The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-04-15
THE DEVOTED WIFE.
BY EMERSON BENNETT

BY EMERSON BENNETT
stood We speak of and ns,ctihe former as be-
longing to man. and tie latter 10 aamas but the dving
lue between the two has never been drawn, and
be- because in instinct thore al times be the
CHEST and most perfect powers OF reason and IN
the highest and most perfect powers OF instinct.
some Of tue superior snmslssuch the dog, horse
and the elephsnt-have been Know 10 display sagacy
that has seemed to pIehend rational consideration
o. the whole proceeding N which they have become
actors while man, likewise reversing the natural
order, has been known 20 be completely governed
ara controlled by something opposed " raocination,
ana which, IN the animal would have been called instinct
merely.
instinct gef can only be fairly understood as control
ling Impulse requiring the object it governs perform
certain things without consideration Of effect;
and bas never been clearly demonstrated whether this
is the ac'cn Of the mind per se Me acton Of mind
oJ eztra la either very worderfu-as in fact
for thai matter, everything connected with this wonder
smallest macr;e
One Of the most remarkable cases. in illustration OF
point--ana which, by the way, may also show
the dangers OF premsuTe bural-occuried great many
years ago during the prevalence Northern cities Of
facts to which we refer were well sesied a the time
were placed on record ipd may now be in the recoec
ton of some of our readers but as the incidents
very thrilling IN tn emselve3 we.caim the historians pri
vie2e OF making uae of them.
At the time wbep the yellow fever violently raging
the city CT Boston--ard thousands, becoming frantic
with fear, detertng their homes, and leaving their
stricken friends ia the hands Of straDgers-whep the
heavy rumble OF the death cars, with the solemn and
pslling cry Of Briug oui your dead were almost the
only sounds that brcks the dismal stiffness o. the streets
at that time, We cay man IN The prime OF life sur
dey asta,iDg scourge.
Upon The arsi appearance of the fearful symptoms the
wife Immediately gave her children into the OF
Of her friends with request that they should be forth
with taken from the city % the country
Z" And you must 90 with them - said they
"No !" she replied; the place OF the wife Is by the
side Of her husbaDdespecslly in his darkest hour Of
need"
But he will die aud 20, become a victim Also"
As God wills ~ she pcusly reioned.
"Bui why remain, and thus expose yourself and make
your children orphant'
Gweuld YOU nave me leave my husband IN the hands
Of Strangers"
"fut will become deiirious aud know not who
But / shall know returned the devoted wife "snd
should survive VIII ever he consolation 10 me TO
member old my duty
Nc rcmonsance, no persuasion could Induce that heroic
woman to depart Taking leave OF her beloved lit,lo
ones with maternal cndernes,pcrhaps for the LAST tme
she resigned them to Geds and her friends, and
went back to the gloomy dwelling which hal ll late been
a gh and happy home. Already the dreadful sign
upon tthe sign which told the Dasserby there was on
other victim Of the pestlsnce wthin and would probably
scou be another burden for those whose duy 20
bear the remans Of the departed 10 the common sepul
chre; but with the heroism Of martyr that angel wife
crcssei the threshold IN perish or u save.
We will not dwell with physician mnuteness upon
the alarming symptoms and progress OF tho disease Su
hce to say that the SICK man soon became deiirious
raved Ike maniac, aud, in spite OF the best medical
attendance which coad he procured, anc the most care
iul aud devoted nurtng OF tina. devoted wife, gradually
and became risd and cold ia death
Ia that solemn moment, when that fond wife kueeng
bsac ho corpse Of him he loved his cold hand clasped
N hers was pouring her loving and onined soul IN
prayer heaven for strength and resignation 10 bear
tie earthly separa on IN dread moment when not
living ting starred 10 all the house except herselfand
tie night lamp burned dim-and the clock, with u
steady tick, ss measured time to ner bat MT 70 nm,
the ony sounds besides her sobs that broke the
crsary stlncss-n that awful moment We say, there
low distant rumble the noise gradually noreas
ing aud tben the appalling words, Bring out your dead
resorrded aoug the almcst deserted street, striking
feuiGi chill " many anguished heart, and causing
macy tear fcvered eye 70 rest mOunuy upon the be-
loved iocn tha, must soon by the living he bcheld no
more ftroyer.
There were two or three omnous psuses this dread
semboury vs,or-,so or three repeti;oos Of the dsmd
then seemed 10 under the very windows
Of that oe,th chamber and the swtu words loud and
very heat OF tHst poor, sorrow stricken vito and
mother.
WNo dead here" she cried, with strange unac cunt.
able Impulse starting to her feei easpng her temples
With he, hands, and gazrs Wildly upon the ghastly,
wnhcfed form OF him she loved "Ns deal here He s
Lot dead NV husband is not dead He still lives he
only sleeps Great God, give me power to awake him,
| ere he be torn from me -
Ana q sentences were uttered rapidly and widely
heavy steIs heard advancing along the hall, aud
ascending the stairs with slow and measured tread The
next moment the door O the death chamber slowly
opened two rough vsages and agures presented 10
the Of the agouized wife, and a deep, gun voice
as II over, good woman
"No no, il Is no, over my husband sul lives lie will
Wnbout making a reply me foremost advanced took up
The gb, walked the bed held close 10 the face OF
the CHASTITY form that lag there and qu,,,y ooserved
ole AZ dead he ever will be- Then turning 10 his
| companion, he added, "Lets take him down"
ono nol cried the startled VIE throwing herself be-
fore them az tell you he living, and Will soon be we'll
GO he Is not n subject for your Come 70 morrow H you
will and witness the truth Of my words-bu, touch hm
not TO nshil' 80
| "sbe raves poor woman ssd the spokesman. "but
we've got 20 DO oar duty.
Bsckl screamed tho suos frantic wifc you sSall not
touch him Fack aud do murder here, the Of
Heaven will lght upon you''
| The two men whispered together few moments, and
| then the spokesman reioiucd-
1 0ve'llleave him be a hsfhour TIL come again; but
| n we was to leave him to eternity you'd NOD no life
4 there
with this they slowly withdrew nnd as tha, self sacri
4 dcing wife heard Their heavy descending steps she
threw herself upon her knees thanked God tor the brief
respite prayed for strength and W deliver her
/ companion from the already ys wning grave.
/ strange prayer this TO follow the other in which
shenad aked for strength asd resignation 10 bear the
| carshly psrtinei Wherefore the change Why did she
| believe him living who told her dead
There be 10y, CHASTITY AID cold without motion, without
breath, without life On half houroue brief halt hour
| and they whose duty was to quickly consign the
dead 10 dust that the awful contagion might not spread
through mortal decay would sgan be thcre 70 clam tha'
| beloved form.
There was not moment 10 be lost And with an in
vocation 70 hesven Tor assistance that trembling wife be
gan the seemingly hopeless task OF restoring her dear
partner 70 life. She chsfed hs temples, hs bosy his
limbs rolled him 10 and fro the bed and called upon
him in the most endesrns terms.