The atmosphere was that of the fairy-palace of his
childish--visions, only his feelings were more solemn, and the
fairy, instead of being beautiful, was--well, was dear old Grizzie.
His sole concern was his father, and the cheerful voice that
invariably answered his every inquiry was sufficient reassurance.
For three days more he lay in a kind of blessed lethargy, with
little or no suffering. He fancied he could not recover, nor did he
desire to recover, but to go with his father to the old world, and
learn its ways from his mother. In his half slumbers he seemed ever
to be gently floating down a great gray river, on which thousands
more were likewise floating, each by himself, some in canoes, some
in boats, some in the water without even an oar; every now and then
one would be lifted and disappear, none saw how, but each knew that
his turn would come, when he too would be laid hold of; in the
meantime all floated helpless onward, some full of alarm at the
unknown before them, others indifferent, and some filled with
solemn expectation; he himself floated on gently waiting: the
unseen hand would come with the hour, and give him to his mother.
On the seventh day he began to regard the things around him with
some interest, began to be aware of returning strength, and the
approach of duty: presently he must rise, and do his part to keep
things going! Still he felt no anxiety, for the alarum of duty had
not yet called him.
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