Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-09-09
THE STRANGE PROVIDENCE.

of a company of mourners, assembled tt
pay the last tribute of respect ard affection
to departed sister, who had been cut
down in the very flower of womanhood
and at time when thousand of the ten
derest ties we're binding her to earth
"What a strange, sad, mysterious provi
dence!"
Strange and sad enough was the So
Der response. "Ah, me! the ways of Him
who stitch among clouds and shadows
are dark and impenetrable. She was a
thoughtful, loving mother"
''None could have been more sou an.
swered the first speaker.
And her little ones need her care now,
perhaps more than they will ever need ii
again. Tender, innocent lambs! the chill
ling wind will blow too roughly upon
them.''
''Ah, me! it is strange! very strangel''
added the other. II cannot comprehend
it. Why should GOO remove true-hear-
ted mother from the guardianship of her
children?''
Gotten and often I have asked myself
that question; but there has come no sat-
isfactory answer.
But while these friends of the departed
one are vainly striving to penetrate this
mysterious providence, let US glance back
little and see if some incidents in her
life will not throw light upon the subject.
1t was an evening in early spring. The
day was warm for the season; so warm that
the lingering fire of the departed winter
oppressed the atmosphere and the windows
and doors were in consequence thrown
open to admit the fresher air without.
1t was early in the evening, and Mrs.
Carlton. bride of few weeks, had seat
ed herself at an open window, with her
neck and part of her bosom barred to the
in-passing air, that came IN cool, and load
ed with yapor.
"Why, Clara!" exclaimed Mr.. Carlton
on entering the room and seeing the ex-
posed position of his thoughtless young
wife. 'How imprudent you are!'' And
he came forward quic ky to close the win
dow.
sob, don't shut it down-don't!" inter-
posed Clara. 1.-THE air is so refreshing"
There was slight huskiness in her
voice as she spoke, which was perceived
by her husband, who, without hesitating,
closed the windows remarklng as he did
50: 1T is wrong to expose yourself in this
way, Clara; you might take cold that
would cost you your life.'
Mr.. Carlton spoke seriously, and he felt
as he spoke.
SO, dear, no." lightly returned the
young bride. ''l'm not SO tender as that.
Fresh air will never kill me-"
mo, not dry, fresh air blowing upon
your hands and face. But this evening
air is loaded with vapor. and you have
thrown your handkerchief from your neck.
Already can perceive that you have ia
ken cold"
But Mrs. Carlton made light of her
husbands concern. and soon after went
and stood in the door without protecting
her neck and bosom with shawl or hands
kerchief. The consequences were such as
might have been naturally expected On
the next morning she had cough. with
slight febrile symptoms, and a pain and
soreness in her breast. Her form being
slight, her chest somewhat narrow, aud
her constitution by no means robust, the
effects of the cold we're more painfully
marked than is ordinarily the case in such
form of indispostion. Several weeks
passed before sheTecovered from it's effects;
or, we might say. from its apparent effects
the seeds of the disease, which had been
sown in her system remained.
A few weeks later, at large party CIV
en- to Mrs. Carlton by a friend, as a bridal
party, she danced till nearly two o'clock,
notwithstanding slight indisposition
which had manifested itself early on the
previous day. Moreover, she ate several
times of rich cake and other indlgestible
things, drank wine and to add the last
pound to the camel's back" took freely
of oysters and coffee at the close of the
party.
On the morning following, in attempt
ing to rise about ten o'clock, she felt
sharp pain through her left temple. Soon
followed an attack Of dimsightedness, &C
companied by sense of numbness in her
tongue, and along one of her arms. Faint
ness and deadly sickness succeeded; and
Mrs. Carlton threw herself back on her
pillow with groan.
For hours she suffered from this sick
ness, which was accompanied by a most
distressing pain through her left eye, that
went deeply boring into her temple. When
at length, under the active treatment of a