Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1853-08-26
A Dying Wife-to her Husband.

of "Letter from Dying Wife to her
Husband" was found by him, some
months after her death, between the
leaves of a religious volume, which she
was very fond of perusing. The letter,
which was literally dim with tear
marks. was written long before the hus-
band was aware that the grasp OF a Ia
tal disease ad fastened upon the lovely
form of his wife, who died at the early
age Of nineteen:
=" When this shall reach your eye'
dear c., some day when you are
turning over the relicts OF the past, !
shall have passed away forever, and the
old white stone will be keeping It's
lonely watch over the lips you nave SO
fondly pressed, and the sod will be s row
ing greer that shall hide forever frGm
your sight the dus! Of the one who has
so often nestled close to your warm
heart. For many long and sleepless
nights, when all thoughts are at rest.
have wrestled with the consciousness OF
| approaching death, and at last 1t has
forced itself upon my mind; and al
though to you and to others it might
now seem but the nervous imagina.lons
of girl, yet. dear G--, it is SO
| !" Many weary hours have passed IN
the endeavor to reconcile myself to
leaving you, whom love so well, and
this bright world OF sunshine and beau
ty; and hard, indeed, is it to struggle
on silently and only with the sure con-
yiction that am about TO leave all
forever and go down alone into the dark
valley! But know IN whom have
trusted, and. leaning upon HIS arm,
EAR no evil Don't blame for keeping
!. IN all this from you. How could
'r 'ect you, of all others, to such sor.
.uo! IS feel at parting, when time will
'ake it apparent TO you! lcould
soon he'd 10 live if only 10 be al your
% s;ds ,vhs, W. your time shall come, and
siu. .;i. Wis; "noA YOUR head upon my breast
Z; ,th damp from your brow,
~ r. a.s ~ oes r departing spirit into its
=. &c, embalmed IN woman s
a,. p'eseu But it is not to be sc
Yours is the privilege
u watching. throuA : 6nal Aioht. ano
,;nb,. Co H. Hudl AiSu', oho
g So .e..; 81. ;ne spi" 'nking head from
your breast to my Saw la, ,bouoht
And you shall share m, ne hand ant
he last faint pressure of. bs yonrs
md the last feeble kiss shall. shail h.. =.
md even when flesh and heart ~ v,,,,
Jailed me, my eye shall rest ], sn;r;,
lntil glazed by death; and oar .p;o.
shall hold one last fond commL -th
Until gently fading from my view III
asst OF earth-you shall mingle with \
irst bright glimpses OF the unfadin.
,lories OF that better world where part
nSs are unknown. Well do l know
he spot, dear c., where you will
cave me often have we stood by the
'lace, and, as we watched the mellow
sunset. as 1t glazed in quivering flashes
through the leaves and FURNISHED gold,
Zach, perhaps, has thought that one OF
is would come alone; and whichever it
night be, your name would be on the
stone. But we loved the spot; and !
know you'll love it none the less when
'ou see the same quiet sunlight linger
md play among the grass that grows
over your Mary's grave. | know you'll
30 often alone there, when | am laid
here, and my spirit will be with you
hen, and whisper among the waving
branches, Il am not lost, but gone be-
Fore.'"