Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-03-08
THE OLD WIFE.
HOME sTORY-"OUR FIRST PARTING IN
OVER SEVENTY YEARS."

A HOME sToRY-"oUR FIRST PARTING IN
OVER SEVENTY YEARS."
She had lain all day in a stup0r, breath
ing with heavily-laden breath, but as the
sun sank to rest in the far-of western sky
and the red glow on the wall of the room
faded into dense shadows, she woke and
called feebly to her aged partner, who sat
motionless by the bedside. He bent over
his dying wife, and took her wan, wrinkled
hand in his. "Is it night?" she asked in
tremulous tones, looking at him with eyes
'it is growing dark "Where are the chill
dren," she queried; "are they all in?" Poor
old man! How could he answer her? The
children who had slept for long years in the
old church yard, who had borne the heat
and burden of the day, and, growing old
had laid down the cross and gone to wear
the crown before the father and mother
had finished their sojourn. '"rhe children
are all safe" answered the old man tremu-
lously; "don't think of them, Janet; think
of yourself Does the way seem dark :"
"My trust is in Thee; let me never be con-
founded. 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 Char
lie?" she asked. Her mind was again in
the past. The grave dust of twenty years
had lain on Charlie's golden hair, but the
mother had never forgotten him. The old
man patted her cold hands-hands that had
labored so hard that they were scanned and
Wrinkled, callOused with years of toll, and
the wedding ring was worn to 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 a woman she had been! What a
leader in Israeli Always with the gift OF
prayer or service. They had stood at many
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 river alone.
And it was strange and sad to the old man,
and the yellow-haired granddaughter left
them, to hear her babble of walks in the
woods, or gathering May flowers and stroll
ing with John; of petty household cares
that she had always put down with strong,
resolute hand of wedding teasts and death
bed triumphs; and when at midnight she
heard the Bridegroom's voice, and the old
man, bending over her, cried pitifully, and
brow, there was a solemn joy in her voice
as she spoke the names of her children, one
by one, as if she saw them with immortal
eyes, and with one glad smile put on immor-
tality. They led the old man sobbing away
and when he saw her again the glad 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
waiting for the Sabbath bell. And she Wore
the same best black silk, and the string of
gold beads about her thin neck, and the
folds of white tulle, only now the brooch
with it's miniature was wanting, and in its
place was white rose and a spray Of ce-
dar-she had loved to sing over her work:
"Oh may in His courts be seen,
Like young cedar, fresh and green.'
But what a strange transformation was
there! The wrinkles were gone. The traces
of age, and pain and WEAKNESS were all
smoothed out; the face had grown strangely
round and placid smile was on the pale
lips. The old man was awed by the like
ness to the bride of his youth. He kissed the
unresponsive lips, and said softly: "You've