Connecticut western news., 1881-11-02
DEATH OF THE OLD WIFE.

She had lain all day in stupor breath ing with heavily y-labored breath, but as the sun sank to rest in the far-of west ern sky, and the red glow on the wall oi the room faded into the dense shadows, she awoke and called feebly to her aged partner who was sitting motionless by the bedside; he bent over his dying wife and took her wan, wrinkled hand in his.
 "Is it night ?" she aske in tremulous tones, looking at him with eyes that saw not.
 "Yes," he answered, softly. "It is growing dark"
 "Where are the children ?" she quer1ed; Care they all in ?"
 Poor old man how could he answer her the children who had slept for long years in the old churchyard-who had outlived childhood and borne the heat and burden of the day, and, grow ing old, had lain down the cross and gone to wear the crown, before the old father and mother had finished their sojourn!
 "The children are safe," answered the old man, tremulously; "don't think of them, Janet, think of yourself does the way seem dark ?"
 "My trust is in Thee let me never be confounded. What does it matter if the way is dark? I'd rather walk with God in the dark, than walk alone in the light. I'd rather walk with Him by faith than walk alone by sight. John, where's little Charlie ?" she asked. Her m1nd was again in the past. The grave dust of twenty years had laiu on Charlie's golden hair, but the mother had never forgotten him! The old man patted her cold hands, hands that had labored so hard that they were scanned and wrinkled and calloused with years of toll, and the wedding ring was worn to 8 mere thread of gold-and then he pressed his thin lips to them and cried. She had encouraged and strengthened him in every trial of life | Why, what a woman she had been |! What worker What leader in Israel Always with the gift of prayer or service. They had stood at many death-bed together closed the eyes of loved ones, and then sat down with the Bible between them to read the promises. Now she was about to cross the dark river alone.
 And it was strange and sad to the old man, and the yellow-haired grand daughter left them, to hear her babble of walks in the woods, of gathering May flowers and strolling with John, of petty household cares that she had always put down with strong, resolute hand; o1 wedding feasts and death bed triumphs, and when at midnight she heard the bridegroom's voice, and the old man bending over her, cried pitifully, an6 the young granddaughter kissed he1 pale brow, there was 8 solemn joy ii her voice as she spoke the name of he1 children one by one, as if she saw then with immortal eyes. and with one glac smile put on immortality. They led the old man sobbing away, and whe1 he saw her again the glad morning SUI was shining, the air was jubilant witt the song of birds and she lay asleep o1 the couch under the north window where he had seen her so often lie down to rest, while waiting for tho Sabbath bell. And she wore the same best black silk, and the string of golc beads about her thin neck, and the folds of white tulle. Only now tho brooch with it's miniature was wanting, and in it's place was white rose and $ spray of cedar-she had loved cedar she had loved to sing over her work:
 "Oh, may in His court be seen,
 Like young cedar fresh and green"
 But what strange transformation wa there? The wrinkles were gone. Tn traces of age, and pain, and wearines were all smoothed out; the face ha grown strangely young, and 8 placi smile was laid on the pale lips. Tn old man was awed by this likeness t the bride of his youth. He kissed tn unresponsive lips and said softly: "You've found Heaven first, Janet but you'll come for me soon It's ou , first parting in over seventy years, bu l it won't be for long it won't be fo : longp
 And it was not. The winter snow Z have not fallen, and there is anothe l grave, and to-day would have beer l their diamond wedding We ha planned much for it, and I wonde T wonder-but no Where they al there is neither marriage nor giving | nnarriaoo -M O,,od