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1Author:  Neal John 1793-1876Requires cookie*
 Title:  Randolph  
 Published:  1997 
 Subjects:  University of Virginia Library, Text collection | UVA-LIB-Text | University of Virginia Library, Early American Fiction, 1789-1875 | UVA-LIB-EarlyAmFict1789-1875 
 Description: No, dear; you are mistaken in Molton. He is not the abject creature that you believe. I have no proof to offer you, it is true;—nothing but my bare word; and that too, founded upon an interview of ten minutes. But, nevertheless, I do entreat you to believe me; or, if that be too much, Sarah, let me beg that you suspend your opinion awhile, and not express it, to any human creature, until you are assured that you are not wronging a noble nature. I wish that you could have seen him, cousin, when I handed your note to him. You would have given up all your prejudices, I am sure, on the spot; nay—you would have wept. As he read it, I saw a slight convulsion pass over his broad forehead;—it contracted a little too, and then, there was a quiet hectick; and his patient light blue eyes flashed fire;—and, if I must tell the truth, there was an angry fierceness in his look, for a single moment, that, in spite of myself, made me tremble; but, when this was followed, as it was, almost immediately, by a mortal paleness, and a slow, calm movement of the arm and hand, as he reached out the billet to me, it was really appalling. It almost took my strength away. Such a delicate creature,—so effeminate, and sickly!—it is unaccountable to me, how his presence should so affect me. Mr. Ramsay died last evening, between ten and eleven, with little pain, and in the full possession of his faculties. His daughter is seriously indisposed; but she has the best medical attention in the country; and her deportment toward her father, during his short illness, has made her many friends. Be assured, madam, that she shall want for nothing. She wrote a note yesterday morning, and gave it to me, with your address, requesting me, if the event should be as we anticipated, to enclose it to you. She took to her bed, immediately; or rather, we carried her, by force, from the presence of her father, who commanded it; and she is now delirious. Mr. Ramsay received every attention and kindness, that he could have received at home. A catholick clergyman, from Boston, one of the most amiable and benevolent of men, was with him all the time, during the last two days; and no human being ever manifested more resignation, after he was told that death was inevitable. At first, he was a good deal agitated; yet, he told me, not an hour afterward, that he knew he should die in my house, the first night that he slept here. I laughed at the notion then, but it was verified. He did die, in the very room, in the very bed, and at the very hour which he had foretold. I have had some experience in these things; and am willing to attribute much to the imagination; but, when I see a sober, sensible man, like him, yielding up to a belief that he has seen a spirit---pardon me, madam, I am little inclined to provoke a smile at such a moment; but, Mr. Ramsay, not an hour before his death, told me, that his wife had appeared to him, and summoned him. Was there any thing remarkable in her death? I ask the question, from some mysterious observations that I heard escape him, in conversation with his daughter, respecting the matter, when he was first taken ill. He told his physicians and me, that nothing could save him; but, desired us not to inform her. We tried all that we could, to divert his mind from meditating on the subject. But all in vain. Even medicine had no effect upon him. Can the mind counteract such things?—neutralize our poisons—dilute and dissipate the most corrosive, and fiery applications?— Is that sympathy so vital, that the blood cannot be chilled, where the mind is preternaturally heated? It was, in his case. Blisters were applied. They came off, as they went on. His skin had lost its sensibility. Purges and emeticks were given. No effect was produced. The stomach and bowels were impenetrable. Laudanum followed; but, the only result was, a more mortal coldness in the extremities; no sluggishness, no torpor;— the blood, therefore, was beyond our dominion. It is considered here, the most extraordinary case, within our experience; but we are told that such things may be, in the books; and our limited observation would seem to confirm the position. Sudden fright, I have known to produce death—and to restore drunken men. And the sea-sickness, always ceases, when the danger of shipwreck is imminent.
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