Year: 1861

river, across long arid plains with not a Tree


or shrub in sight


After ride Of six houts and ten minutes


we arrived at the homestead or head station


After running the gauntlet throaah dozen
! hungry kangaroo dogs, | reached the pa
TENTS bedroom. On approaching the door


saw the bed directly opposite, ii seemed


10 contain huge pile of something in the


centre. On going close 10 the bedside


found my patient TO De woman of vast
size and weight-ceriainly not less than


sixteen stone. and the heap had noticed


on my entrance was her very extensive and
| respectable corporation. On examination
found she ad suffered both from external
| and internal injuries 10 such an extent that
feared the case was hopeless. She turned
to look at me. begged she would not dis
turb herself. ''Not disturb myself.n she in
terrupied. "It is easy to say so ,bni why do
you not give me something 20 relieve this
dreadful pain Give me something, pray,
or must go mad"


AT noon next day, marked change for
the worse had taken place The period had
arrived for me to perform an unpleasant du-
ty. broke the news 10 the unfortunate


woman with much caution as possible
telling her TO prepare for the worst, and to
arrange any affairs she might wish to have
settled before her final departure from this
world. She told me the whole cause of the
accident, in calm, collected manner, and
ho,k ~ L.,
a will for her as she informed me ihs whole
+, OF the property was hers, and tha, she was
living with c., but not legally married
to him therefore she could dispose of the
property as she liked, which she did The
will being finished, ! wished her TO sign il
in my presence and in that of other witness
es /; she had marked repugna ance 10 do
this, which appeared dreadful to her as
last act. ! showed her The necessity of do
ing so while in possession of all her facsl-
ties or before any arrangement took place.
She refused to sign il but in the presence of
two persons whom she named, her husband
and myself. ! ordered the room 10 be clear.
ed, and gave her the pen, putting at the
same time the usual questions She hesita
ted long time-there was a stiffness that
was fearful 10 me for some ten minutes at
last, she summoned sufficient resolution to
commence, bu, stopped at the FIRST letter, S
"Oh, wal; little" she said II am think
ing, thinking, thinking OF times long past"
and as she seemed to be talking more 10
herself, as il is called, than addressing US |





now sober, witnessed this death bed scene
with evident emotion "James," said the
woman, 81 should like TO be alone with the
doctor little while | have something TO
tell him, but nothing have to confess tina,
you do not know" The husband then lef,
She then told me what was never never TO
tell again. was at first absolutely paraly-
zed. There in that remote solitude, did
that dying woman reveal facts 80 dreadful
and so connected with my painfully distinct
recollection of by-gone days, that abso-
luteIy shook with agitation 1t seemed more
like horrible dream than awaking reality
She recalled me TO my senses BY her de
spairing appeal 10 heaven for forgiveness
She seemed completely hopeless of pardon
tried at length 10 comfort her, ard bade
her not despair. Glow glad | am YOU are
here, doctor you shall be well paid for all
this. Do you know feel happier now
since ] told you all. Oh, if | could have
seen a clergyman, but there is none nearer
than $50 miles. Too late, TOO ia.eI I shall
soon be elsewhere. An where | begged
OF her 10 sincerely repent OF her faults, and
seek hope for The fuiure she clasped her
hands together, sighed deeply as though
her heart were too oppressed, and che was
at loss for words. She spoke at last with
effort and evident fatigue Call him in,''
she said. did her bidding; In the pres
ence OF her husband gave her the pen, she
gave one look of despair and anguish.
signed the will, and | witnessed al once
the death and signature OF Sarah Gale"


As il was too late to start for home the
same day on which Mrs. C. died and 20
sleep was impossible, made memoran-
dunn OF the circumstances an hour or so al.
ter her death took place.


have said all that feel at liberty 10 di-
vulge of a story that will ever haunt my
memory.