DEATH-BED SCENES. CHAPTER I. THE SOUTHS-AGED CONVERTS. § 1. THE SOUTHS. IF my readers should have chanced to meet with the chapter upon Warnings' before they see this, they will already be well acquainted with the old people, who are mentioned in the title, and may then, perhaps, be desirous also to know, what became of them after the termination of that dialogue. Their curiosity, if they have any such, will now be gratified; and two others of their former acquaintance, distinguished only by their vices, will be introduced again to their notice. Meanwhile, they will probably be glad to hear, before they begin my present story, that Jacob Brockbourn, the main personage of that drama, has risen by good conduct to be his master's foreman, and is upon the point of entering into a VOL. IV. B second marriage. The account also which I have to give of the young woman, his step-daughter, is very favourable. It is impossible, I am sure, to have read her former history without being much pleased with her; and I am happy to communicate, that she has obtained a higher service by the recommendation of Mrs. Browne, her then mistress, in which she behaves herself with similar diligence and integrity. But what I am about to add is painful and terrible, and will cast a sad damp, I fear, over the agreeable intelligence. The young Mrs. Hodges is dead; dead without having returned to the public exercise of her religion. Poor creature! she was desirous to do it, and had repeatedly settled with Mrs. Martin to accompany her to church; but the ridicule of her wicked friends as repeatedly laughed her out of her wise and pious intention. God, however, did not brook her delays and fickle resolution. In the midst of them she was seized with a brain-fever, and within three days she was a corpse. Her disease was fatal, and she never knew its danger—she did but rave and die. May the Father of mercies have been merciful to her soul (all things are possible with him), for that short gleam of penitence and amendment! We know not what she had to conquer, and cannot judge of her heart. Her husband married again shortly afterwards. Behold me now, then, on the way to visit old |