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

PLY the approaching end was becom-
ing clear of the rattling fullness of the
throat and lungs, and as the respira-
ton grew quicker and more rapid to-
ward the close, they also became less
labored and almost noiscless. This
fact was in it's result comfort to the
watchers by the bedside, to whom was
spared the scene of an agonizing or
otherwise than peaceful death. The
wife almost constantly stroked the
face, forehead and hands of the dying
general, and at times, as the passionate
longing to prevent the event so near
would rise within her, Mrs. Grant
pressed both his hands and
leaning forward tenderly kiss
ed the face of the sinking man.
THE LAST MOMENTS.
Col. Fred Grant sat silently, out with
evident feeling, though his bearing was
that of soldierly son at the deathbed
of hero father. u. S. Grant, Jr.,
was deeply moved, but Jesse bore the
scene steadily and the ladies while
watching with wet cheeks, were silent
as betitted the dignity of life such as
was closing before them. The morn
ing had passed five minutes beyond 8
o'clock and there was not one of the
strained and waiting watchers but who
could mark the nearness of the life tide
to its final ebbing. DR.. Douglas noted
the nearness of
THE SUPREME MOMENT
and quietly approached the bedside and
bent above it, and while he did so the
sorrow of the grey-haired physician
seemed closely allied with that of the
family. DR.. Shrady also drew near.
1t was seven minutes after o'clock
and the eyes of the general were clos
ing. His breath grew more hushed as
the last functions of the heart and
lungs were hastened to the closing of
the ex-president's life. A peaceful ex-
preston seemed to be deepening in
the firm and strong-lined face and it
was reflected as closing comfort in
the sad hearts that beat quickly under
the stress of loving suspense. A minute
moro passed and was closing as tho
general
DREW A DEEPER BREATH.
There was an exhalation like that Of
one relieved of long and anxious ten
sion. The members of the group were
impelled each to step nearer the bed
and each waited to note the next res
piration, but it did not come then; it
never came. There was absolute still
ness in the room, and hush of expect
ant surprise. No. sound nroke silence,
save the singing of birds in the pines
outside the cottage and the measured
breaking of the engine that all night
had awaited by the little mountain
depot down the slope.
1T Is ALL OVER
quietly spoke DR.. Douglas and then it
came heavily to each witness the reali-
zation that Gen. Grant was dead. Then
the doctors withdrew, the nurse closed
the eyelids and composed the dead gen
erals head, after which each Of the
family group pressed to the bedside one
after the other and touched their lips up
on the face SO lately stilled. DR.. Shrady
passed out upon the piazza and as he
did so he met DR.. Newman Fastening
up the steps.
''HE IS DEAD"
remarked DIR. Shrady quietly. The
fact of having been absent from the
side of the dying man and his family
at the last, was cause of sorrow and
regret to the clergyman who had await.
ed all night at the cottage. He had
been summoned from his breakfast
A MOMENT TOO LATE,
and reached the cottage only in time tc
minister to the family sorrow, and gaze
upon the scarcely hushed lips of the
general, to whom DR.. Newman's love
had bound him in such close relations
| THE DOCTORS MOURN.
Soon after Drs. Douglas and ShradJ
left the deathbed they conversed feel
ingly of the latter hours of Gen, Grant,
life. The pulse first had indicated fail