The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-07-06
Death of the Old Wife.
From the Detroit Free Press.

From the Detroit Free Press.
She had lain all day in stupor, breathing
with heayily-labored breath, but as the sun
| sank to rest in She far-of 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
motonless by the be.lside he bent over his
in his
us it night ?" she asked in tremulous tones,
looking at him with eyes that SAW not
eyes" he answered softly. ut is growing
dark"
"Where are the children" she queried;
"are they all in? 2"
Poor old man how could he answer her p
the children who had slept for long years in
the old churchyard-wllo had outlved child
hood and borne the heat and burden of the
day, and growing old, had lain 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, Ja-
net, think of yourself Does the way seem
dark ?"
"My trust is in Thee; let me never be con
founded What does it matter if the way is
dalk2
sI'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 meyer forgot
ten him The old man patted her cold hands,
hands that had labored so hard that they were
scanned and wrinkled and calioused by 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 encour-
aged and strengthened him in every toll of
life Why, what a woman she had been
What worker! What leader in Israel |!
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 grand daughter left,
to hear her babble of walks in the woods, of
gathering Mastaowers and stroEing with John,
of petty household cares that she had always
put down with strong, resoute hand OF
wedding 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 grand daughter 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 immor-
tality. They led the old man sobbing away,
and when he saw her again the glad morning
sun was shining, the air was jubilant with
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 NINA
ture was wanting. and in its place was q
white rose and spray OF cedar-she had loved
cedar-she had loyed to sing over her work:
ooh, may in his courts be seen,
Like young cedar fresh and green"
But what strange transformation was there ?
The wrinkles were all 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 their responsive
lips and said softly:
you've found Heaven, first, Janet, but
you'll come for me- soon. It's our first part
ing in more than seventy years, but 1t won't
be for long-it won't be for longi"
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 TOR it, and wonder
wonder-but mol Where they are there
Is neither marriage nor given in marriage.