh
raised her heart in prayer ere she con
3 menced.
Was it merely by accident sh
sang?
q love 70 steal awhile away"
r She had finished, and the restles
figure had become strangely still. 81
= thought that he slept.
= A few moments more, and fail
: voice asked, "Where am 1? WI
r sang those words ?"
: Mrs. Norton was startled by the jo
}. ful surprise of this evidence Of +
/, stored reason, but she controlled h,
d voice, and replied, "You are wit
/ friends" But this did not satisfy ii
d eager questioner. The hymn h'
If awakened associations with the swee
est memories of his heart, and
V must know how all this was connect,
d with his present situation.
2, He was striving to look into Il
/, darkness around him. Mrs. Mort
e, stepped into the adjoining room, a
N lowering the lamp, p,retuued and plac
it near him. His hands were press
:, 30 his temples as he tried to rccolb
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