father senseless in the bed by her side. I essayed to raise him, and
after a few efforts supported him in the bed in a sitting posture.
My brother now rushed in, and snatching a light that was burning, he
held it to my father's face. 'The surgeon, the surgeon!' he cried;
then dropping the light, he ran out of the room followed by my
mother; I remained alone, supporting the senseless form of my father;
the light had been extinguished by the fall, and an almost total
darkness reigned in the room. The form pressed heavily against my
bosom--at last methought it moved. Yes, I was right, there was a
heaving of the breast, and then a gasping. Were those words which I
heard? Yes, they were words, low and indistinct at first, and then
audible. The mind of the dying man was reverting to former scenes.
I heard him mention names which I had often heard him mention before.
It was an awful moment; I felt stupified, but I still contrived to
support my dying father. There was a pause, again my father spoke:
I heard him speak of Minden, and of Meredith, the old Minden
sergeant, and then he uttered another name, which at one period of
his life was much on his lips, the name of--but this is a solemn
moment! There was a deep gasp: I shook, and thought all was over;
but I was mistaken--my father moved and revived for a moment; he
supported himself in bed without my assistance. I make no doubt that
for a moment he was perfectly sensible, and it was then that,
clasping his hands, he uttered another name clearly, distinctly--it
was the name of Christ. With that name upon his lips, the brave old
soldier sank back upon my bosom, and, with his hands still clasped,
yielded up his soul." {39a}



CHAPTER III: APRIL 1824-MAY 1825