eath as far as possible. It will do me so much
good. Will you do this for me? It is the only favor I ask." I told him
I would only be too glad to do so if it would aid him in the moment when
life shrinks from the shadow of death, but told him I thought he would
not die--another little fib on my part. However, that did no harm, for I
failed to convince him he would live. About 1 o'clock A. M. a couple
of nights after this, one of the watchers came to my cot and said
Bob wanted to see me immediately. I felt his time had come. Hastily
dressing, I went to his bedside. I found him dying. I sat down by his
side and took his hand in mine. I was going with him to the dark
river. He pressed my hand and a smile of satisfaction passed over his
countenance. He said, "You are so kind." I spoke words of hope and
encouragement suitable to the time and occasion. I sat thus for some
little time; his limbs grew cold; his eyes became glassy; the death dew
was dampening his brow. It was evident he would soon breathe his last.
Poor, helpless, friendless negro! What was your life's mission? Many
similar pious thoughts flitted through my mind. Without a friend! Among
all the millions of earth he could not call one by the endearing name
of friend! Sad, sad thought! After I had remained there some time,
expecting every breath to be his last, what was my astonishment to
discover his hands and limbs growing warmer. The crisis of his disease
was passed. No dark river this time! Soon his "glassy" eyes were closed,
and in a few moments he began to snore! Disappointed, I dropped that
black "paw," and went back to my cot. That little darkey is still alive.
He often asked me after that if I wanted to take another trip down to
"de da'k ribbah!"

The prisoners who die in the penitentiary are buried in the graveyard of
the institution, unless they have friends who will pay for the removal
of the body. Just outside the prison walls is the cemetery. Its location
is a walnut grove in a deep ravine. The first graves were dug near the
eastern side of the cemetery and as near to each other as possible. As
fast as this space is filled with graves it is covered over many feet
deep with the slate and dirt taken from the coal mines, a few yards
distant. Beneath this rubbish will the prisoners sleep until the trump
shall sound and the dead arise. Prisoners dying are dressed in a neat
suit of black clothes, if the body is to be forwarded to the friends;
otherwise, th