Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1882-10-19

} by degrees the sceEe OF my supposed
death came back to NE, and then :
fearful horror thrilled me at the tho
that | jght already be in my colin
and perhaps buried dive Oh, heav
en- the aGnn, Ct that thought what
language can describe it? | tried tc
speak, but my lips were sealed; tried
to turn, to raise my hand, but not a
muscle could | stir; tried to open
my eyes, but the lids were fast; lis.
tened intently, but not a sound broke
he awful silence. My soul was alive
though, and mentally | prayed:
"Oh, my God, deliver me Oh,
naercIful God, deliver ME u
Some time after this, as if in an
swer to my prayer, heard the sound
Of moving feet as if some one We're
stepping slowly, solennly and lightly
across floor The steps drew near.
er and nearer and seemed to halt be-
side me. Then there was light
noise as Of something being moved
above my head, and a sensation as Of
light shining suddenly out Of dark
ness upon closed eyelds. This was
followed by the sound Of long deep
sigh, ending in suppressed and
mournful groan, and then by a long
heavy pressure Ct human lips upon
my own. Oh, the unspeakable agony
of not being able to respond to the
devotion of him who was more to me
than life for my very inmost soul ac-
knowledged it to be my loving hus-
band who was with me, in the lone
watches Of the night, mourning me as
if gone forever from the realm Of
time.
oh, my dear, dear Mary, why did
Won leave me thus?' he said in a low,
tromuIous, sobbing tone: "why did
YOU leave me thus to struggle on alone
in a world that will heuceforth be a
dark and dreary one to me ? Oh, God
Why should she not have been spared
to me and to her children a little long
er? Oh, nerciful God | know it is
sinful in me, a poor mortal, to replne
at thy wise decree and therefore !
beseech Thee to give me strength to
bear up under tins great aillictlon
On, Heavenly Father, support and
sustain me, that | be not utterly
crushed with the weight Of this great
sorrow -
These words heard and felt thro
all my being, AMI yet, could not move,
could lot respond. Was the misery
OF Tantalus equal to mine?
Again | felt the warm, holy pres
sure OF my husbands lips upon mine:
and as he drew back with another
heavy groan, | heard him mUrmur:
"Oh, how beautiful is my dear Ma
~, even in death. How like Is her
death to a calm and peaceful s'eei .
la hat do behold moisture upon
those lips and color upon those
cheeks Gracious God perhaps she
is not dead p
He rushed from the room and for
the first time my soul trembIed with
hope. Might | not be saved at last =?
In a minute | heard quick stepo re
turning and tho voices Of my mother
and husband talking eXcitedIy.
"There there y he exclaimed as
he came up to my side: Look !
look lis that death ?'
III seems like liie-it really seems
like life f. exclaimed my mother, in q
Wild, agitated tone. Oh, Heaven
if it should be . if it should be. Bat
DO not hope too much, Henry do
not hope too much, it may be cruel
deception after all i
"Quick y he cried, "let US take her
from the coffin, roll her in blankets,
rub her and tly every restorative,
Quick your spirits of hartshorn
quick quick p
A moment after, a shock seemed to
pass through my sysrem-mY eyes
unclosed my breath came my
tongue was loosed-anl Dear moth
er dear husband r issued from my
lips.
A wild shrek of joy greeted my
returned animation; wild confusion
! followed; the coffin lid was torn off; |
was lifted cut and carried to u bed;
the house was reused; the doctor was
sent for and before morning my dear