Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1872-08-27
published by Request. }
HE WIFE

THE WIFE.
The following beautiful and touch
ing lines are said to have been deposit
ted by loving wife, some months be-
fore her death, between the leaves OF
her scrap book, where she knew her
husband would find them when she
was gone. They are full of sadness,
and loving woman's nature blooms
iii every line. Her heart breathes
forth its sad requiem on her own grave,
as she lays herself down to sleep all
alone, and parts forever from him who
should be all to her in this world and
the next. Wife! wifei How mex
pressibly holy the name of wife! She
is all that is left TO man of the beauti-
iul paradise from which he has wan
dered, and to which he must return,
She is all that holds man up from the
brute world and stamps him with the
pale semblance of a God She is all
Of Heaven, of Earth and of mans fu-
ture, which Is left him. In this world,
she is his God, and the power which
elevates and guides, and leads him on
to the natural and rational cOnsumma-
tion of his creation and mission. OF
all the joys of earth, its wealth, its
ambitions, its tinseled glories and Sc
ried pleasures, there is nothing so in
eXpreSsibly dear to the heart of true
man, as the companiOnship of his wife!
Take from us o, God all thou has
given-blot out from our sight forever
the beautiful world darken our path
OF midnight gloom. Curse us with
Affections mountains shigh!-take from
us every fiOweret of the hearth !-des-
poll us of manhood, feature and form!
DO all this, if in Thy Providence,
Thou wilt, but o! God, preserve to It's
from all the wreck of life that one
dearest being of earth, loving aud
true wifei
But here is the poem:
a DYING WIFE TO HER HUSBAND.
Come near me, lay my hand
Once more upon thy brow,
And let me whisper in thine ear
Loves last and fondest vow.
The lips that breathe these trembling words
When they lie cold in death,
And thy dear cheek can feel no more
Their warm and loving breath,
60 from thee; God only knows
How have lOnged to stay
How | have shuddered thus o..tread
The long and shadowy way,
Faith tells me that soon must know
The love the blessed find.
And vet falter, while cast
\ lingering look behind.
see thee bowed before me here,
In bitterness and tears;
But can leave thee something sill, .
To light thy weary years;
Young tender forms win cling to thee;
Perhaps will miss my tone,
And though they may not share thy grief,
Thou will not feel alone,
Fold them still closer to thy breast,
And soothe their childish woe,
And cheer the many lonely hours
The mOtherless must know,
The world, with all its hopes and joys
VIII sometimes make thee glad;
But they must lingcr round the hearth
Still desOlate and sad.
And o, when time shall calm thy grief,
Perchance the hour may come
When thou will win another form
To share thy heart and home
When thou wilt welcome to thy board
younger, fairer face.
And bid thy children smile on her,
Who takes their mothers place.
But think not, could speak to thee,
That ! would frown or blame,
Though they should love the stranger one,
And call her by my name;
For they viii speak to thee Of me,
My memory is their trust,
word, smile, lOnk like mine
VIII call me from the dust.
Yet make my grave no place Of tears,
But let the dear ones bring
To cheer their mothers home,
The blossoms of the spring,
And there thou may'st kneel,
And softly press the earth
That covers her, whose face once gave
\ brightness to thy hearth.
Then will the forms of early years
Steal softly to thy side,
And for an hour thou can'st forget
Thou hast another bride.
She may be all thy heart can ask,
So dear, so true to thee;
But q, the spring time of thy love,
Its freshness was for me.
May she he blcst who comforts thee,
And With gentle hand
Still guide our trembling ones,
Who make our household band,
She cannot know the tenderness
That fills their mothers breast,
But she can love them for thy sake,
And make thee more than blest!