Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-07-22
BESIDE THE SICK MANS CHAIR.
HOW the Early IIOur~ Of the Morning
We're Passed.

WI. M'phEt'oR, y. j =, July 22.-Ihc early
morning hours at the Grant cottage were cool
and refreshing. ON the veranda where the in
cande>cent electric lamps were burning all
iiiSht, the thermometer, al y q clock this MORN
ing. marked 12 degrees. This WAS the euuabIe
temperature maintained i'm the sick room
Wnlle Gen Grant remained in New York and
10 IL was added, this morning, the sweet smell
rom the pine trees that bend over the cottage
ROOF. n gentle breeze, SOFT aud delicious swept
down the valley and from the mountains In
stirred the curtains at the window near which
SAT the SICK man. and it famed his face more
gratefully til;tn could tie careful hands those
| rear ny Between and } o'clock this morn
ing the gray hint of another day crept
/ along the horizon bevuud The green
mountains. perhaps the last earthly dav oi the
! SIX man >Ittin. within the cottage parIorS
Around the cottage all was quiet. except Tor the
occasional twiu'cr of hrialc,i bird in the
| bIrcheS or pines. Occasionally Henry the
nurse, walked out on the plaza. once. nj
nearly 3oclock. Mrs. Grant, ;ittired in a loose
! gown OF white, CAME out upon the Neranda and
/ seated herself in one of the many deserted will
| low chairs. For ten minutes she SAT motion
| less and gtzed away to The east whcrc the gray
tint OF another dag had grown 10 "A fuller pron-
| lse. Her .icc rested AGAINST her hand. aud She
was evidently wriric,! in thought. suddenly
tnefe came the sound oi coughing from within
me cottage. The general was gearing his throat
Mrs Grant lett tie iiazza quickly. ana seated
herself 10y the generals side. slow! tanning his
lace. The coughing was not severe. Col Fred
nurse was aiding his father, and took
seat at the side and behind the
nurse touched the shoulder OF Dr. Douglas as
he lay asleep on "A couch i'm the same room He
arose iuliy dressed. as he WAS all night and
sealed himself beside the patient. The food
was gwen him from a cup, and the mouth and
throat were cleared by the doctor II va.
hea nearly tour O'clock, and the gray OF the cast
nau tnilged To pale orange tints. When the
physician laid aside his appliances Gen Graz,
leaned forward i'm his chair and slcnifnd a de.
sire thiil a lamp should he brought TIE
nurse brought a lamp ana h,lI !, ni
me SICK mans shoulder, anu "a, the moment
me general turned his face toward the light
anu upward TO bid the nurse bring mis- ,lad .,na
pencil. His wish was not at the mornan, ny.
derstood. and turning "A tribe further The ,a,.
vi;ti ,, repeiteG inns Wish. lha scene AT the mo-
meat WAS 4 picture in shadows As tho f,.rl.-
crlhg c'ttldie rays fell across the face of Gen
Grant Grans >. became grim Rembrandt, with
and pain. On bis head was the skull c.,t ~,
at all times lends a startling effect I'd the Sick
mans appearance, as,A fraaea- -heurath. ii straS.
locks about the emaciascd neck. a cr,InsS,, n,ton
scarf had been thrown on the back Of his chair
but as he leaned forward ii drew across his
shoulders, one end being gathered under ms
arm. \ dark drcSsiug-gown covered the
patients attenuated form and "A handkerchief
beard seemed white, a;id the lines on cheeks
ana forehead were deep indeed, and when
the face was turned upward to speak
the eyes seemed srayer, too, ans ab-
normally large. They were clear and steady
showing that the general reason wills clearly aii
at his command, but there was a wistfuI And
yearning expression in them. The generals
lace. AZ he spoke. appeared strained and drawn
but It's color and fuilneSs We're 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 Understood =
and the pad and pencil We're brought. Then.
wlA,e the red light OF the candle fell on his
downcist face, lac wrote but only briefly The
slip WAS handed to Dr. Douglas who ;t once
turned il over 10 Col. Grant, who had arisen
ami stood beside his mother at the generals
side. 1t was private family comrnuniration
ana when finished the sick man resumed his
halt reclining position, with his head Slightly
inclined forward, ana his elbows on the sides Of
the chair, while the fingers either hand
were inteIlocked each with the other beneafh
his chin.
1t was 4:3O O'Clock and the peaks of the
mountains eastward were darkiy outlined
against the reddening dawn. The faint glow
crept between the pines and birches thruurh
the cottage window and tnged the sick mans
cheek with the dawn of what is believed by tho
doctor to be his last day. At five O'Clock DR.
Sands. The general moved reStlessly aud his
eyes for q few moments gaZed intentIy away
through the trees. Then he settled down in
his chair and doZed.
The message To DIR. Sands was sent only that
the responsibility of the the close. of tbn
night should be shared by the members of the
medical staff and not with the Thought that
any aid could be rendered by any person M
that time.
The general was given stimulants but he
grows weaker hour by hour. The morning is
clear, and the mercury, at O'clock Registered
80 degrees All visitor, are to-day kept from
the cottage and a Sabbath day quiet prevails
about the spot. DIR. Douglas and Dr Newn,.n
are with the family. The genca al sits AS he did
last night, his eyes closed much of the time but
Grant jr, is expected this afternoon. The fam
lily circle will then be cOmplctcu-