The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-12-22
Death Of the old Wife.

She had lain all day in stupor,
breathing with heavily-labored breath,
bat Ms the sun sankito rest In the far-ofl
western sky, and the red glow on the
wall OF the room faded into dense shad-
ows, she awoke and called feebly to her
aged partner who was sitting motion
less by the bedside; he bent over his dy-
ing wife and took her wan, wrinkled
hand in his! NsF' A't
us it night?' she asked In tremulous
tones, looking at him with eyes that saw
not te- tInr1er
Yes" he answered softly. lit is
growing dark"
Where are the chidren?' she cuer-
led: ''are they all inp'
Poor old man! how could he answer
her?-thc children had slept for years in
the old church yard f'i iii
1.-The children are SAFE answered the
old man. trcmulously; ''don't think of
them Janet, think of yourself; does the
way seem dark?" .,t, taafeI ,e
my trust is in Thee; let mc never be
COMPOUNDED. What does il matter If the
way Is darkp'
"rd 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 Charliep' 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 wrinkled and calloused with
years of toll, and the wedding ring was
worn to mere thread of gold-and
then he pressed his lips to them, and
cried, they had encouraged and strength
ened him in every trial of life. Why,
what woman she had been! What q
worker! What leaderin Israel! Always
with the gift of prayer or service. They
had stood at many q death-bed together
CLOSED eyes of loved ones. and then
sat down with the Bible between them
to read the promises. Now she was
about to cross tho dark river alone. t
And it was strange and sad to the old
man, and the ycllow-haired grand
daughter left them, to hear her babble
of walks in the woods, of gatheringMay
flowers and strolling with John, of petty
household cares that she had always put
down with strong, resolute hand; OF
wedding feasts and death-bed triumphs
and when at midnight she heard the
Dridegroom's voice, and the old man
bending over her, cried pitifully, and
the granddaughter kissed her pale brow
there was u solemn Joy in her voice as
she spoke the names of her children one
by one, as il she saw them with immor.
tai 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 iubilant with the song o.
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 black silk, and the string
of gold beads about her thin neck, and
the folds of white tullr. Only now the
brooch with his miniature was wanting
and in its place was,a white rose and /;
spray of lcedar-she had loved cedar
she had loved to sing over her work:
"Oh, may in his courts be seen
bihch youuk ccuur irtsu anu RrccH.
But what strange transformations was
there! The wrinkles were gone. The
traces of age, and pain, and WEAKNESS
we're smoothed ont; the face had grown
strangely young. and placid smile wa.
laid on the pale lips. The old man wa:
awcd by this likeness of the bride of his
youth. He kissed the unresponsive lips
and said ,softly:B EWaE
q You've found Heaven first, Janet
but you'll come for me soon! It's OIL
first parting in more than seventy years
but it won't be for long-it won't be fol
long! n @E Am
And it was not. The Winter snow haC
not fallen, and there is another grave
and to-day would have been their dia
mond wedding! We had planned much
for it, and wonder-I wonder--but no
Where they are there is neither mar
riage nor giving in marriage. -Detroi
f1ee Press