Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-12-03
DEATH OF TIE OLD WIFE.

She had lain ali day in stupor, breath
ing with heavily -labored 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 was
sitting motionless by the bedside; he bent
over his dying wife and took her wan,
wrinkled hand in his.
"Is it nieht?" che asked in tremulous
tones, looking at him with eyes that sa"
not.
eyes" he answered softly. at is
growing dark"
are they all in?
Poor old man how could he answer her
the children who had slept for long years
in the old churchyard-w had outhved
childhood and borne the heat and burden
of the day, and, growing old, had laid down
the cross and gone TO wear the crown, be-
fore the old father and mother had finished
their sojourn.
1.-THE children are safe," answered the
old man, TREMENDOUSLY; don't think of
them Janet, think of yourself; does the
way seem dark ?"
any trust is in thee let me never be
confounded. What does it matter if the
way is dark {?
ira rather walk with God in the dark,
than walk alone in the light.
"Td 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 him The old man
patted her cold hands, hands that labored
SO hard that they were scanned and wrink-
led 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 en-.
couraged and strengthened him in every
trial of life. Why, what woman she had
been What worker! What a leader
in Israel ! Always with the gift of prayer
or s.rv c.. 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 a
strong resolute hand of wedding feasts
and death.bed triumphs and when at mid
night 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 a solemn
Joy in her voice as she spoke the name 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 sobbing away, and when he saw
her again the glad morning sun was shin
ing, the air was jubilant with the song Of
birds, and she lay asleep on the couch un-
der 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 tulIe. Only now the brooch with
MS 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:
ssoh may 1 in 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 WEAKNESS were
all smoothed out the face had grown
strangely young, and 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 soon! It's our first
parting in more than seventy years, but it
won't be for long-it went 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
wedding We had planned much for it,
and wonder-I wonder-but no Where
they are there is neither marriage nor CIV
ing in marriage. -TDetroit Free Press