St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1859-10-20

"''" gwen you Ill t"tt W 'ou-IIt
has taken but one. | thought long
/ long ago, that He would take me- lie
has taken His choice He had a righ'
so to do ; do not find fault, or rcpint
against Him, neither ask achy He has
done as He has. 'Ts not for US tc
know. Although hard for us to sub
NIT, we must God is a righteous
sovereign. | shall soon sleep will
Emma"
And well might Mrs. Arvinc in.
dulge in the idea of soon sleeping
with Emma. Little had she known OF
health during her life, and was at tina,
time suffering from a chronic disease
which, to all human appearances, must
soon terminate her life.
She had made herself familiar will
death, and had been accustomed t.
hold frequent conversations with hel
husband and children upon the subject
cndeavoring as far as possible to pre-
pare their minds for her final de
! parture. She often remarked that in
consideration of herself only, she would
choose to die, yet for theirs would
wish to live. % feel" said she, :tha,
! | can yield life and all its cndcarments
| bid adicu to parents, brothers and sis.
tcrs, however strong the tie, and great
my Indebtedness to them for oft re
pcated favors, break asunder all the
! ties which bind me to congcnial spirits
! here on earth, easier, far easier, thar
sever the one cord that unitcs my
heart to my own little family.
| greatly fear that this will continue tC
bind me to earth, to life, more and
more strongly as | near the gates Of
death, that shall not be free even
while passing through the dark valley
| dread the sundering of this tic, more
than the separation of soul and body
Were | allowed to consult my own
happiness exclusively, | would wish tc
depart, and be with Christ to be free
| from all the deiilements of earth tc
be holy as God is holy. But how these
earthly loves and attachments cling
to me. l would wish my spirit t.
meet its maker, alone, unattended by
any earthly affection or object. viii
you not, my dear husband, importune
God to give me grace sufficient for
this hour of need, that l may leave
you without reluctance 2"
4 short time after this conversation
she was attacked with an Inflammation
in the chest, which, added to former
difficulties, rendered her situation ex
tremely critical. Physicians and
friends despaired of her life. She was
often considered dying, and several
times really dead. Preparations were
made for post mortem examination,
also for the funeral services the spot
selected for her last long rest.
Still she fingered. Long days and
nights succeeded each other, and still
she breathed, yet with no hope Of re,
cOvery.
One day, as her husband approached
her bedside, she enquired, Why can't
dic?" He replied, Il don't know
She enquired again, Have you given
me up? ?" "No," he answered. "Oh,
do it Immediately" said she, and let
me go.' He left the apartment, but
soon returned, saying, " have tried
to give you up--tried to yield you un,
conditionally, and think have" She
then said, please forgive me for all
the past--I am ready to GO One
farewell kiss was exchanged, one sad
adicu was spoken, and the conflict was
deemed over. Her husband left the
room, but soon returned leading Hen
ry and Willie, with little Emma in his
arms. On his approaching her bed.
side she raised her eyes, exclaiming,
"Oh, my husband, why present this
temptation before me ; why seek to
lure me back again to life? In an
instant the question was gently sug-
gcsted, Lowest thou me more than
these g" She was enabled to respond,
"Yea, Lord, thou knowest that l love
thee All conflict with the affections
as quickly ceased /; that one cord was
severed, the tie broken, grace triumph,
ed.
Taking Henry and Willie, she said
"Mother must now leave you | give
you to God you are mine no longer
Remember what | have told you here
tofore love your father and don't dis
obey him be kind to each other and
good to Emma you will never fee
the want of mother-God will take
care of you. You are His :; do not for
get it. must leave you, but He will
never we must part now, but we
shall meet again."
Then closing her eyes she said. {"
have now disposed Of all save this
poor, sinful body, and this is not worth
a thought"
She sank away into a kind of stu
por, known generally as the dying
state, and for several hours no effort
was made to revive her. Physicians
left, relatives and friends kindly lin
gcred to sympathize and assist. The
sadness and silence Of death was there,