Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1885-07-29
His Last Day.

morning hours at the Grant cottage
were cool and refreshing on the veran-
da, whereon the incandescent electric
lights were burning all night. The
thermometer at 2 o'clock this morning
marked u degrees. This was tho
equable temperature maintained in tho
sick room while Gen. Grant remained
in New York. and to it was this morn
ing 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 tho mountain.
1t stirred the curtains of the window
at which sat the sick man, and it
famed his face moro CRATE
fully than could the careful hands that
were waiting near. Between 2 and
a. m. the grey tint of another day crept
up the horizon beyond the Green
mountains-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 frcshcr air.
AGLIMPsE OF THE NIGHT.
Once at o'clock, Mrs. Grant attircd
in loose gown of white came out up
on the vcranda and seated herself in
one of the many deserted chairs that
were scattered in groups about the pi-
azza. Ten minutes she sat motionless
and gaZed away to the east, where tho
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 rattling, la
boring cough from within. 1t was tho
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 mans face. The coughing was
not severe, but only incidental. Col.
Fred. Grant entered the room while tho
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 ad-
minister food. The nurse touched the
shoulder of DIR. Douglas as helay 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 signiticd
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 trife further the
general repeated his wish. The scene
| at the moment was picture in shadows.
AS the Pickering candles rays fell
across the face of the general, it became
a grim Rembrandt, with strong,
rugged lines, broken by suffering and
pain. On his head was the skull cap
that at all times lends startling effect
to the sick mans appearance, and
beneath it struggled the hair that clung
in sweatmoistened 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 bis arm. A
dark dressing gown covered the
patients attenuated form, and
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 generals
reason was clearly at his command, but
there was that wistful and yearning ex-
preston that makes women weep and
men grow sympathetic. The generals s
face, rs 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 downcast
face, he wrote, but only briefly.
The slip was handed to DR.. Doug