The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1881-12-24
DEATH OF TIE OLD WIFE.

She had lam - day il I, >tul,ol breath
! Il; with ayily-iaDored breath, but as
he sun sank To rest III the far oft sky
Ll,? the red glow ca the wall OF the room
"uCd iuto dense shadows, she aw0ke and
allied fccbly to her aged partner whc
""N sitting motioA!ess by the bedside
le bent over his dying wife and took her
van. wrinkled hand in his.
q" Is it night:' she asked in tremuioEs
ones. looking at him with eyes that saw
lot
Yes" he answered softly. 1T is
growing dark
Where are the 3hi,dren?' she quer-
ed: 'are they all in?'
Poor old man. how could he answer
her9-thc children who had slept for long
years in the old churchyard-who had
,utlived childhood and borne the heat
and burden Of the day, and, growing old,
lad 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, tremulously: don't think Of
them Janet. think of yourself: does the
way seem dark'
Ny 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
thar walk alone by sight"
John. where's little Charlieo" she
asked. Her mind again was in the past
The grave dust of twenty years had lain
IN Charles golden hair. but the mother
rad never forgotten HIM! The old man
patted her cold hands. hands that had
labored So hard that they We're scanned
and wrinkled and calloused with years of
toll. and the wedding ring was worn to a
mere thread of gold-and then he press
ed his thin lips TO them, and cried. She
had encouraged and strengthened him in
every toll of life. Why, what a woman
she had heeno What I. worker, What a
leader in Israel. Always with the gift of
prayer or service. They had stood at
many 4 dcath-bed together-cosed 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. aud the ycllow-haired granddaugh-
ter left them, to hear her babble of walks
in the woods, of gathering May flowers
and strolling with John, of petty house
hold cares that she had always put down
feasts and death bed triumphs; and when
at midnight she heard the brdegroom's
voice, and the old man bending over her.
cried pitifuily, and the young grand
daughter kissed her pale brow. there was
a solemn Joy in her voice as she spoke the
name of her children one by one. as if
with one glad smile put on Immortality.
They led the old man sobbins away, and
when he saw her again the glad morning
sun was shining. the air was ,jubliant 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
Ia, f,, I,a 81, 1oI
she Wore the same best black silk, and
the string of gold beads about her thin
neck. and the folds OF white tulle. Only
HOW the brooch with his miniature was
wanting, and III its place was a white rose
and 4 spray of cedar-she had love
cedar-she had loved to sing over her
work:
"Oh, may in his courts be seen,
Like young cedar fresh and green :"
But what strange transformation was
there. The wrinkles We're gone. The
traces of age, and pain, and WEAKNESS
We're all smothered out; the face had
grown strangely young, and !, placid
smile was laid on the pale lips. The old
man was awed by her likeness to the
bride Of his youth. He kissed the unre.
sponsive lips and said softly:
You've found Heaven first. Janet,
but you'll come for me soon. It's our first
parting in more than seventy years, but
it wont he for long-it won't be for
long
Aud il was not. The Winter SHOWS
have not fallen, and there is another
grave, and to-day would have been their
diamond wedding. We had planned much
for it, and | wonder-I wonder-but no.
where theysare there is neither marriage
or giving in marriage.
~