The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-03-24


would break, for | could see Master
Philips face before me all the time
as a merry, laughing little boys, then
as the handsome, pleasant-looking one
which was his when grownup. p
At last the minister was through and
then he came to the head of the coffin as
the undertaken unfastened the lid and
turned it back. He stood for moment
looking down at my young master; then
he said, his voice all of tremble:
IAN opportunity will be given to all
who desire to look once more upon the
face of our dear young friend"
Then followed directions to the people
how to move so that no confusion should
! follow, and then for an instant there was
q pause of such utter stiffness that could
hear my heart beat, before the rustling
of draperies and the subdued sound of
moving feet was heard. ''
Then rich and poor young and old,
friends and strangers, joined in the pro-
cession which was to pass by poor Master
Philip and gaze upon his dead face. I'm
of English birth myself, and have all
the English horror of the American GUS
tom of opening coffin inpublic. felt
as though would give worlds could |
have the right to speak out then, and
there, and forbid this exposure of Master
Philip. But Gods ways are not our
ways, and it is well that | hadn't the
power, for all of a sudden heart-rend-
ing cry rang out, followed by:
80, my Philip, is it thus l have found
you? Dead! Deadr'
Then there was connection about
the coffin, and slight form was soon
after carried hastily down the aisle. A
young girl had been the actor in this
strange scene, and had fallen in faint
after giving utterance to her wild cry.
She had been almost the last one to gaze
at Master Philip, so, with solemn face,
| the undertaken stepped forward to close
the lid again over the silent sleeper.
What must have been his feelings,
then, to see Master Philips dark eyes
open and gaze up into his face, with a
look of intense entreaty in them? With
one startled glance at him, he exclaimed:
''lf there is physician here, will he
please come forward? We have nearly
put live man under ground. 1t is a
case of suspended animation
Then the scene that followed! 1t beg
gars description!
1t was so terrible, yet so joyful, when
at last my young master was fully
| brought back to life. 1t was hours be-
fore he could speak, his wide-open, i'm
plOring eyes being the only sign of life
for long, anxious interval of time.
Had it not been for that piercing,
heart breaking cry, he would have surely
gone down to his grave then and there
in his young manhood andno one would
have ever known that he had left q wife
and baby-boy to battle with the cold
world, While they were working over
Master Philip, others had taken the poor
young girl into the vestibule, and were
| trying to restore her to consciousness.
1t was nearly as difficult task to bring
her back again to life, as it was with
Master Philip. But at last she opened
her eyes, and looked about her, wistfully
at first and questioningly-then with a
sudden recollection of what she had seen,
she shivered and seemed about to go off
in another faint, but just then a messen-
ger came in hot-haste with an inquiry
for her, and a request that she should be
| brought into the presence of the man
| whom her cry had aroused to life again.
The dread accessories of death had been
hastily removed, blankets had been sent
for, and lounge and pillow had been
brought, so that the ante-chamber had
been transformed for the time into the
appearance of sick room. Dds.
Her lettering steps had to be support
ed, for as no one knew the relation she
bore to Philip, no one had said to her
'Your husband lives" so that the truth
burst upon her like flash of lightning
so sudden and overwhelming was her
joy when she saw Philip, and heard him
say, "Come here, my own little Polly
With a low, glad cry she tottered for
ward and threw herself upon her knees
beside him. -.-......
He laid his hand upon her pretty head
and turned his eyes beseechingly upon
his father, who stood near watching him
with variety of feelings Struggling for
the mastery in his stern face. MY
mistress was standing by her son hold
ing his other hand, and looking at him
as thought she turned her eyes away
for an instant she might lose him.
Bless her! Master Philip felt that he
was sure of her forgiveness! but it was a
more serious question about what his
father might do.
Perhaps if he had been fully conscious
of what had taken place-how he had
been thought dead, and had peen coffin
ed, and had come nigh to being put
under ground-he might not have felt SC
uneasy about his fathers forgiveness.
But he only knew that something strange
had happened, and that he must lose nc
time in saying what it was upon his
mind to say.
Father" he said, feebly, 'forgivc
me for deceiving you so long. | have
been married to Polly for two years, and
have been afraid to tell you. She's as
good as gold, and you and mother mus
love her for my sake. We've gotta baby,
too, and he looks just like you.'
| There was mighty struggle going or
in my old masters breast; but natural
affection drove out the old Adam, and in
his joy at Philips being spared he for
gave him, and took his wife and baby
into his heart and into his house, too,
where suppose they will always stay.
The doctors say Master Philip had an
attack of catalepsy, and that was why
we found him stiff and cold in his bed
one morning when he hadn't been sick
at all the day before; but say it was q