Faithful Unto Death.

port of their opinions . " As for me , my dear , " said one , " I feel quite comfortable on the subject , and don't care three straws about the cholera , especially since Dr . has promised to attend me ten times a day , if necessary . The doctor is a most polite aud well-bred gentleman , and has , moreover , studied in

France . He is not one that frightens you with a long face and ominous shake of the head , like some physicians . He smells so sweet , too—has always some nice perfume about him ; and I have got him to promise to import some of the same from Paris . In factdo as you like ; as for meI never Avas in

, , better spirits in my life , and snap my fingers at the cholera !" Alas ! poor Edith , when she spoke so defiantly , in the flush of health , she little thought that her own days were so soon to he numbered with the dead ! If the higher classes expressed themselves generally in

this strain , the same opinions were re-echoed by the middle and inferior ranks of society . Like the garrison of a fortress protected by supposed impregnable ramparts , the Jamaicans looked abroad from their walls confident iu their strength and pride . Jamaica was the ark destined to ride triumphantly

over the waters of desolation . Reports , ever and anon , would come up from Cuba of the ravages the disease had made at Havana and other p laces . They scarcely excited a remark . Like the distant rumbling in the atmosphere during the heat of a summer ' s day the news was heard , but passed away unheeded . At last the much degraded plague did come . It first made its appearance at Port Royal ; then in Kingston , during the night of the 27 th of March ; the

following day , the cholera developed itself with great intensity . We spoke of the beautiful Edith , and we shall speak of her again , and of her brother . There are those residing in Jamaica who will probably recognise the affecting incident . The last of the beings with whom he could claim the tie of relationship was

buried . His sister , a beautiful aud amiable girl , one of those mild and lovely beings whose souls seem filled with the purest feelings of human nature , and whose affections flow forth toward all animated things , as though they claimed affinity with all living —and to their friendswho have by kind association

, become endeared to them , have no bounds , and on whom their love is poured forth in every act—in the thousand little circumstances of life is blended aud shown , so that even a cynic would be constrained to acknowledge there is pure , disinterested love in humau nature . Such a sister ho had that day buried !

The evening before had seen her among the sick and dying , moving like a redeemiug spirit amid the horrors of the cholera plague ; but ere the morning sun arose she was a corpse in the hands of her brother . lie had that night returned from a sea voyage across the Atlantic , ignorant of the pestilence

being in the city , and full of the bright anticipations of pleasure in meeting his mother aud sister . He entered his home—it seemed deserted ; he ascended the stairs—no one came to meet him . He rushed on through the chambers to his sister ' s apartment , and Haw a female form , apparently at the last gasp of life , writhing in agony , and no one near . He staggered forward—it was his sister!—the gentle Edith—she knew him , and he raised her in his arms , and wildly ,

madly pressed her to his bosom ! She smiled a welcome even at the death-throes . The high hopes of the future which he had entertained for her—his thoughts which had long teemed vividly with fond dreams of happiness in store for her—were at once blasted . He sank under the

stroke and no longer wished to live . Oh ! Avho can depict the agony of that brother ! Who delineate the sending away of the visions of hope , pride , and pleasure , which he so ardently nourished "for his angelic ontj , " as he fondly called her ! She was the object for which he lived—the vital principle of his

existence —his sun and guide . But he was not alone . Alfred JM , his fellow-voyager for many years , had accompanied him to his home—had seen its desolation , and the sad meeting with his dying sister . He had been a sorrowful witness of the death of the lovely , and of the stricken heart of the strong . He did not attempt the fruitless task of consolation—it would have been but mockery ; but he prepared for the sad duties of burial .

The fair Edith lay beneath the green turf ; the dews of one nig ht had moistened her grave . Edwin , the brother , was stretched on the same bed on which she lay the day before ; the plague had fastened ou him ; he welcomed it as a boon . He rejoiced at the prospect of again joining his beloved sister , but he felt for his companionandturning to himhe said

, , , , "Leave me , Alfred : do not—oh ! do not stay , where it is almost certain death ! I conjure you , by our friendship , by that dearer tie of brother , to fly from this spot of pestilence ; and do not embitter my last moments with the thought that for me you are exposing yourself to au agonising—oh ! a horrible

death !" Motionless , almost breathless , Alfred stood , while he listened to the words ; but when he perceived that Edwin paused for his farewell , a smile lit up his countenance—a smile of sorrow , but of fixed resolve . Grasping the hand of his friend in a peculiar manner , he replied : "Edwin , my friend , my brother Mason , you remember the first voyage we sailed together from Kingston to London—it is many years since .

Extreme danger threatened us ; nought appeared to save ; all were washed from the wreck ; none were with us hut God . In His sight , on the bosom of the wide ocean , we clasped hands , and pledged ourselves devotedly to each other . We swore to lie brothersto be united till death . We escaped ; since then we have struggled against adversity ; we have fought

on the same battle-ground during martial law . We have again been on the deck of the storm-driven ship , when the sky was black above , and the sea lashed to foam beneath us . When oppressed , vilified , persecuted and condemned by men we have been true to each other—our hearts firmly linked—our love

surpassing that of women . And now , at the last scene , on this melancholy occasion , when I have witnessed your affections , and life audits torments are about closing on you , you bid me leave you ! You are the onl y one for whom I have cared for years ; you are my ' onlfriendand do you think I would forsake

y , you now ? No , never ! Let it be certain death—it is my wish ; we will go together ; we will not separate ; we are one—united by the five points of brotherly love aud affection—better death with thee than life without thee ! "