The Texas Countryman. (Bellville, Tex.), Vol. 6, No. 3, Ed. 1 Friday, January 26, 1866 Page: 4 of 4
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colorless, but no sound came.
"It is only a fainting fit," jsaid
Maude, endeavoring to appear calm,
since the spirit of the young and
beautiful betrothed had passed away
without a word, or a prayer; and the
sorrowful mothers sat together in the
"Yon had better bathe her temples dim twilight, exchanging now and
with a little cold water, while I run
for Mrs. Conway I will not be gone
a moment; and she may advise on
what todo."
She soon returned, followed at a
distance by the feebler steps of her
aged companion. Rendered utterly
helpless by grief and terror, Mrs.
Lawrence oould only wail and wring
her hands like a distracted thing,
calling in passionate accents upon the
name of her child; while Mrs. (Jon
way, whose presence of mind never
forsook her, directed Maude to send
immediately for the doctor, applying
in the mean time all the restoratives
usual on such occasions; but her care
was in vain. Between them those
aged women bore the stricken girl in
their arms, and laid her on the bed,
where she remained white and motion
less, as though carved out of stone.
Seeing that there was no more to be
done, Mrs. Conway knelt down and
prayed as we only pray at such times
as these.
Maude returned with the doctor,
and they tried to bleed her without
success; All their attempts to restore
animation were in vain ; the girl nev-
er spoke again, but died toward morn-
ing peacefully and without a struggle.
Once only she opened her eyes, and
looked around her with a wild agoniz-
ing glance that was never forgotten
by those who witnessed it. Mrs.
Conway closed them softly and slmd-
deriugjy with her hand; and she nev-
er móved after that.
l'alo and horror-stieken, Iiober
made one of the little group who
stood weeping in their vain grie;
around the bed of death. And, when
his mother rose at length from her
knees, and laying her hand upon his
shoulder, said in a solemn voice, half-
choked by tears,—"The Lord hath
given, and the Lord hath taken awav;
blessed bo tho name of the Lord !"—
his heart refused to utter, Amen!
Maude's grief was doep and pas-
sionate, but nothing in comparison to
the wild lamentations of tho bereaved
parents: until at length, completely
worn out, they both fell asleep by the
bedside of Ihoir dead child, and dream-
ed that the wedding-day. was come.
Mrs. Conway hail taken her son home,
thinking ho would be more likely to
recover his composure away from that
terriblo scene ; and poor Maude crept
about the house, putting out of sight
all the simple bridal fiuery, over
which they had taken so much pains
only tho day before. "As for the
cakes," thought she, "they must do
for the funeral."
woep afresh, as she recalled to mind
all the pleasant words and merry jests
that had been uttered over them ; al-
most the last words that Hannah was
ever hoard to speak being in playful
anticipation of an event that was not
to be. Of a truth it was very ter-
riblo ! No wonder that poor Maude
felt heart-stricken, and like one in a
frightful dream. No wonder that she
sobbed and cried, when even a strong
man liko Robert Conway wept.—
Every momont that Mrs. Conway
could spare from the side of her half-
distracted son, was sponl at tho cot-
tage, where she assisted Maude in
performing those sad, but necessary
offices, of which the poor old mother,
in her deep affliction, seemed utterly
incapable,—speaking words of com-
fort and consolation, a:id endeavoring
to improve this melancholy event to
tho heart of. her young companion,
by teaching her the frailness of all
earthly hopes.
Two days and nights had elapsed
then a few kind words; but more
frequeutly remaining silent for long
intervals, during which memory was
no doubt busy enough. Maude was
a little apart by the half-open case
ment, working on a black gown for
Mw. Lawrence to wear at her child's
funeral; and pausing every now and
then to wipe away the blinding tears
that hindered her from seeing what
she was about; and thinking the
while, perhaps, of a certain dress,
over which she had taken so much
pains for a far different occasion.
"It is too dark, I am sure, for you
to see to work, Maude," said Mrs.
Conway, at length; and her voice
sounded strangely loud in that silent
room. "Go into the field, dear child
and look for your uncle; it is late for
him to be out alone."
The girl did as she was desired;
and found bim kneeling amid the long
grass, with his white hairs uncovered,
and tho tears streaming down his
withered cheeks. Not likiugto in
trude upon his grief, Maude steppei
behind a large tree and waited, hop
ing that he would presently rise up
tof his own accord, and return home.
