Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1862-03-28
own. You have come to watch with me 2"

Then let my wife go to bed. She is
tired and weary"
How low and deep his voice was, and
how strange was the light in his eyel
Before the wife left. she told Stephen
to call her if there was any change, and
when he had promised to do SO. she kissed
her husband. and then retired
You'll get well in little while, I
guess, y" ventured Stephen, as he sat alone
by the side of the bed.
"No," replied Mark, with shake of
the head. q shall never leave this bed
alive. know the truth The doctor has
told me, He told me this afternoon.
Stephen was horrifed,
"But," said the sick man, - am will
ling to go if it is Gods will. l have done
all could to help myself, and if help is
not for me, am resigned"
Stephen was surprised,
"1t is hard to think of leaving my wife
and children" pursued Mark, in that same
low, deep voice, but with quiet look up
on his face, but | have no fears for them,
for they will manage in some way to live
and prosper. 1t is hard to part with
friends at any time. Stephen, and harder
still to lose them by death, and so, in view
of the fate which know awaits me, feel
sorry for those leave behind, for what
is my gain is their deep loss. I am going
home, Stephen-home to God-home to
my Savour-home to where I have a faith
er and mother, and brothers and sisters
0, what a glorious thought And it will
not be long-not many nights and morn
ings-before my wife and children shall
follow me. I 60 frst-then they'll come
and once more We'll be united Ave,
Stephen and united never more to part,
in that better world than this, where the
tears of sorrow are wiped away. and where
the weary are at rest. Shade the lamp,
Stephen The light hurts my eyes "
Stephen Bowler shaded the lamp, and
when heresumed his seat, the invalid SEEM
ed to have fallen asleep.
What wondrous melody was that, so
new and strange, that foated through the
atmosphere of the sick-room, and struck
so softly upon the watchers ear ! What
melody was it. sinking into bis soul and
attuning bis thoughts to theme brighter
than mortal life !
But Mark did not sleep. He tried to
forget himself in slunber, but could not
At midnight be sank into sort Of stupor
and Stephen noticed that his breathing
was growing weaker and longer, and he
also found that his hands were cold, and
that the pulses were gone from BIS wrist
As quickly as possible he called Mrs o.
iver, and informed her that her husband
was worse. She came into the room, and
when she saw how it was with her
husband, she went and called her children.
They came in-fve of thcm-and gather
ed around their fathers bed.
And then, as though inspired by power
which bad been reserved within his soul for
the last need of earth, Mark Oliver turn
ed his gaze upon his loved ones, and bless
ed them, and whispered to them words of
peace and comfort
"AIary," be said, addressing his wife,
Il must leave you, but you must not morn
for me as for one lost. I go to my Faith
er's home, where there is room for us all,
and in time to ccme we shall meet again
You will not suffer. Mary. Our children
have been brought up in the way of hon-
esty, Of industry, and of virtue, and in the
years that are coming, they will help their
fond mother on her widowed journey"
And he called his children to him, and
when he had given such counsel as the oc-
casion seemed to demand, he blessed them
again and told them that. if the thing were
possible, he would watch over them from
his home in the brighter world.
Softly fell the shadow upon the pale face
quietly, quietly rested the thin hands up
on the still sweetly. sweetly sank
the pilgrim to rest
There were tears upon the pillow-tears
with the kisses, upon the marble brow -
but deeper than the grief, deeper than the
cause for mourning deeper than these, in
the souls of those bereaved ones, were the
twin spirits, Faith and. Hope, SO that the
chamber of death lost all its horrors in the
brigh: efulgence of the Christian Pres
encei
It was bright, frosty morning, ard as
Stephen Bowler left that house of death,
his feelings were worked upon as they had
never been worked upon before And as
he walked along upon the little foot bridge
where the weeping willows dropped ever
the way, he said to himself
''Poor Mark p
He stopped and pondered moment,
and then, shifting bis hands together, he
cried.