The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1858-06-03
Letter cCa DyIng wife.

he tCIilWln9 lnJSt touching fragment
Of letter from dying wife 10 her aus
band, was found some months after her
death between the leaves Of d religious
volume, which she was very iona u pc
rusing. The letter, whica VS. literally
dim with tear-marhs, Was written long
before her husband WAS aware that tie
grasp Of fatal disease had fastened upon
the lovely form Of his vile, who died AT
the ace Of nineteen.
"W hen this shall reach your eye, dear
George, some day when you are turning
over the relics Of the past, shall have
passed away forever, and the cold, white
stone viii be keeping It's lonely watch
over the lips You have Sc often pressed
and the sod viii be growing green that
shall hide forever from your sight the
dust OF one who has often nestled close to
your warm heart. For many long aud
.ieeple>s nights, when all bur Iuy tiIuu- ats
were 1t rest, have wresticG with the con-
scjousneas oi approaching death, uutIi at
las; it has forced itscIf upon my mind ;
and although to you, to others, 1t might
not seem but the nervous iuaging OF d
g.rl, yet dear George. it IS 50. Many
weary nights have 1 passed III the en-
deayur to reconcile myself to leaving YOU,
whom | love SO well, and this bright
world Of sunshine ana beauty; and hard
indeed Is it to struggle ON silently ana
alone with the sure conviction that an.
about 10 leave all forever ana - down
into the dark valley. But, know in
wh0u | have believed, and leaning On His
arm, | fear 10 evil
DO not blame me for keeping even all
this from You. How could / subject you
Of al Others, TO such sorrow Is fecl al
parting, when tinc will make 1t apparent
70 youl | could have wished t. i've, i.
Only to BE- al your side wasa yuur ti.4e
shall cone, and p.Iowing your mead upon
my breast, wipe the d.atu d3,aps fguu
your brow, ana usher your departing SPIN
1t INTO Its Maker presence, eM5aimcu in
womans holiest prayer. But it i, not t.
bo-and | submit Yours j. the priy!-
lese Of watching, through long and dreu-
ry nights, for tAc spirits final flight, and
Of transferring my sinking head frou.
your breast to my Sayiours bosom Ana
you shall share my last thought, and the
last faint pressure Of the hand, and the
last feeble kiss shah be yours, and even
when the flesh and heart shall have failed
me, my eyes shall rest on yours until
glazed II death; and our spuits shall
hold one last communion until gently
faded from my yjew-the las Of earth
you shall mingIe with the first bright
gllmpses Of the uutadiug gIories Of the
better world, where partiDgs are unknown
"Well do / know the spot, my dear
George, where you viii lay me. Often
have we stood by the place. and As we
watched the mellow sunset, as it glanced
in quivering flashes through the leaves,
and FURNISHED the grassy mound around
Us with stripes Of Furnished gold, each,
perhaps. has thought that some day one
OF Us would come alone, and whichever
1t might be, your name would be on the
stone. But we loved the spot, and
know you will love it none the less when
You see the same sunlight linger and
play above the grass that grows over youE
Nary's grave. know you viii - there
and my spirit will be with you then, and
whisper among the waving branches: i
am not lost, but gone before.