But, as often happens in this disorder, a
severe relapse soon came, with a spasm of the glottis so violent and
prolonged that the patient at last resigned the struggle. Then pain
ceased forever; the heavenly smile came; the breath went; and nothing
was left in the little white bed but a fair piece of tinted clay, that
must return to the dust, and carry thither all the pride, the hopes,
the boasts of the stricken father, who had schemed, and planned, and
counted without Him in whose hands are the issues of life and death.
As for the child himself, his lot was a happy one, if we could but see
what the world is really worth. He was always a bright child, that
never cried, nor complained: his first trouble was his last; one day's
pain, then bliss eternal: he never got poisoned by his father's spirit
of hate, but loved and was beloved during his little lifetime; and,
dying, he passed from his Noah's ark to an inheritance a thousand times
richer than Huntercombe, Bassett, and all his cousin's lands.
The little grave was dug, the bell tolled, and a man bowed double with
grief saw his child and his ambition laid in the dust.
Lady Bassett heard the bell tolled, and spoke but two words: "Poor
woman!"
She might well say so. Mrs. Bassett was in the same condition as
herself, yet this heavy blow must fall on her.
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