Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-01-02
Seliaipms department.
DEATH OF AN OLD WIFE.

western sky, and the red glow on the
wall of the room faded into dense shad-
ows, she awoke and called fcebly 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 night ?" she asked in tremu-
lcus tones, looking at him with eyes that
saw not
"Yes," he answered softly. at is
growing dark"
Where are the children 2" she quer-
led ''are they all in ?"
Poor old man how could he answer
her ?-the children who had slept for
long years in the old churchy ard-who
had outlived childhood and borne the
heat and burden of the day, and, grow
ing old, had laid down the cross and
gone to wear the crown. before the old
father and mother had finished their So
journ.
1.-THE children are SAFE" answered
the old man, TREMENDOUSLY 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 p
''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 2" 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 callous-
ed 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 woman she had
been! What a worker! What leader
in Israel? Always with the gift Of
prayer or service. They had stood at
many death-bed ogether-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 1T was strange and sad to the
old man, and the yellow-haired grand.
daughter 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 strong, resolute hand; o.
wedding feasts and death-bed triumphs
and when at midnight she heard tht
brldegroom's voice, and the old mar
bending over her, cried pitifully, anc
the young granddaughter kissed he
pale brow, there was solemn Joy il
her voice as she spoke the name of he
children one by one, as if she saw then
with immortal eyes, and with one glac
smile put on Immortality. They LEI
the old man sobbing away, and whel
ne saw her again the glad morning sui
was shining, the air was jubilant wit
the song of birds, and she lay asleep o.
the couch under the north window
where he had seen her so often lie dow
to rest while waiting for the Sabbat
bell. And she wore the same bes
black silk, and the string of gold bead
about her thin neck, and the folds {
white tulle. Only now the brooch wit
his miniature was wanting. and in il
place was white rose and spray
cedar-she had loved cedar-she ha
loved to sing over her work
"0h, may in his courts be seen.
s Like young cedar fresh and green"
But what strange transformation W;
there !! The wrinkles were gone. I'll
traces of age, and pain. and wearine
were all smoothed out the face hs
grown strangely young, and plac
smile was laid on the pale lips. III
old man was awed by this likeness
the bride of his youth. He kissed Il
unresponsive lips and said softly
"You've found Heaven first, Jane
but you'll come for me soon It's O.
first parting In more than seventy yeal
but it won't be for long-it won't be
long F'
And it was not The winter sno,
have not fallen, and there is anoth
grave, and to-day would have been the
diamond wedding! We had plann
much for it, and | wonder-I wonder.
but no Where they are there is Meth
marriage nor giving in marriage.
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