Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1882-01-12
Death of an Old Wife.
Detroit Free Press.

|
| She had lain all day in stupor
breathing with heavily-labored
breath, but as the sun sank to rest
in the far-oft western sky ard the
red glow ON the wall of the room
faded into dense shadows she awoke
and called feebIy to her aged part
ner, who was sitting motionless by
the bedside he bent over his dying
wife and took her wan, wrinkled
hand in his.
Is 1t night 2 she asked in trem-
ulous tones, looking at him with
eyes that saw not.
/ Yes he answered softly, 1t
is growing dark
Where are the children 2 she
queried ; ARE they all in g
Poor old man! how could he an
swer her the children who had
slept for long years in the old
chnrchyard, who had outlived
childhood and torne the heat and
burden Of the day, and growing old
had laid down the cross and gone
10 wear the crown before the old
father aud mother had finished their
sojonra.
'The children are safe,' answer
ed the old man tremulously ) don't
think of them, Janet, think of your
self does the way seem dark g
My trust is in Thee; let me
never be ,coEfounded. What does
it matter if the way is dark?
'I'd rather walk with Gcd 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 g
she asked. Her mind was again
in the past. The grave dnst OF
twenty years had lain on Charlie's
golden hair, but the mother had
never forgotten him. The old man
patted her cold hands that had Ia
bored SO hard that they were seam
ed and wrinkled and calloused
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
a woman she had been What a
worker! What a leader in Israel!
Always with the gift of prayer or
service. They had stood at many
a 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 to hear her habble of
walks in the woods, of gathering
May flowers and strolling with
John, of petty household cares that
she had always put down with a
strong, resolute hand ; of wedding
feasts and death-bed triurnphs, and
when at midnight she heard the
bridegroom's voice, and the old
man, bending over her, cried pitt
fully, and the young granddaugh-
ter 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 i'm
mortal 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 jabilant with the song Of birds,
and she lay asleep on the couch IN
der the north window where be
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 golden
beads about her 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 young cedar fresh and green"
But what strange transformation
was there? Tha wrinkles were
gone. The traces of age, and pain
and wearihess were all smoothed
ont 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 bis youth. He kissed her nnre-
sponslve lips and said softly:
You've found Heaven first, Ja-
net, 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 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