River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-07-30

marked Y degrees. This was the
eqnable temperature maintained in the
sick room while Gen. Grant remained
in New York. and to it was this morn
lug added the sweet scent from the
pine trees that bend over the cottage
roof. A gentle breeze, sweet and deli
cious, swept miles and miles down the
valley and from the mountain.
1t stirred the curtains of the window
at which sat the sick man, and it
famed his face more CRATE
fully than could the careful hands that
were waiting near, Between and 3
Il. M the grey tint of another day crept
up the horizon beyond the Green
perhaps the last earthly
day of the sick man sitting within the
cottage parlor. About and around the
cottage all was still and quiet except
for the occasional twitter of some be-
lated birds in the branches of pines.
Occasionally Henry, the nurse, walked
upon the piazza for fresher air.
A GLIMPSE OF THE NIGHT.
Once at o'clock, Mrs Grant attired
in loose gown of white came out up
on the veranda and seated herself in
one of the many deserted chairs that
were scattered in groups about the pi-
ava. Ten minutes she sat mOti0nless
and gazed away to the east, where the
gray tint of another day had grown to
full promise Her face rested
against her hands, and she was evil
IDENTIFY wrapped in thought. Suddenly
there came the sound of a rafting, la
boring cough from within. 1t was the
general cleaning the affected parts of
his throat of mucus. Mrs. Grant left
the piazza quickly and seated herself
by the generals side, slowly tanning
the sick man face. The coughing was
not severe, but only incidental. Col.
Fred. Grant entered the room while the
nurse was aiding the general, and took
his place at the side and behind his
father. The morning had passed three
| O'Clock, and the time had come to adj
minister food. The nurse touched the
shoulder Of Dr. Douglas as he lay asleep
on couch in the same room. He arose
and administered food and afterwards
cleansed the generals throat.
AS THE PHYSICIAN
laid aside his appliances Gen. Grant
leaned forward in his chair and signiiied
desire that lamp should be brought.
The nurse fetched lamp and held it
at the sick mans shoulder, and at the
moment the general turned his face
| toward the light and upward to bid the
nurse bring his pad and pencil His
wish was not at the instant understood,
and turning triile further the
general repeated his wish The scene
at the moment was a picture in shadows.
AS the pickering candies rays fell
across the face of the general it became
grim Rembrandt, with strong,
rugged lines, broken by suffering and
pain. On his head was the skull cap
/ that at all times lends a startling effect
to the sick mans appearance, and
beneath it struggled the hair that chung
/ in sweat-moistened locks about the
emaciated neck. A crimson scarf had
/ been thrown over the back of the gen
erals chair, but as he leaned forward
/ it drew across his shoulders, one end
being gathered under his arm. A
dark dressing gown covered the
patients attenuated form, and q
handkerchief encircled his neck. The
gray of the close-cut beard seemed
white, and the
LINES ON HIS CHEEK
and forehead were deep indeed and
when the face was turned upward to
speak, the eyes seemed grayer, too, and
abnormally large. They were clear
and steady, showing that the general 5
reason was clearly at his command, but
there was that wistful and yearning ex-
preston that makes women weep and
men grow sympathetic. The general s
/ face, as he spoke, appeared strained and
/ drawn, but its color and fullness were
not such as would be expected after
such suffering and care. The lips
moved heavily and the whisper was
| husky and low, but the nurse under
stood. and the pad and pencil were
brought. Then while the red light
of the candle fell on his downeast
face, he wrote, but only briefly.
The slip was hanued to DR.. Doug
| las, who at once turned it over to Col.
Grant, who had arisen and stood be-
side his mother, at the generals side.
1t was a private family communication,
and, when finished, the sick man re-
sumed his half-reclining position, With
HIS HEAD SLIGHTLY INCLINED
forward and his elbows on the sides of
the chair, while the fingers of either
hand were interlocked, each one with
The other, beneath the chin. 1t was
4:30 O'Clock, and the peaks of the
mountains eastward were darkly out
lined against the reddening dawn.
The faint glow crept between the pines
and birches through t, e cottage window
and tinged the sick mans cheek with
! the dawn of what is be-
lieved by the doctor to be his
last day. At five o'clock DR.. Douglas
was aroused to send a summons for Dir.
Sands The general moved restlessly,
and his eyes for few minutes gazed
intently away through TIE trees. The
message to DR.. Sands was sent only
that the responsibility of the case at
the close of the night should be shared
bv the members of the medical staff
and not with the thought that any ala
could be rendered by any person at that
time, or through the opening day. The
General was given stimulants, but
grew weaker hour by hour The morn
inc was clear and the mercury at |
o clock registered 500. All visitors
were to-day kept from the cottage and a
SABBATH DAY QUIET
pervading about the spot. DR.. Douglas
and DIR. Newman are with the family
and the day was one of quiet waiting.
The patient once during the morning
attempted to write, but succeeded only
in writing the date. The effort was
more than was warranted by the little
remaining strength. He had spoken at
intervals, but his voice was very feeble.
During the forenoon food was taken
and retained At 2:15 p. m. the men,
bers of the family and DR.. Newman
were grouped in the darkened room
near Gen. Grant Observing their
evidences of feeling, the general said:
Il do not want anybody to be distress
ed on my account" DIR. Sands and
DIR. Shrady arrive at $3.50
D. M by special train, which
also brought U. s. Grant, Jr., and his
wife. A singular occurrence is related
by DIR. Newman as having occurred n
the cottage. At five minutes of | o
clock Gen. Grant asked the hour OF the