Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-12-27
Gone

she was gone The last breath came aud
went The gaze was transixed The spirit
Fs'drned to Him who gave It. Tenderly he
- ed her eyelids, and with breaking heart
4 tine body Of his beloved that it might be
made ready for burial. It was a great, great
change which her death made in his home.
lie bore up under IL through the excite
ments Of The days which Immediately fol
lowed the sad event. and then, when the
house was again quiet and the old routine
OF life was resumed, gave way. The sense
Of loss was almost greater than he could
bear. The old routine" did say 2 There
was little or none OF the odd II was all
dreadfully new. The light was put out, and
the once bright and CHEEKY home was left in
darkness. Where was she who used 10 hang
upon his neck when the hour of morning
departure came, sending him forth into the
world with her sweet breath of blessing ?
Gone Where was she who watched for
his coming step az night and received him
with an embrace which was fcfreshment
in itself, brushing away with one touch, as
it were, all the encumbrance Of care and
worry and trial and disappointment with
which the day had encrusted him? Gone
How the word echoed through the silent
house Gone, and nothing left but the
memory OF her. Gone, not for week nor
for year-what a mercy it would be if he
could think Of her returning in one year, or
even in five years, or ten but no gone for
ever. Gone, and all opportunity Of love and
ministry at an end. The house remained
Yes, and there were the pictures on the walls,
and the books in the bookcases, and the
evening paper, damp aud fresh. The ser
wants came and went The fire burned in
the CRATE. The clock tcked on. The body
n tba ouoa iovot,a 1fa xoog all bar. t,t a..
soul was out of it. And what was the body
Of that life without its soul 4? Poor aching
heart Who could enter into his sorrow ?
Friends tried TO comfort him, but there was
little in their comfort. They knew nothing
about 1t. They had never been where he
was they could not put themselves in his
place. 1t was well-meant talk, but idle
their words of consolation. Oh if the old
days could only come back II he could
only take her again as he had taken her a
dozen times before, TO love and 10 cher
ish, and walk with her once more over the
path they had trodden together If he
might only make amends where he had
fallen short, and call back what had been
repented Of, and put unselfshness in placeo of
selfishness, aud patience in place of peevish-
ness, and thoughtfulness in place of thought
lessness If he could only undo some
things he had done, and do some things he
had left undone. But no she was gone.
And the cry burst from his lips "Oh God
restore her to me, if it be but for day"
" Here | am" said a soft, clear voice beside
him. 1t was her voice. lie awoke. 1t had
been all terrible dream. "The Lord be
praised for thatw But suppose it had
been true 2" And he sat thinking over the
possibility. Here she was, the loving and
faithful and noble wife, still his to love and
cherish. The amends he had dreamed Of
making he could now make; the things he
had left undone he could now do. The
lesson which conscience had taught him 10y
an overwrought Imagination, he could now
apply through the sober medium of fact.
And he did. lie was better husband
after this--tenderer, gentler, more helpful,
forbearing, considerate and kind. The very
thought OF what might be moved him with
great power to improve what was. Are
there some homes iu which little parable
like this may come with the force of
mild warning Are there some husbands,
some wives, whom an apparent security in
what is has made a trihe careless as to
what may he This sad word gone is
been written over one door after another
along the way. Some day it will be written
over yours. Perhaps your turn will come
next. If any tear Of trembling falls upon
this page as you read these words, let it be
a tear of contrition for the past and of
promise for the future. While she is yet
with you, be the husband you pledged your
self TO be, and even more Have YOU laid a
fingers weight OF sorrow on that dear and
trusting heart Before the sun goes down
lift it off and never lay such there again
! Congregdtiondiist.