Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 July 1885 — AWAITING THE FINAL SUMMONS. [ARTICLE]

AWAITING THE FINAL SUMMONS.

Scenes In and About the House of Death a Few Hours Before the Bud. About and around the cottage, savs a special from Mount MacGregor, all was stfll and quiet, except for the occasional twitter of some belat ed bird in the birches or pines. Mrs. Grant, attired in a loose gown of white, came out upon the veranda and seated herself in one of the many deserted willow chairs that were scattered in groups about the piazza. Ten minutes she sat motionless, gazing awav to the east, where the gray tint of another day had grown to a full promise.

Her face rested against one hand, and she was evidently wrapped in thought. Suddenly there came the sound of a rattling, laboring cough from within. It was the General clearing the affected parts of his throat of mucus. Mrs. Grant left the piazza quickly and seated herself by tee General'? side, slowly fanning the sick man’s face. The coughing was not severe, but only incidental. CoL Fred Grant entered the room while the nurse was aiding the General, and took a place at the side and behind his father. The nurse fetched a lamp and held it at the sick man’s shoulder, an.d at the moment the General turned his face toward the light and upward to bid the nurse bring his pad and pencil. His wish was not at the instant understood, and, turning a trifle further, the General repeated his wish. The scene at the moment was a picture in shadows. As the flickering rays fell across the face of the General, it became a grim Rembrandt, with strong, rugged lines bioken down by suffering and pain. On his head was the sknll-cap that at all times lends a startling effect to the sick man's appearance, and from beneath it straggled the hair that clung in sweat-moistened locks about the emaciated neck. A crimson serf had been thrown over the back of the General’s chair, but as he leaned forward it drew across his shoulders, one <nd being gathered under his arm. A dark dressing-gown covered the pat ent’s attenuated form, and a handkerchief encircled bis neck. Thecrayot the close-cut beard seemed white, and the lines on cheek and forehead were d ep indeed, and when the face was turned upward to speak the eyes seemed grayer, too, and abnormally large. They were clear and steady, showing that the General’s reason was clearly at his command, but there was a wistful and yearning expression in them. The General’s face, as he spoke, appeared strained and drawn, but its color and fullness were not such as would be expected after such suffering and care, 'lhe lips moved heavily and the whisper was husky and low, but the nurse undeistood and the pad and pencil w’ere brought. Then, while the red light of the lamp fell on his downcast face, he wrote, but briefly. The si p was handed to Dr. Douglas, who at once turned it over to Col. Grant, who had arisen and stood beside his mother at the General’s side It was a private family communication, and when finished the sick rpari resumed his half-rec lining position, with his head slightly inclined forward and his elbows on the sides of the chair, while the fingers of either hand were interlocked, each with the other, beneath his chin. The family were all gathered at the side of the sick man, and again Dr. Newman, at about the same hour as last night, and at Mis. Grant’s request. knelt beside the General and prayed. Heads were bowed and silt nt tears were on the cheeks of men as well as women. After an hour death seemed a little less rapidly gaining on the man it has pursued just nine months today, for it is just nine months ago to-day that Gen. Grant walked into Dr. Douglas' office to seek his professional aid for the cancer that h s done what foes and war could not. Then the doctors and clergyman strolled out upon the piazza and sat near the parlor window, and Jesse Grant joined them at times, but the other members of the family remained in the sickroom and watched and waited, while the General answered “yes” and “no” to several questions.