Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1882-04-19
Death of tho Old Wife,

shadows, SHE aWOke and called leebiy
10 her aged partner, who was sitting
motonless by the bedside he bent
over his dying wife and took her wan
wrinkled hand IN his,
is II nighti' she asked in tremulouS
tones, looking At him with eyes that
saw not,
YES he answered softly, IL i
growing dark
Where are the childreni' she que
ried are they oil inf'
Poor old man how could he an
swer hcrY-the children who had slept
for long years In the old churchyard-
who had outliyed childhood aud borne
the heat and burden Of the day, aud,
growing old, had laid down the cross
aud gone TO wear the crown, before the
old rather and mother had finished their
sojourn.
The children are safe, answered the
old mau, TREMENDOUSLY; don't think Of
them, Janet, think Of yourself; does
the way seem dark
My trust Is In Thee; lot me never
be COMPOUNDED, What does il matter.
IL the way Is dark
ia rather walk with God IN the
dark than walk alone IN the light,
I'd rather walk with Him by faith
ll,an 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 Charities golden hair, hut
the mother had never forgotten hin :
The old man pattcd her cold hands,
hands that had laborcd 50 hard that
they were scanned and wrinkled aud
callouscd with years Of toll, aud 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 toll Of life. Why, what wo-
man she had been. What II work ~.
What leader in Israel! Always with
the gift of prayer or service. They
had stood at many death-bed to-
gether.-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 it 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 strollng with John,
of petty household cares that she Ill
ways put down with strong, resolutc
hand Of wedding feasts and deatl-bed
triumphs and when at midnight she
heard the bridegroom's voice, and the
old man bending over her cried pitt
fully, 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 i'm
mortality. They led the old man Sob
bling away, and when he saw her again
the glad morning sun was shining. the
air was jubilant with the 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 wait
ing for the Sabbath bell. And she
wore the same best black silk, and the
string of gold beads about ner thin
neck, and the folds of white tulle.-
Only now the brooch with his miniature
was wanting, and in its place was a
white rose and spray of cedar-she
had loved cedar-she had loved to sing
over her work:
"Oh, may in His courts be seen,
Like a young cedar fresh and green"
But what strange transformation was
there The wrinkles were gone.-
The traces of age, and pain, and weari-
ness were all smoothed out ; the face
had grown strangely young, and a
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 won't be
for long,"
And it was not. The winter SHOWS
have not fallen, and there is another