Meanwhile it grew quite dark, ani
so still that tho inmates of that deso-
late cottage could almost hear the
beating of their own hearts. Mrs
Conway arose at length to procure a
light, and just at that momeut a faint
mourning sound was heard, proceed-
ing, as it setmed, from tho bed whore
•the corpse lay. Mrs. Lawrence clung
fearfully to the side of her compan-
ion.
"Did you not hear something
groaning 1" whispered she.
•'Yes, I thought so ; but it might
have been only the wind."
'•Hush ! There it is again J"
"Let me go !" exclaimed Mrs. Con-
way, hastily disengaging herself from
the terrified grasp of her companion.
"It is Hannah's voice!" And tear-
ing aside tho curtain from the foot of
the bed, there was Hannah, sure
enough, sitting upright in the dim
moonlight, and looking wildly around
her, like one awakened from a heavy
sleep.
With ready presence of mind, Mrs.
Conway threw alargo shawl over the
doad-clotlies in which she was wrap-
ped, and spoke to her calmly and
soothingly, motioning to the mother,
at the same time, to go out quietly
and call for assistance; but Mrs. Law-
rence stood still and motionlsss, as
ugh her feet were glued to the
floor.
"Howcold it is!" murmured Han-
nah, shuddering as she spoke. "But
what is the matter ? Have I been
very ill, mother ?"
"Yos, yes; but keep quiet, dear
child, you will bo better soon !"—
And, freeing her face, slio laid her
lead gently back on the pillow, and
went as fast as her tottering steps
would carry her to summon medical
assistance, and prepare Maude and
Mr. Conway for what had happened,
caving tho mother, still motionless
andjterror-stricken, in tho darkness.
By tho aid of heat, and restoratives
constantly applied, Hannah soon be-
¡¡jau to rally, and by the morning was
almost well; but for tho weakness and
exhaustion, aud a ¡strange feeling of
Veariness, beneath the influence of
which she at length fell into a gentle
slumber. How anxiously did they
all listen to her calm regular breath-
ing, and gaze upon that sweet face,
once more colored with the warm hue
of life. How they longed to be able
to get off the grave-clothes without her
knowing it, fearing that the shock
would be too great, but could not,
"without disturbing her, which the doc-
tor had strictly forbidden. How they
wept, and prayed, and blessed God!
Presently Hannah opened her eyes,
and fixing them upon the anxious
faces that were watching over her,
inquired of her mother if she had been
long ill.
"No, my child, not very."
"Ah! I remember now—I was
taken ill while we were making the
cakes; but it is only a fainting-fit,—
By-the-by, Maude," added she, as
the girl earne forward, and bent down
to kiss her, "I hope you looked after
them, for the dough was just rising,
and they promised to be excellent.
Her cousin tried in vain to keep
down her struggling sobs, and answer
calmly; whilo Hannah, mistakin
the cause of her emotion, added kind
hT—
"Well, never mind, dearest! We
can easily make more; it was my
fault for frightening you. And moth
er, do not say a word to Robert, please
about my being ill; it is past now."
. "You must not get up, Hannah
indeed you are not strong enough,
exclaimed Mrs. Conway, tremblin
lest she should discover all. "0
yes! I am so much better; ant
Maude and I have a thousand things
to do. It was only the heat made
me feel faint. But how came I bv
this shawl ?" asked Hannah, as she
ondeavored to unfasten it from aboti
her shoulders. "It is Mrs. Conway's
Has she been here ?"
"She is here now," replied the kind
voice of her old friend, while a tear
fell upon her uplifted brow; "but you
must lie still, my child, and listen to
what I am going to tell you."
"Please don't let it bo a very long
story, mother dear," said Hannah, a
she flung her arms around her, ani
laid h§r head upon her bosom, like a
pkyfnl and weary child.
YV ho shall attempt to describe her
feelings when she heard all?—feelings
expressed rather by tears than by
words. Mrs. Conway understoo
them best, when she motioued to the
rest that they should kneel down anc
pray for her, that she might lie
forget that solemn hour in which Got
had restored her to them, as it were
from the dead.
Robert Conway was half beside
himself when he heard the joyfu
news; and could not rest till he hac
gone in softly, and kissed her hand, as
she lay pale aud tranquil upon the
bed; for, somehow, he dared not
touch her lips, although sho was his
own betrothed bride. After that,
many of the neighbors came just to
look upon her, and congratulate the
old people on the restoration of their
child. But none spoke above their
breath lor fear of disturbing her,
In a few days Hannah rose up, and
went about among them all, just as
usual, only that she was paler and
graver; but no ouo wondered at that.
