The Continental Monthly, Vol. 4, No. 2, August, 1863: Devoted to Literature and National PolicyVarious
History
The Continental Monthly, Vol. 4, No. 2, August, 1863: Devoted to Literature and National Policy
Various
Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; United States -- Politics and government -- 19th century -- Periodicals
'His condition altered for the worse during the night, but he
felt more tranquil upon Monday morning, and as if he had known
in advance the appointed and propitious moment, he asked to
receive immediately the last sacraments. In the absence of the
Abbe ----, with whom he had been very intimate since their
common expatriation, he requested that the Abbe Jelowicki, one
of the most distinguished men of the Polish emigration, should
be sent for. When the holy Viaticum was administered to him, he
received it, surrounded by those who loved him, with great
devotion. He called his friends a short time afterward, one by
one, to his bedside, to give each of them his last earnest
blessing; calling down the grace of God fervently upon
themselves, their affections, and their hopes--every knee
bent--every head bowed--all eyes were heavy with tears--every
heart was sad and oppressed--every soul elevated.
'Attacks, more and more painful, returned and continued during
the day; from Monday night until Tuesday, he did not utter a
single word. He did not seem able to distinguish the persons
who were around him. About eleven o'clock on Tuesday evening he
appeared to revive a little. The Abbe Jelowicki had never left
him. Hardly had he recovered the power of speech, than he
requested him to recite with him the prayers and litanies for
the dying. He was able to accompany the Abbe in an audible and
intelligible voice. From this moment until his death, he held
his head constantly supported upon the shoulder of M. Gutman,
who, during the whole course of this sickness, had devoted his
days and nights to him.
'A convulsive sleep lasted until the 17th of October, 1849. The
final agony commenced about two o'clock; a cold sweat ran
profusely from his brow; after a short drowsiness, he assessed
in a voice scarcely audible: 'Who is near me?' Being answered;
he bent his head to kiss the hand of M. Gutman, who still
supported it--while giving this last tender proof of love and
gratitude, the soul of the artist left its fragile clay. He
died as he had lived--in loving.
'His love for flowers being well known, they were brought in
such quantities the next day, that the bed in which they had
placed them, and indeed the whole room, almost disappeared,
hidden by their varied and brilliant hues. He seemed to repose
in a garden of roses. His face regained its early beauty, its
purity of expression, its long unwonted serenity. Calmly--with
his youthful loveliness, so long dimmed by bitter suffering,
restored by death--he slept among the flowers he loved, the
last long and dreamless sleep!'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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