Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-11-16
Death of the Old Wifi.

She had laln all day In a stupor brea
thing with heavily breath, bu
as the sun sank to rest in the far-oi
Western sky, and the red glow on til,
: wall of the room faded into dense sha
dows, she awoke and called feebly to he
aged partner who was sitting motionles.
! by the bed side; he bent over his DYING
wife, and took her wan, wrinkled hanf
in his.
SIS it night?" she asked in tremulou:
tones, looking at him with eyes that saw
not.
''Yes," he answered softly. ''It is
growing dark"
where are the children" she quer-
led: "are they all in?"
Poor old mani how could he answer
her; the children who had slept for long
years in the churchyard-who had out
lived 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 IA
ther and mother had finished their So
journl
''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?
'1'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 mind was again in the past.
The grave dust of twenty years had lain
on Charles golden hair, but the mother
had never forgotten himl The old man
patted her cold hands, hands that had
labored so hard that they were scanned
and wrinklod 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 and strengthened
him in every trial of life Why, what a
woman she had beenl What workerl
What leader in Israeli 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 granddaugh-
ter left them. 20 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 with strong resolute hand; of
wedding feasts and death bed triumphs,
and WHOM at midnight shs hoard tho
bridegroom voice, and the old man.
bending over her, cried pitifully, and
the young granddaughter kissed her
pals brow, there was a solemn joy in
her voice rs she spoke the name of her
children one by Ole, as if she saw them
with immortal eyes, and with one glad
smile put on Immortality. They led the
old man sobbing away, and when he
saw her again the glad morning sun was
shining, the air was jabilant 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. And she wore the same best black
silk, and the string of gold beads about
her thin neck, and the folds of white
tulle. Only now the brooch with his
miniature was wanting, and in its place !
was white rose and a spray of cedar
she had loved cedar-she had loved to
sing over her work:
'.Oh. may i'm His courts be seen,
Like young cedar fresh and green.
But what strange transformation was
there? The wrinkles were gone The |
traces of age. and pain, and weariness
We're all smothed out the face had grown
strangely young. and a placid smile was
laid on the pale lips The old man was
awed by this likeness to the bride of his
youth. He kissed the unresponsive lips
and said softly:
you've found Heaven first Janet, but
you'll come for me soonl It's our first
parting in our seventy years, but it
won't be for long-it won't be for
long ?"
And it was not The winter SHOWS
have not fallen, and there is another
grave, and to-day, would have been
their diamond weddingi We have
planned much for it, and L woDder-I
wonder-but no, Where they are, there
is neither marriage nor giving in marri-
aoaS "