Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-07
Death Of the Old Wife.

She had lain all day in stupor, breathing
with heavily laden breath, but as the sun
sank to rest in the far-off western sky, and
the red glow on the wall of the room faded
into dense shadows, she awoke and called
feebly TO her aged partner who sat motion
less by the bedside; he bent over his dying
wife and took her wan, wrinkled hand in
his " Ia IL night 2" she asked in tremulous
tones, looking at him with eyes that saw
not. EYES," he answered softly, I" it is
growing dark" "Where are the children"
she queried; care they all IMP" Poor old
man how could he answer her; the chill
dren who had slept for long years in the old
churchyard-who had outlived childhood
and borne the heat and burden of the day,
and, growing old, had laid 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, TREMENDOUSLY; don't think of them,
Janet think of yourself does the way seem
darkP "My trust is in thee let me never
be COMPOUNDED. What does it matter if the
way is dark 7" "Pd 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 mind was again
III tuO pdSls lno grave uubb VI bWcuJy years
had lain on Charles 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 mere
| thread of gold-and then he pressed his thin
| lips to them and cried. She had encouraged
aud strengthened him in every toll of life.
| Why, what woman she had been What
a worker What leader in Israel Always
with the gift of prayer or service. They
had stood at many a 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
granddaughter 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; of we'd
ding feasts and death-bed triumphs; and
when at midnight she heard the bridegroom's
voice, and the old man, bending over her,
cried pitifully, and the young granddaughter
kissed her pale brow, there was solemn joy
in her voice as she spoke the names of her
children, one by one, as if she saw them with
immortal eyes, and with one glad smile put
on immortality. They led the old man sob
bling away, and when he saw her again the
glad sun was shining, the air was jubilant
with the song of birds, and she lay asleep
on the couch under the north window where
he had seen her so often lie down to rest
while waiting for the Sabbath bell. Ant
she wore the same best black silk and the
string of gold beads about her thin mech
and the folds of white tulle, only now thu
brooch with his miniature was wanting, ant
in its place was white rose and spray Of
cedar-she had loved cedar-she had loved
to sing over her work: