Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-10
Written for The Evening Star.
An INTERVIEW WITH DEATH.

Twas midnight, and methought l softly dreamed
VI love and happiness. until there seemed
Within my chamber near my couch to be
A presence, yet my dreaming eye could
Only the shatowy outlines trembling near
khoush to 1i me with a nameless fear.
l started up ana cried with bated breath:
'What-who art th0aT" An answer came, " 'Tis
l. It's Deathr'
"Deathl' repeated hoarsely, while the blood for
SOCK
My heart and cold my body shook.
A terror seized my soul, turned my head
From the dread phantom by my bed;
Yet, Ike the wretch condemned, whose fate 30
nigh
And sure that desperation makes him boldly die,
SO at last the awful silence broke,
Though scarce above stammering whisper spoke:
" art thou Death, indeedi Hast for me :
Thou cailst so unannVunced, suddenly,
That l am uptrepared to go with thee.
inexorable, Death, are all thy laws!
Yet let helpless mortal plead his cause.
And iay before thee now his desire"
Speak, mortal. speak. say what dost thou re-
quref'
20 Dcath thou canst anticipate my need,
And 30 much surely thou wilt me concede-
q, take me not tonight, my time extend,
Untu NY life is fitted for Its end,
Until-ah! many things must yet be done,
Schemes, plans be finished long ago begun
Ambitions gratided, ay wrongs avenged-by Time
That stung with caiumny's envenomed tongue,
Till all my soul with agony wrungl
Besides, U Deathl II spared the years may bless
My life with long, long hoped for happiness.
thousand other reasons could give,
Death, that l few more years should live;
Grant, grant my prayerp' Poor son of earth, this
plea
For years, more years, comes oft to me-
And with the self-same reasons thou hast brought
Thou dost from fellow mortals differ naught
In this. All would postpone
My final call. They would with added days atone
For time misspent, for wrongs to others done.
Or TO themselyes-at last hope to have won
All they had sought, yet hitherto In vain,
But II their wish he granted and they gain
Double the years they ASKED, or even more,
l ind them ready than before
They still would live. still further time implore.
Therefore 1 warn thee. as ! grant thy prayer.
Fur my next visit carefully prepare.
Waste not the precious time In building Ger
Thy Wanted schemes-the past will come no more.
Ambitions bsuble, fame, seek thou not to secure,
Nor Durdenng wealth; these but endure
With thy brief life and must be left behind;
Seek that which gives pure, contented mind
But IL thou wouldst acquire unselrsh fame.
Let charity In all things be thy constant aim.
Leave vengeance with the Power where It belongs,
That rights impartially all human wrongs,
And learn these noble precepts while you live
Learn to subdue myself and to forgive.
Fulfill each duty In Its proper sphere,
Cherish no malice, cause no falling tear;
Be just and true to all and satisfy
Thy sonscience-then thou shalt not fear to die.
But when l come will lay thee on my breast.
f. EN- as a weary child lies down to rest.
Why why should mortas dread my presence sof
And call me King OF TerrorsT when they know,
Or should, that l for every pain and grief
And crushing and agony bring sure relief.
touch-there comes a quick surcease
or mortal suffering, and they rest In peace!
But the immortal spirit called the soul
cannot even touch cannot control.
DispeI thy horror, mortal, ere ! go;
GaHe fearless upon Deathl' l looked and, lot
A wondrous vision met my anxious eyes,
Filling my bosom with awed surprise:
No dreadful image with a sable plume,
Aud trailing robes Of black. was In my room;
No eyeless skull with grinning joles was there,
But in Its stead face radiant fair,
So tender and so sweet, though sad, 1t seemed
A mothers loving presence on me beamed.
A dazzling nimbus crowned the brow with light,
The heavenly form was Grapes In heecy whitei
1 mutely gazed In wonder till the bright
ROBBED vision melted softly from my sight
DE WITT O. SPRAGUE