The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-01-03
Death of the Old Wife.

Dtubu VI buV WV UbN'
She had lain all day in u stupor,
breathing with hoavily-labored 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 shad-
ows, she awoke and called feebly to her
aged partner who was sitting motion
less by the bedside; he bent over his dy-
ing wife and took her wan, wrinkled
hand in his.
lis it nightPn she asked in tremulous
tones, looking at him with eyes that saw
not.
Yes" he answered softly. at is
growing dark"
where are the children" she quer-
led: "are they all IMP"
Poor old man! how could he answer
her?--the children had slept for years in
the old church yard
"The children are SAFE answered the
old man, TREMENDOUSLY; "don't think of
them Janet, think of yourself; does the
way seem dark9h
my trust is in Thee; let me never be
COMPOUNDED. What does il matter If the
way is dark?n
"rd 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?' 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 callousod with
wears of toll and the wedding ring was
worn to nero thread of gold-and
then he pressed his lips to them, and
cried, they had encouraged and strength
ened him in every trial of life Why.
what woman she had been! What y
worker! What leaderin Israel. Always
with the gift of prayer or service. They
had stood at many death-bcd together
closed 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 aud sad to the old
man, and the yelow-haired grand
daughter left them, to hear her babble
of walks in the woods, of gatheringMay
flowers and strollng with John, OF petty
household cares that she had always put
down with strong, resolutc hand; OF
wedding feastS aud death-bed triumphs;
and when at midnight she heard the
bridegroom's voice, aud the old man
bending over her, cried pitifuiiy, and
the granddaughter kissed her pale brow
there was solemn JOY in her voice as
she spoke the names of her children one
by one, rs if she saw them with immor-
tal-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 jubilaut 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 black silk, and the string
of gold beads about her thin neck, and
the folds of white tullc. Only now the
| brooch with his miniature was wanting
and in lis place was a white rose and a
spray of cedar-she had loved cedar
she had loved TO sing over her work;
"Oh. may in bis courts ho coon
Likoa young cedar fresh ana green"
But what strange transformations was
til ere. The wrinkles were gone The
traces of age, aud pain, and WEAKNESS
were smoothed out; the face had grown
strangely young, and II placid smile was
laid on the pale lips, The old man was
awed by this likeness of the bride OF his
youth. He kissed the unrcsponsive 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,
hut it won't be for long won be fol
long,
And il was not. The Winter snow had
not fallen, and there is another grave,
and to-day would have been their da-
mond wedding! We had planned much
for it, and wonder ] wonder but no!
| Where they are there is neither mar.
| riaUp nan. riyinrr i'm mArrinpp -- DciyOii