"'Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall
all be changed.
"'In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the
trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we
shall be changed.
"'For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must
put on immortality.
"'So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this
mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the
saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
"'Oh death, where is thy sting? Oh grave, where is thy victory?--'"
The hands of Oonomoo and Fluellina, which had still remained clasped
upon the lap of the missionary, suddenly closed with incredible force,
and rising to the sitting position, as if assisted by an invisible arm,
they both opened their eyes to their widest extent, and fixing them for
a moment upon the clear sky above, sunk slowly and quietly back, dead!
A profound stillness reigned for several minutes after it was certain
the spirits of Oonomoo and Fluellina had departed. Gently removing
their heads from his lap to the ground, the missionary arose, and in so
doing, broke the spell that was resting upon all. Niniotan stood like
a statue, his arms folded and his stony gaze fixed upon the senseless
forms of his parents. Placing his hand upon his head, the man of God
addressed him in the tones of a father:
"Let Niniotan heed the words of Oonomoo; let him grow up a Christian
warrior, and when his spirit leaves this world, it will join his and
Fluellina's in the happy hunting-grounds in the sky.
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