The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-17

again be thrown open during the day ana
the parched and brown earth took on
mantle of green. At the close of the
rains, near the middle of September,
cholera appeared in the native city, spora-
die cases only, and, removed as were the
residences of the Europeans from the VI
cinity of the Hindustani population, little
danger was apprehended. One morning
before the end of the month the colonel
was summoned from his orderly room by
a messenger bringing the tidings that his
younger son was very. i'll. 1t was chol-
era and the boy was dead a noon. Just
as the sun was going down the casket
containing the little form was carried to
the cemetery and lad in the newly opened
grave Before this time the older boy had
slckened and by nighfall the mother. Long
before dawn of the next day both were
dead, and with such mournful haste as is
necessary in this land. preparations were
made for burial The father seemed stupe-
fed with grief. When the grave had
closed over the last of his household he
returned to his desolate home and threw
himself into a long armchair strangely
calm and thus he sat through the re-
naming hours of the day, waiting for
the cholera" the servants said. When
darkness had settled down over the earth
The colonel rose, walked through the emp
ty rooms so recently resounding with the
music of childrens voices, out INTO the
STARLIGHT and the flower-scented air, past
the terraces leading down to the river,
and. in the delirium of grief, threw HIM
self into the water The next morning
his body was found a few miles down the
stream and was buried beside his wife and
his two boys.
The shutters were closed a key turned
in the lock and the house was left dark and
cared
house around which such memories clus-
tered After the British troops were re-
moved from Siringapatam the house be-
came habitation for bats and other
noisorne creatures. The grass grew rank
where once had been a well kept garden,
and the jackals rioted in the jungle. 1t
was haunted house. the natives said, and
not a foot crossed the threshold. When
the present ruler of Afysore took up the
reins of government he gave orders that
the Jungle should be cleared away, the
rotting roof repaired, the broken window
panes replaced by new. the interior of the
house cleansed and the discolored walls
vhitewashed, while all the articles of fur
niture were 10 be preserved, the old piano
with its mute keys, the cots of the child
rem. the bed on which the mother died
and the chair in which the colonel sat
during the hours Of his last earthly day
The garden was once more made tidy,
flowers bloomed and grass grew on the
terraces leading down 10 the river. Now
the house is shown to the few visitors
who find their way to Seringapa tam and its
sad story perpetuated.
India. with its dazzling sunshine, its
barbaric splendor, and its many fascina-
tons. in spite OF its squalid misery, is yet
TO the white foreigners who seek its shorse,
whether for gain, for scientific purposes.
| ,v g., milf and pVapeypliZa its dppreg
! and benighted millions, a land full of sad
| experience, sad memories and severed
! households.
india is nearer heaven than America 3"
once said a missionary, who after many
wears of earnest service in India, with
| shattered health. had sought his native
! shores for recuperation. Short Is the pas
age often in this land between abound
! ing health and the grave