Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1885-03-19

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began again, with redoubled intensity.
1t would seem to concentrate itself for
a moment in my shoulder, then spread
all over my body like ripples on a
puddle of water into which one drops
a stone. Every ripple of pain seemed
to burn its way along nerve and
artery, and could not help shrieking
out in the intensity of my torture.
The nurse was greatly alarmed
when he came in, and hastily empted
some powder from vial he carried
into a glass of water, and held it to
my lips, drank the draught eagerly,
hoping for relief from pain, or death.
cared not much which.
Again that deadly stupor crept
over nae, and ! folt all consciousness
leaving my brain. Soon | knew no
more.
When again vague sort of con-
seriousness came stealing in upon my
benumbed senses as the first faint
beams of coming day steal in upon
the gloom and darkness of night,
became aware of the sounds of voices
in the room. could hear words
spoken, but tney seemed far off.
Gradually they seemed to come near
er until at last | could distinguish
what was being said.
"Ie died day before yesterday" l
heard the surgeon say, in tones full of
respectful sympathy. "The nurse
found him suffering terribly and gave
a large dose of morphine. That seem
cd TO quiet him. The nurse reported
the case to me, and | came as soon as
| could. When came he was dead.
| am sorry you could not have been
here sooner, madam. He often spoke
of his mother. If had dreamed how
near the end was, would have tcle-
graphed at once. But | supposed
there was no immediate danger"
II wish | could have been here" a
voice choked with tears made reply
the voice of my mother. "Oh, my
poor bOyr"
Then | felt warm kisses pressed upon
my lips and tears felt like rain upon
my face.
Good God! They thought | was
dead The terrible truth flashed over
ME like lightning. >,
For many hours had hecn living
there wrapped in the icy semblance of
death, and my mother was preparing
to take my body home for burial! |
tried to open my eyes, to speak. In
vain! No muscle moved in response
to the dictates of my will. The cur
rent of life was frozen in my veins.
1t was terrible, terrible, terrible, the
awful sickening feeling that crept over
me when found that my body had
thrown off allegiance to my will, that
| was powerlcss to move finger or
lift an eyelid. was dead to thought
came to me that perhaps this was all
outward appearance. Once the really
death, and my soul had not vet taken
its leave of the house of clay. But
could not believe that, and stroyc to
shake off the lethargy upon me again
and again. But my will could not ac-
complish its purpose. | felt myself
receding into unconsciousness again.
as wave goes out from shore till its
denty is lost. | was wave on the
tide of life, going out intb oblivion. |
thought then that was indeed dying.
The scmblance of death was fast be-
coming its reality. Then came
another long and utter blank in my
existence.
When again consciousness returned
it brought a sensation OF intense cold.
| seemed to be III some region of ice
and frost. All my energies seemed
in deadly numbness. Again
| tried to move, to open my eyes. Not
a muscle stirred.
How long was this to continued /
asked myself that question, but L
could not answer it. Then the thought
came again that after all might be real
ly dead. How did | know that the soul
left the body when what men call death
takes place? Might it not remain and
be conscious of earthly things as be-
fore? Who could tell what happened
after the breath of life has left the
body? The lips of those called dead
never opened to divulgc the secrets of
death. Perhaps | was finding them
out. But no! no! 1t could not be
that was dead | was in trance.
But they believed was dead, and they
would bury me alive!
BY slow degrees the truth of my po-,
sition came upon me. l was in my
coffin!
leave you to imagine, If you can,
what | felt. But you can not. No
one can who has not been through the
same terrible experience.
Then steps came into tho room. |
felt myself lifted and borne out. /,
was carried for some distance. Then
| knew that those who bore me were
ascending steps. | heard the crcak-
ing of heavy doors, and then the deep.
and solemn tones of an organ broke
forth in the Dead March in Saul.
knew, then, that | was in the
church had attended previous to my.
enlistment. was back in my old,
home, and friends had gathered to pay
their last tribute to my memory.
Then the organ mighty voice died
out in long minor chord, and the
read in slow, impressive
tones al am the resurrection and tie
life, whosoever believeth in Me, though
he be dead, yet shall he live again"
Then came messages of comfort from.
the word of God to sorrowing hearts.
| heard the sobs of friends about me-
as the good man spoke. Then he
prayed. A hymn was sung. Then the
lid above my face was lifted, and
friends came about me to take the last,
look. l felt tears falling on my face.
| felt that my last chance had come.
Now, If ever, must shake myself free,
from tine deadly lethargy upon me-.
1t seemed as If my frantic efforts to
break the bonds that bound me must
avail and set the current of life in
motion.
My mother came to me last. She
leaned across the coffin, and laid her
cheek against my face, and whispered,
"Oh, my boy, you were all had left,
and | loved you So.
Somehow those words seemed to
touch the hidden spring of life. The
stagnant current began to move again,
my will resumed its power over my
body; opened my eyes, and cried
out, "Mother!"
/ cannot describe the scene of ter
ror and excitement that followed.
Imagine how it would be II you saw