Tho wedding did not take place until
some time afterward, when Robert
received his young bride .*s the gift
of God; and truly sho brought a bless-
ing with her. llaunah lived many
years, and was a happy wife and
mother, and, *what ifc better still, a
happy Christian; meekly trusting in
tho merits of her Redeemer, and ready
whenever it shall please God to call
her to himself.
There ave many instances on re-
cord somewhat similar to the above;
but not all ending so happily. It
was only a few days since wo heard
of a poor woman, living in an obscure
country place, who suddenly became
insensible, and was supposed dead.
On the night previous to tho inter-
ment, her Bister, who occupied the
next chamber, was disturbed by a
slight noise, and looking in, eaw the
corpse sitting erect, and attempting,
as it seemed, to remove the grave-
clothes from about its face. Ti e ter-
rified woman caught up her sleeping
child from its cradle, and flod away,
half-naked as she was, to the house
of a neighbor nearly a irile off; where
she remained all night, although they
only laughed at her, and fancied she
must have been dreaming. Tho fol-
lowing morning, however, the appear-
ance of the corpse fully corroborated
her statement; giving fearful evi-
dence of tho struggle that had been
going on between life and death.—
The poor woman might have been
alivo to this very day, had her sister
only possessed presence of mind
enough to assist instead of deserting
her in that dark hour of untold agony.
And yet we are ready to make every
allowance in a case where none of us
can bo quite certain that we should
have had tho coui'age to act different
]y-
The story of the sexton and the
ring must be familiar to most of our
readers; and we could tell them many
others equally wild and wonderful-
melancholy histories, for the most
part, but not without their warnii
lesson both to tho aged and the
young.
The "Frecdmcn."—The mock phil
anthropists of the present day will find
in the perusal of an extract from a
discourse of Chaplain French, lately
delivered in the Church of the Puri-
tans, New York, some food for reflec-
tion and a further display of their
"humanitarian" achievements. Chap
lain French, of the Freedmen's L'u-
reau, after speaking of tho "4,000,000
of souls taken out of tho prison-house
of slavery, and setting them in the
world's highway," said:
There they are now, without
money, shelter and clothes, 'i hey
have no friends of their own race to
assist them, and a feeling of supremo
loneliness has come over them. How
0lad they were when they first be
came aware of their freedom, antici
pafing no hardships; and yet they
had no sooner begun to snuff tho air
of that freedom, when their sufferings
commenced. They are now fast
aveling down to the tomb. They
want coffins, and will want thousands
more before the 1st of Januray, 18C6.
If not assisted, 30,000 freedraen
will perish in Georgia before the 1st
of March! They are starving and
dying there—calling for coffins be-
cause they can't get bread. I do not
want to reproach the Government or
people; but the freedmen requira the
assistance of both to save them from
death.
Benefit of Newspapers.—The fol-
lowing is clipped from an exchange.
It contains more truth than poetry,
and we commend it to our readers :
)thing is more common than to
hear people talk of what they pay
newspapers for advertising, etc., as so
much given in charity. Newspapers,
jy enhancing the value of property
in their neighborhood, and giving the
ocalities in which they are published
i reputation abroad, benefit all such,
particularly if they are merchants or
real estato owners, thrice the amount
yearly of tho meagre sum they pay
"or their support. Besides, every
mblic spirited citizen has a laudable
nide in having a paper of which he
is not ashamed, even though he should
>ick it up in New York or Washing-
ou.
A good looking, thriving sheet
íelps to sell property, gives charac-
er to tho locality, and in all respects
isa desirable public convenience. If
you want a good readable si.eet it.
must be supported. And it must not
•>o supported in a spirit of charity
either, but because you feel a necessi
to support it. The local press is
le power that moves the people.
Circular.
Trkasuuy Drpautment, I
Washington, July 28, 1865. \
8m—I have vliÍR day appointed Mr. O.-
N. Cutlei, a Special Agent to receive and
collect the captured and surrendered cot-
ton lying in tne State of Texas, and bo
much of the State of Louisiana as lies
west of the Mississippi river, under in-
structions which he will show you.
I desire yeu to notify your subordinate
acting within the territory named, that-
they will be thenceforward subject to Mr.
Cutler's orders, to be relieved or retaiuod
by him, as iu his judgment may be most
conducive to 'the public interests.
Respectfully,
h. mcculloch,
Secretary of the Treasury.
B. F. Flandkus, Esq., Supervising
Special Agent Tieasury Department, New
Orleans, La.
