Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1867-09-26
MISCELLANY.
A Dying Wife to Her Husband.

We are indebted to lady friend, says the
Savannah N.rs & Herald, for the following
most touching extract from letter written by
a dying wife to her husband, which 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 tho husband was aware that the
grasp of a fatal disease had fastened upon the
lovely form of his devoted wife, who died, 1t is
stated. at the early age Of nineteen. 1t shows
how fathomlcSs is the depth of true woman 4
affections
When this shall reach your eye, dear O.,
some day when you are turning over the relics
of the past, | shall have passed away forever,
and the cold. white stone be keeping its lonely
watch over the lips you have so often pressed
and the sod will be growing that shall hide
forever from your sight the dust OF one who
has so often nestled close to your warm heart.
For many long and sleepless nights, when all
nv thoughts were at rest, have wrestled with
the consciousness of approaching death, until
at last it has forced itself upon my mind; and
although TO YOU and to others it might. seem
but the nervous imagination of girl, yet, dear
G.. is it not so? Many weary, weary hours
have passed in the endeavor to reconcile my
self to leaving you, whom love so well, and
this bright world of sunshine and beauty; and
hard indeed is it to struggle on silently alone,
with the sure conviction 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 " tear
no evil" Don't blame me for keeping all this
even from you. How could | subject you, oi
all others. to such sorrow as feel at parting,
when time will soon make it apparent to you
I could have wished to live. if only to be at
your side when your time shall come, and pill
lowing your head upon my breast, wipe the
death damps from your brow, and usher your
departing spirit into its Makers presence, en-
baimed in woman's holieSt prayer. But 1t Is
not 10 be so-and submit.
Yours is the privilege of watching through
long and dreary nights for the spirits ilnal
flight and Of transferring my sinking head
from your breast to the Saviour bosom! And
YOU shall share my last thought; the last FAINT
pressure of the hand and the last feeble Kiss
Shall be yours; and even when flesh and heart
shall have failed me, my eye shall rest on yours
until glazed by death; and our spirits shall
hold one last fond communion, until gently IA
ding from nyview-thelast Of earth-you shall
mingle with the first bright glimpses OF the
upfading glories of that better world, where
partings are unknown. Well do know the
spot. dear C., where you will lay me I;
often have VIC stood by the place, and as we
watched the mellow sunset as it glanced IN
ouivering flashes through the leaves, and
Frightened the grassy mounds around US with
stripes of FURNISHED gold, each has thought that
one of us would come alone; and whichever 1t
might be, your name would be on the stone.M =,
But YOU loved the spot; and know you'll
love me none the less when you see the same
ouict sunlight linger and play among the grass
that covers your Mary's grave. know you
will 90 often alone when am laid there, and
nv spirit will be with you then, and whisper
among the waving branches, 81 am not lost,
but gone before"