Daily Los Angeles herald., 1882-01-12
yos Augeles Aerald.
Deaun OF ,us ola wife.

She had lain all day In a stupor,
breathing with heavily labored
breath, but as the sun sank to rest
10 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 mo.
tionless by the bedside. He bent
over his dying wife and took her
wan, wrinkIed hand in his.
us 1t night?" she asked In trem-
ulous tones. looking at him with
eyes that saw not.
"Yes," he answered softly. ut
is growing dark"
"Where are the children?n she
inquired. "Are they all IMP"
Poor old man! how could be an
swer her; the children had slept
for years IN the country church
yard-who had outlived and borne
the heat and burden of the day,
aud, 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," answer.
the old man, TREMENDOUSLY; "don't
think of them, Janet, think OF
yourself; does the way seem dark. +"
my trust is in Thee; never let
me BIZ 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 than walk alone by sight"
"John, where's little Charlie?"
she asked. Her mind was again iu
the past. The grave dust Of twenty
years had lain on Charities golden
hair, but the mother had never for.
gotten him. The old man patted
her cold hands-hands that had la.
bored 30 hard that they were
scanned and wrinkled and calloused
with years Of toll, aCd the wedding
ring was worn to mere thread OF
gold-and then he pressed his thin
lips to them and cried. She had
encouraged him in every toll of life
Why, what woman she had been!
What q worker! What leader in
Israel! Always with the gift OF
prayer or service. They had stood
ut many death.bed together
closed the eyes of loved ones, and
then sat down with the Bible be-
tween them to read the promises.
Now she was about to cross the
dark river alone.
And 1t was strange and sad to
the old man, and the yellow-hair-
ed granddaughter left them, to hear
her babble of walks in the woods,
of gathering May flowers and
strolIing with John, pretty
household cares that she had al
ways put down with strong reso
lutte hand; OF wedding feast ant
death.bed trlumphs, and when a.
midnight she heard the bride
,groom's voice, and the old mar
bending over her, cried pitifully
and the young granddaughter kiss
ed the pale brow, there was q sol
emn 10y In her voice as she calico
the names of her children, one by
one, az If she saw them with
immortal eyes, and with ont
glad smile put on immor
tality. They led the old man cob
bling away, and when he saw he
again the glad sun was shining
the air was jubilant with the SOM
of birds, and she lay asleep on he
couch under the north window
where he SO often had seen her lii
down to rest while waiting for thu
Sabbath bell. And she wore th'
same best black silk and the striDG
of golden beads about her thir
neck, and the folds Of white tulle
Only now the brooch with hi
miniature was wanting, and In III
place was white rose and 9 spray
Of cedar-ehe had loved cedar-sh'
had loved to sing over her work:
sob, may in His courts be seen,
Like q young cedar, fresh and green"
But what strange transformation
was there? The wrinkles were gone
The traces Of age and pain anc
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 the likness 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 over seven
ty years, but it won't be for long
It won't be for loDg!'
And it was not. The Winter
SHOWS have not fallen, and to-day
would have been their diamond
wedding! We have planned much
for it, and I wonder-I wonder
but no! Where they are, there II
neither marriage nor giving II
marriage.-Detroit Free Press.