Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1883-05-31
The Old Wife.
a HOME STORY -"oUR FIRST PARTING IN
OVER SEVENTY YEARS"

She had lain all day in stupor. breath
ing with heavily laden breath. but as the sun
sank to rest in the far off western sky. and
the red glow on the wall Of the room faded
into dense shades, she awoke and called
feebly to her partner. who sat motion less BY
her bedside. He bent over his dying wife.
and took her wan, wrlnkled hand IN his.
lis it night ?" she asked in tremuous tones,
looking at him with ewes that saw not.
YES" he answered softly 'it is growing
dark Where are the children ?" she
querIed ''are he, all I'M" Poor old man
How could he answer her The children
VINO had slept for long Years in the old
church ward, who had borne the burden and
heat OF the da,, and, growing old. had lald
down the cross and gone to wear the crown
before the father and mothrr had finished
their srJourn. Tue children are all safe"
answered the old man. TREMENDOUSLY, don't
think of them. janet think of Yourself.
Does the way seem dark p
IN, trust is IN Thee let me never he
conioundcd.' What does it matter # the
way DARK Id rather walk with God IN
the darn than walk alone IN the light. Id
rather walk with Him ~ faith than walk
alone b, sight. John. where's little Char.
lie 2" she asked Her mind was again IN
the past. The grave-dust Of twenty years
had lain on Charles golden halr. but the
mother mad never forgotten hn. Ine old
man paited her cold hands-hgnds that had
labored hard thai they were scanned aud
wrinklcd aud caloused with Years of toll
and the wedding ring was worn to a thread
of sold-and then he pressed hi, thin lips
To them and cried She had encouraged and
strengthened him IN every toll Of life. Wh,
what a woman she had been What a work
er. What leader in Israel Always with
the gtt OF PRAYER or service. They had
stood 1t man, death bel together closed
the eyes Of loved ones. and then ,al down
~i,h thu Bible between them to read the
promises.
Nuw she was able to cross the dark river
alone. And II vas strange and sad 10 the
old man, and the yellow haired grand
daughter left them, to hear her babble of
walks in the woods of gathering MAY How
er- aud stroii!ng with John of petty house
hold cares that she had always put down
with a strong, resnlute hand of wedding
irasts and death bed triumphs and when at
midnight she heard the bridegroom, Voice,
and the Did man, bending over her, crird pit
iiull, aud the Young grand daughter Kissed
her pale brow. there was a solemn joy IN her
voice As she spoke the name, Of her children,
one D, one, a. Il -he saw them with minor
tai eyes, and with one glad smile put on i'm
mortality. The, led the old man sobbIng
away, and when he saw her again the glad
sun was shining, the air vas Juhllan, with
the songs OF birds, and she q, asleep on the
couch under the north alndow, where he had
seen her 80 often lie down to rest while wait
lng for the Sabbath bell And she wore the
same best black silk, and the string Of gold
b, ads about her thih neck and the fusd> uf
White tulie, only now the brooch with his
miniature aas wanting. aud In ID, place wa>
~hne rose and SPRAY " cedar she had
loved cedar she had loved N ,ing over her
work
90. may IN III, urt, b. seen.
Like Dung c'rihr, fresh Hni ere n.
But what a strange transformation was
there The wrinkles were gone the traces
of aye and PAIN and WEAKNESS we're all
smpothed out the face had grown strange
iy Young, and placid smile VA, on the pale
lips. The old man was is-d hy the likeness
To the bride of his youth. lie Kissed thu I'M
responsive lip-, and ,aid softly "Nuu'Ne
found heaven. Janet, but sou'l! come tor me
soon. IL, our first parting in over seventy
wears, but il won't b. for long lit won't be
SNOW, have not fallen, and to-da, would
nave been their diamond wedding We
planned much for il, and wonder won
der blu; no Where they are there ~
neither marriage nor giving IN marriage.