Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1885-08-22
MISCELLANY.
A DEATH PICTURE.

At the commencement exercises OF
the Medical College of Virginia, at
Richmond, few years ago, Hon. A.
M. Kelley, the rejected Minister of the
United States, first to Italy, second to
Austria, delivered the address, in the
course of which he drew the following
exquisite word-picture of scene which
only those can fully appreciate who
have passed through the pathetic and
painful experience:
"Come with me, you who believe
that there is nothing in this hnman en-
tity save the gases and fluids and
earth which respond to chemical analy-
sis-come with me to the chamber
where little child, an only one, lying
on its mothers lap, is fighting with
wasting fever or fatal Group the battle
oh, how unequal-for its little life.
Let US cross the threshold without
knock or bidding, for the convention
alities of life have no place here, and
out of the gloom of swift-coming death
softly step. How loud the tick of the
clock How spectral the light! Scat
tered about the floor are the toys with
which a mothers love sought to wean
the baby's thought from the pain that
racks its tiny frame-all useless now,
for the gliding sands are fastening to
the end. Look down into that mothers
face, homely it may be when measured
by the painters standard or the sculp-
tors but radiant through all its an
guish with divine loneliness which
the chisel of Phidias or Raphael's
brush would vainly seek forever.
Watch her, as with yearning love,
whose mute eloquence shames all the
witchery of words, she answers the sad
appeal of those fast-dimming little
eyes-turning to her in pathetic Won
der-wonder why that tender mother
who failed it never before in trouble
or suffering, helps not now. Look
down through those trimming eyes,
whose gushing tide she stays for
baby's sake, into that riven heart,
bursting with the thought that the
fragile threads are breaking-swiftly
breaking; that soon those eyes, whose
radiance outsparkles all the gems of
earth, will be dim, dim, forever dim :;
that soon the prattle which to her fond
ear was sweeter than hymns of seraphs
will be forever hushed; that soon the
little, pattering' feet, that only yester-
day made sweet melody through the
house will move no more; and 81
lence which is akin to no other silence
known on earth will cast its pail upon
that smitten habitation. Hush the
end has come. Let US wait until the
first burst of natures grief is over
past. Measured by reasons standard.
we should now expect rage, or ven
geance, or fear, to find expression here;
but of these scarcely a trace is seen.
A new and totally distinct group of
emotions gather around this tiny form
raising and softening and Identifying
the awful scene. Calm-eyed Faith
stands there gazing down the ages
with look serene, and from Hopes
white wings supernal light floods
the darkness, and Resignation, with
steadfast front, and Fortitude, with
outstretched arm, bearing up this
bruised heart; and you feel that it is
not the grim skeleton and scythe and
hour-glass, nor Atrapos in robe of black
who sits despairing at this couch of
death, but an angel with fearful eyes
and compassion limitless, whose hand
has soothed even while it smote."