I- By virtue of authority, under the
above order of the Honorable Secretary of
the Treasury, the services of all agents
appointed by B. F. Flanders, Esq., Super-
vising Special Agent, Treasury Depart-
ment, and their sub-agents, acting in the
State of Texas aud so much of the State of
Louisiana as lies west of the- Mississippi
River, for the collection of captured and
abandoned property of the late so-called
Confederate States, will not be required
on and after this dAte. All persons acting
as such agents will forward all property
of the above description now in their
possession at once, with a report of their
transactions while in the service of the
Treasury Department to this office.
II. No person, except such as may hold
authority from the undersigned, will bo
permitted to exercise any control, or tako
charge of a ny captured or abandoned prop-
erty, on. account of the Treasury Depart-
ment of the United States, from and after
this date, within the territory above named.
III. Persons found in the act of embez-
zling the Government under pretence of
being agents of the Government, and per-
mitting captured and abandoned property
i come forward as private property, will
to
be liable to trial by a military court-mar-
tial or commission for defrauding tho Gov-
ernment.
IV. All persons in charge of the above
named class of property will be held res-
ponsible for the delivery oí the same to
such agents as may bo appoii ted by the
undersigned for the reception of the same,
or its value in money or other property,
the same being valued at New Orleans
market rates.
V. Persons who had possession of this
class of property, and having disposed of
the same, will report, at their earliest con-
venience, to whom the "same was turned
over, giving the amount, kind and date of
delivery, and, if known to them, the point
to which the same was shipped; upou
what vessel, and to whom consigned.
VI. The shipment of private property
in the territory above named will not be
interfered with in a ny manner by agents
of this Department; but persons engaged
in the traffic of the above mentioned class
of property, either by sale or purchase,
are expected to know the same to be pri-
vate property, and if found in the endeav-
or to embezzle Government property, will'
be treated as felons.
VII. Persons in charge of captured or
abandoned property, forwarding the same
to the undersigned, will be paid a liberal
compensation for so doing.
VIII. All Government property in West-
ern Louisiana must bo forwarded to New
Orleans, consigned to O. N. Cutler, Spe-
cial Agent of the Treasury Department.
None will be permitted to move North.
O. N, CUTLER,
Special Agent Treasury Department.
Custom House,New Orleans, Aug24,1865.
|3P° Papers in Western Louisiana and
Texas will please publish and send bill to -
this office.—New Orleans Times. [3w.
en. }
>.
I
Circular,
Office of Puovost Marshal Gen.
DISTRICT OF TEXAS.
Galveston, June 28, 1865.
All persons formerly slaves are earnest-
ly eiyoined to remain with their former
masters, under such contracts as maybe
made for'the present time. Their own
interest as well as that of their former-
master, or other parties requiring their
services, renders such a course necessary
and of vital importance, until permanent
arrangements are made under tho auspices
of the Freeduian's Bureau. It must bo
borne in mind, in this connection", that
cruel treatment or improper use of the
authority given to employers will not be
permitted, .whilst both parties to tho
contract made, will be equally bound to
its fulfillment on their part.
No person formerly a slave will be per-
mitted to travel on the public thorough-
fares without passes or permits from their
employers, or to congregate in buildings
or camp at or adjacent to any military
post or town. They will not be subsisted
in idleness, or in any way except as em-
ployees of tlie Government, or m cases of
extreme destitution or sickness, and iu
such cases tho officers authorized to order
the issues, eliall be the judge as to tho
justiee of the claim for suitii subsistence.
Idleness is sure to bo productive of vice,
and humanity dictates that employment bo
furnished these people, whilo the interest
of tho cunmonwealth imperatively de-
mands it, in order that the present crop
m: y be secured. No persons, white or
black, and who ave able U labor, will be
subsisted by the Government in idleness,
and thus hang as a dead weight upon those
who are disposed to bear their full * share
of the pubiie burdens. Provost Marshals
and cheir nstU.Y.nts throughout tne Dis-
trict are charged with using every means,
in their power ..<> carry out the instructions
id letter aud spirit.
By order of
Mnjor General GRANGER,
[Signed] R. G. LAUGHLIN,
Lt. Col; A Provost MarebalDist. ofTexiu.
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Osterhout, J. P. The Texas Countryman. (Bellville, Tex.), Vol. 6, No. 3, Ed. 1 Friday, January 26, 1866, newspaper, January 26, 1866; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth180220/m1/4/: accessed April 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.