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Article SCENES IN AMERICA . ← Page 6 of 7 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Scenes In America .
posed to sleep , I walked backward and forward through the yard for some time ; at length I heard a wild exclamation from Ball , and then the soothing times of his wife ' s voice , mixed with the deep accents of Burns . I now determined to enter the room , but before I had well opened the door all was hushed again . Opposite the door burned dimly an iron lamp , stuck into a crevice in the back of the fire-place ; immediately on the left lay Jack , fast asleep , witli one of his little brothers at his side ; in the farther corner of the
room , to the right , stood the bed in which Ball was , his wife sat by the side of it , leaning on her elbow , and resting her head on her hand , near the foot of the bed . Bums was leaning bis head on bis folded arms as they rested over the back of the chair on which he sat astraddle . As I entered , the two watchers raised their heads , and made anxious signs for me to take a seat without causing a noise ; I took one near Burns , who whispered to mo that they had given Ball an enormous dose of laudanum , which had . produced several hours' sleep , but it was disturbed and full of horrible dreams . It
was not long before Ball started up , with a groan , from some fearful vision , and glared wildly at us ; a few words , however , from his wife and Burns , immediately composed him ; he noticed my being in the room , and held out his hand to me ; we all felt that this little act was a good symptom , the hopes
excited by which were at once evident in the wife's manner . I offered to relieve Burns for the remaining part of the night , but he positively refused the arrangement , insisting on my going to bed again ; I accordingly stole quietly cut of the room , and went once more to bed . I at length fell into so sound a sleep , that I did not wake until the sun had been some hours up . Ball had slept most of the night , during the latter part , without much interruption ; the morning had found him snoring soundly , so that we now entertained hopes of finding him greatly relieved when he should wake up .
After breakfast I made what preparations were necessary for my departure , and only waited for the termination of Ball ' s sleep to know how he was , and to take my leave of him . During the morning , a number of his neighbours came to enquire about him , to all of whom Burns dealt out his hopes for the facts of the case . About two o ' clock in the day , Ball awoke ; his mind was comparatively composed , and , to the extreme delight of his wife and daughter , he took some nourishment . I shall never forget the appearance of joy which those two simple minded women manifested while they held his repast before him , and served him as he ate it . _ My horse now stood hitched at the fence , and I went in to take my leave of Ball . " Farewell , friend Ball , " said I to the old man , stretching out my hand to him .
" You're goin ' , then , Stranger ? " said he . " Yes ; I am sorry I cannot spend a few day 3 with you , but I must jog on now as fast as I can . " " I'm sincere sorry , too , you can't stay , an' I ' m a great deal more sorry at " " Oh , never mind that , " said I , shaking his rough hand , which still clasped mine . " Well , Stranger , you ' re a man , an' Peter Ball ' s roof ' s yourn , an' he' ]
always be real happy , the same as though you ' re his own blood , to see you eatin' alongside of him ; and I hope that 'ill happen many a time , ef God spares us . " " I trust so , too , " said I shaking his hand for the last time . " Well , God bless you , " said the old man , with an emotion that made me hasten away to bid Jack farewell , who clasped my hand tightly , but did not utter a syllable . In the passage I took my leave of the mother and daughter ; the former saying , "but , Stranger , you didn ' t tell Peter when you thought
you'd be this way ag'in . " Upon informing her that I hoped to see them in a few weeks , she absolutely smiled with delight , no doubt at the idea of the gratification her unhappy husband would derive from it . Burns walked out voi ,. it . 8 it
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Scenes In America .
posed to sleep , I walked backward and forward through the yard for some time ; at length I heard a wild exclamation from Ball , and then the soothing times of his wife ' s voice , mixed with the deep accents of Burns . I now determined to enter the room , but before I had well opened the door all was hushed again . Opposite the door burned dimly an iron lamp , stuck into a crevice in the back of the fire-place ; immediately on the left lay Jack , fast asleep , witli one of his little brothers at his side ; in the farther corner of the
room , to the right , stood the bed in which Ball was , his wife sat by the side of it , leaning on her elbow , and resting her head on her hand , near the foot of the bed . Bums was leaning bis head on bis folded arms as they rested over the back of the chair on which he sat astraddle . As I entered , the two watchers raised their heads , and made anxious signs for me to take a seat without causing a noise ; I took one near Burns , who whispered to mo that they had given Ball an enormous dose of laudanum , which had . produced several hours' sleep , but it was disturbed and full of horrible dreams . It
was not long before Ball started up , with a groan , from some fearful vision , and glared wildly at us ; a few words , however , from his wife and Burns , immediately composed him ; he noticed my being in the room , and held out his hand to me ; we all felt that this little act was a good symptom , the hopes
excited by which were at once evident in the wife's manner . I offered to relieve Burns for the remaining part of the night , but he positively refused the arrangement , insisting on my going to bed again ; I accordingly stole quietly cut of the room , and went once more to bed . I at length fell into so sound a sleep , that I did not wake until the sun had been some hours up . Ball had slept most of the night , during the latter part , without much interruption ; the morning had found him snoring soundly , so that we now entertained hopes of finding him greatly relieved when he should wake up .
After breakfast I made what preparations were necessary for my departure , and only waited for the termination of Ball ' s sleep to know how he was , and to take my leave of him . During the morning , a number of his neighbours came to enquire about him , to all of whom Burns dealt out his hopes for the facts of the case . About two o ' clock in the day , Ball awoke ; his mind was comparatively composed , and , to the extreme delight of his wife and daughter , he took some nourishment . I shall never forget the appearance of joy which those two simple minded women manifested while they held his repast before him , and served him as he ate it . _ My horse now stood hitched at the fence , and I went in to take my leave of Ball . " Farewell , friend Ball , " said I to the old man , stretching out my hand to him .
" You're goin ' , then , Stranger ? " said he . " Yes ; I am sorry I cannot spend a few day 3 with you , but I must jog on now as fast as I can . " " I'm sincere sorry , too , you can't stay , an' I ' m a great deal more sorry at " " Oh , never mind that , " said I , shaking his rough hand , which still clasped mine . " Well , Stranger , you ' re a man , an' Peter Ball ' s roof ' s yourn , an' he' ]
always be real happy , the same as though you ' re his own blood , to see you eatin' alongside of him ; and I hope that 'ill happen many a time , ef God spares us . " " I trust so , too , " said I shaking his hand for the last time . " Well , God bless you , " said the old man , with an emotion that made me hasten away to bid Jack farewell , who clasped my hand tightly , but did not utter a syllable . In the passage I took my leave of the mother and daughter ; the former saying , "but , Stranger , you didn ' t tell Peter when you thought
you'd be this way ag'in . " Upon informing her that I hoped to see them in a few weeks , she absolutely smiled with delight , no doubt at the idea of the gratification her unhappy husband would derive from it . Burns walked out voi ,. it . 8 it