The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-07-30
TIE DEATH FED SCENE.

DouSlaS, ShralS anu Sailus stoou VII
the cottage veranda talking about the
condition of Gen. Grant and discuss
ing the probabilities of his death and
the limit of life left to the sick man.
Mrs. Srtoris and Stcnographer Daw-
son were conversin9 little distance Il
way when Henry, the Generals nurse,
stepped hastily upon the piazza and
spoke quietly to the physicians. He
told them that he thought the General
was very near to death. The medical
men hastily entered the room where the
sick man was lying and approached his
side. Instantly upon scanning the pa
tents face DIR. Douglas ordered the
family to be Immediately summoned to
the beds Haste was made and Mrs.
Grant, Jesse Grant and wife, L. ).
Grant, ir., and wife and Mrs. Col.
Grant were quickly beside the Gener-
ais cot. Mrs. Sartoris and Mr. Daw-
son had followed the doctors in from
the piazza and the entire family was
present except Col. Fred Grant. a
hastv summons was sent for him, but
he entered the sick room while the mes
senger was searching for him. The
Colonel seated himself at the head of
the bed with his left arm resting upon
the pillow above the head of the Gener-
al, who was breathing rapidly and
slightly gasping. Mrs. Grant, calm,
but with intense agitation, suppressed
her emotion and took seat close by
the bedside. She leaned slightly upon
the cot, resting upon her right elbow
and gazing with tear-blinded eyes into
| the Generals face. She found there,
however, 10 token of recognition, for
the sick man was peacefully and pain
lessly passing into another life. Mrs.
Sartoris came behind her mother, lean
ING over her shoulder, and so saw the
close of a life in which she has cOnsti-
tuted q strong clement of pride. Di-
rcctlv behind Mrs. Grant and Mrs. Sar-
| tOris and at little distance removed,
stood Drs. Douglas and Shrady as spec
tators Of the closing life their efforts
and counsel had so prolonged. On the
opposite side of the bed from their
mother and directly before her stood
Jesse Grant and L. S. Grant, ,jr., and
at the corner of the cot on the same
| side as jesse and near to each was W.
f. Dawson, the Generals stenograph-
cr and confidential secretary. AT the
foot of the bed and gazing directly
down into the Generals face was Mrs.
Col. Fred Grant, Mrs. l. S. Grant,
IT,. and Mrs. Jesse Grant, while some
what removed from the family circle
Henry, the nurse, and Harrison Tyrrcl,
the Generals body servant, were watch
ing the closing life of the patient and
master. DR.. Newman had gone to the
hotel to breakfast. and was not present.
The Generals little grandchildren, [.
S. Grant, ir., and Nellie were sleeping
in the nursery above. Otherwise the
entire family household was gathered
around the bedside. The members of
the group had been summoned not a
moment sooner than was prudent. The
doctors noted Oh entering the room and
pressing to the bed side that already the
purple tinge, which is one of natures
signals of final dissolution, had settled
beneath the finger nails. The pulse had
tluttered beyond the point where the
physicians could distinguish it, as the
respirations grew more rapid. AT the
close they also became less labored and
almost noiseless. This fact wss i'll its
results a comfort to the watchers by the
bedside, to whom was spared the sense
of an agonizsng or other than peaceful
death. The wife almost constantly
stroked the face and the head and
hands of the dying General, and at
times, as passionate longing to prevent
the event so near at hand would rise
within her, Mrs. Grant pressed both
her hands and leaning forward tender
" kissed the face of her husband. Col.
Fred Grant sat silently, though his
bearing was that of Il soldiefly son at
the death-bed of his hero father. L. :.
Grant, f., was deeply moved. Jesse
bore the scene steadily, and the women,
while watching with wet cheeks, were
silent.
THE FINAL MOMENT.