from the room immediately below that in
which I slept. I knew the cry, it was the cry of my mother; and I also
knew its import, yet I made no effort to rise, for I was for the moment
paralyzed. Again the cry sounded, yet still I lay motionless--the
stupidity of horror was upon me. A third time, and it was then that, by
a violent effort, bursting the spell which appeared to bind me, I sprang
from the bed and rushed down stairs. My mother was running wildly about
the room; she had woke and found my 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
up 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 in 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.

CHAPTER XXIX.

The Greeting--Queer Figure--Cheer Up--The Cheerful Fire--It Will Do--The
Sally Forth--Trepidation--Let Him Come In.

"One-and-ninepence, sir, or the things which you have brought with you
will be taken away from you!"

Such w