Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-06-19
and | could not help shrlokingout in the

could hear words spoken but they
seemed tar of. Gradually they seemed
to come nearer, until at last | could dis
tinguish what was being said
He died day before yesterday" ]
heard the surgeon say, in tones full OF
respectful sympathy. The nurse found
him suffering terribly and gave him n
large dose of morphine. That seemed
to quiet him. The nurse reported the
case to me, and | came as soon as ]
coull. When came he was dead. |
am sorry that YOU could not have been
here sooner, madam. He often spoke
of his mother Ii | had dreamed how
near the end was | would have tele-
graphed at once. But | supposed there
was no immediate danger
~ wish could have been here,
voice cboked with tears made reply
the voice OF my mother. 20, my poor
boy!"
Then | felt warm kisses pressed upon
my lips and tears fell like rain upon my
face.
Good God They thought l was dead!
The terrible truth flashed over Inc like
lightning.
Dead!
For many hours | had been lying
there wrapped in the icy semblance OF
death, and my mother was preparing to
take my body home for burial! | tired
to open my eyes, to speak. In vain!
No muscle moved in response to the die
tates OF my will. The current of life
was frozen in my veins,
1t was terrible terrible, terrible, the
awful, sickening feeling that crept over
me when l found that my body hal
thrown off allegiance to my will and
that was powerless to move finger or
lift an evelid. | was dead, to all out
ward appearance. Once the thought
came to me that perhaps this was really
death and my soul had not yet taken it;
leave of the house of clay. But | could
not believe that, and | strOve to shake
off the lothargy upon me again and
again. But my will could not accom-
plish its purpose. lfclt myself receding
into unc )nScousness again, as wave
goes out from shore till its identity i,
lost. was Il wave on the tide of life
| going out into oblivion. thought then
that was indeed dying. The semblancC
of death was fast becoming 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 in some region of ice and
frost. All my energies seemed con
gealed in deadly numbness. Again
tried to move, to open my eyes. Not 6
muscle stirred.
How long was this to continue?
asked myself that question but | coulC
not answer it, Thea the thought camt
again that after all might be really
dead. How did | know that the sou
left the boly when what men call dealt
takes placi? Might it not remain anC
be conscious of earthly things the SANE
us before? Who could tell what hap
pened after the breath OF life has lief
the body? The lips of those called deat
never opened to divulge the secrets o
death. Perhaps Twas finding them out
But no. no! 1t could not be that wa
dead! was in Il trance But they be
lieved | was dead, and they would bur
me alive!
b. slow degree the truth of my posi-
ton came upon me. | was in my coffin
| leave you to imagine, if you can
what felt. But vol can not. No on
can who has not been through the sam
terrible experience.
Then steps came into the room.
felt myself lifted and borne out. wa
carried for some distance. Then | kneN
that those who bore me were ascendin
steps. heard the creaking of heav
doors, and then the deep and solem
tones of an organ broke forth in tn
Dead March in Saul.
| knew, then, that was in the churc
: | had attended previous to my enlis
meat. | was back in my old no me an
friends had gathered TO pay their la;
tribute to my memory.
Then the organs mighty voice die
out in long minor chord, and tn
> minister read in slow, impressive tone
a am the resurrection and the lif,
whatsoever beleyeth in Me, though i
be dead, yet shall he live again.
Then came messages of comfort frol
the word of God to sorrowing hearts
; heard the sobs of friends about me, {
the good man spoke. Then he prayed
A hymn was sung. Then the lid aboy
, my face was lifted, and friends can
about me to take the last look. | fe
tears falling on my face. | felt that II
last chance had come. Now, if ever,
must shake myself free from the dead
=. lethargy upon me. 1t seemed as if IL
frantic efforts to break the bonds tn;
U bound me must avail and set the currel
of life in motion.
My mother came TO me last. 81
leaned across the coffin and laid h
; cheek against my face. and whispere
! 20, my boy, you were all | had le
and loved you sou
. Somehow those words seemed
u u touch the hidden spring of life. TT
!. 8tagnant current began to move agai
~ my will resumed its power over Ii
body; | opened my eyes and cried on
"Motherh
+ can not describe the scene of terri
n and excitement that followed. Imagil
u how it would be if you saw the de'
come to life. For months after tn
many looked at me with frightent
y faces, as if they could not rid themselv
of the impression that had really be-
u dead and that they beheld my ghost.
DO you wonder my hair is whit
l. What wonder at most is that n
l. mind stood the strain of that terrih
u eXperience.-N. Y. journal.
Ii NO MUSIC FOR HIM.