The Opelousas courier., 1899-04-08
HOW HE DIED..
An Episode From the Soudan.

He had lived in an infant village O
Scotland, lying in the bosom of the
hills, wrapped in green trees, anc
soothed by the prattle OF a fussy brook
and the weird singings and sighings
OF nature. He had lived in the peace
Of solitude, with the mountains fol
his great shaggy playfellows, and he
scrambled among their great boards,
the forests, like a little flea. The
burn was his bath, and he and his
companions would run around 1t like
young white deer-diving like white
arrows into the water, or framing its
clear mirror like a group Of beautiful
nude angels whose wing, were at the
washing. Here his memory was born,
and the birthplace of memory is its
shrine for evermore.
Such was his nursery-the humming
OF bees, the singing of birds, the MUIR
murlng brooks, the tanning Of green
branches-the nursery Of life; far
away from the hummlng Of bullets,
the blare of trumpets, the rolling Of
drums-the nursery of death.
Now he was dying. The dying have
good memories. Deaths door is a
mirror. He had worked on the little
farm with his elder brother. His
name was JOINING, it was sJock."
He had worked there till he was 20.
He rose at 5 in the morning and yoked
"Bess,' the old mare, into the pillow.
They plowed together for two hours.
One Of "Bess'" eyes was blind-the
left Il They had breakfast al 8,
and Jock asked the blessing: "We
thank Thee, 0 Father, for giving us
our daily bread" That was all. He
remembered it., every word. He
wondered if Jock asked the blessing
yet. He had a letter in his pocket
from his mother and Jock. Neither of
them could write, so the minister had
written it for them. But his mother
had spoken it all-he knew her in
every word-except that bit a 1.-THE end
telling how old Tom, the dog, had got
his leg broken in the act of hanging
on to Bess' tail. That was Jocks
contribution. These terrible flies. He
couldn't turn round either. Some
thing wrong with his back. He
couldn't feel anything. He seemed
to be resting or air, and the air hurt
him.
He was lying beside a rock. 1t was
ack-smooth-hard. It cleaned
with the many colors Of an opal when
the sun struck it. The sun was going
down. 1t seemed to be hot with it's
work. 1t buried it's red face in
the sand. How silent everything was!
1t was like the kirk on the Sabbath.
How large the rock was when he Law
at its feet! Like life. He had never
it so large when he walked
about it four hours ago. Like life
again. He had walked about it on
bis feet. How strange to walk on
feet!
Where were the soldiers-his mates?
We're they all killed? He was alive,
but dying. His heart throbbed too
last. How still everything was; no
cumming in the air, OF yelling of the
black whitehead devils, or oaths. or
'quirtings of blood-nothing but
Could he turn his head? He
could, but something like hot water
over his brow. There was a
lead black Arab about two yards
'way-a CHASTITY bunch of mortality.
How black he was! ':Jock" had never
seen a black man. His eyes we're
at him like balls of glass.
What were they staring at him for?
lis teeth were clenched, and his
light hand held a spear. The spear
'oint was red. One dark leg was
lrawn up. He looked like a wax
work. figure blown over by the wind.
When did he leave home? Two
ears ag two years ago-two years
go. Something IN his ears seemed to
out the words like elastic aud
ing them like bells. What was he
linking of? His memory seemed to
amt and then COY Two wears
ince then? Was that all?
He remembered that morning very
veil. A bonnie morning. The birds
singing and the burn murmuring
o itself. 1t would be murmuring now.
'ock would be in bed by this time.
he great mountains were clothed in
'urple-crimson thrones. The sheep
lotted them with white spots, and
hey were very lonesome. He had his
ed coat on, and his sword and all;
nut he cried as he went over the brae.
Hs remembered it very we'll.
'S'long, jock" he had said, but they
shook hands. "S'long, Dick"
aid Jock, and combed down the
lare.
"S'long, mother" His mother
making Jocks porridge : stirring
t on the fire. Tom, the cat, squirmed
q and out and around his legs, his
all in air, as though he was drunk. !
)h, God!
Rover followed him up the brae.
was his collie, his dog. They
ad worked together many a morning
p Oh the hills. He had shared his
reakfast manya time. That nigger's
yes-how they stared. Rover stared
t him like that. "Hamel" he cried.
'Hame wi We, Rover!" The dog looked
t him with surprised eyes, but did
OF bulge. .Halle, Roverl'' Tie