The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1883-04-10
Death OF the Old Wife.

She had lain all day in stupor, breath
ng with heavily -labored breath, but as
he sun sank to rest in the fa--off West
srn sky, and the red glow on the wall Of
he room faded into dense shadows, she
awoke and called feebly 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
Z "Is ii night 2 she asked in tremuIous
tones, looking at him with eyes that saw
not
sYes," he answered softly, sIt is
growing dark"
'sWhere are the children9" she quer-
led "are they all in 2"4ss
Poor old man! How could he ans
lwer her p-the children had slept for
years in the old church-yard. ae9rs ~
"The children are safe," answered the
old man, TREMENDOUSLY; "don't think of
them, Janet, think of yourself? Does
the way seen dark ?" a -aas -
"My trust is in Thee. Let me never
be confounded. What does it matter il
the way is dark ?" . neg a-5.-'
I'D rather walk with God in the dark,
than walk alone in the light" 4G: sa
sId rather walk with him by faith
thsn walk alone by sight, 'sG sft,
John, where's little Charlie ; she
asked. Her mind was again in the past.
The grave dust of twenty years had laid
on Charles golden hair, but the mother
had never forgotten him. The old man
pstted her cold hands, hands that had
labored 80 hard that they were scanned
and wrinkled and cslloused with years
ot toll, and the wedding ring was worn
to mere thread of gold-and then he
pressed his lips to them. and wept; they
had encouraged and strengthened him
in every trial of life Why, what wo-
man she had been! What worker =
What leader in Israeli ALWAYS with
the gift OF prayer or service. They had
stood at many a death.bed together
closed ewes Of loved ones, and then sat
down with the Bible between them to
read the promises. Now she was about
| W CIOS5 tu6 utl TlNcI AiOucs
And it vas strange AMI sad to the old
man, and the yellow-haired grand-daugh
ter left them, to hear her babhle of walks
in the woods, Of gathering May flowers
and strolling With John, of petty house
hold cares that she had always put down
with strong, resolute hand; OF wed
ding feasts and death bed triumphs; ami
when at midnight she heard the bride
groom's voice, and the old man bending
over her cried pitifullv, and the grand
daughter kissed her pale brow, there was
solemn Joy in her voice as she spoke
the names of her children one by one,
as il 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
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 waiting for the
Sabbath bell And she wore the came
black silk, and the string OF gold beads
about her thin neck, and the folds o'
white tulle. Only now the brooch with
his miniature was wanting, and. in its
place was white rose and spray oil
cedar-sbe had loved cedar-she had
loved to sing over her work: 5a
"Oh, may in his courts be seen. &,
Like young cedar, fresh and green"
BIT what strange transformations were
there! The wrinkles were gone. The
traces of age. and pain, and WEAKNESS
were smoothed out; the face had grown
strangely young, and placid smile was
on the pale lips. The old man was awed
by this likeness of tue bride of bis
youth. He kissed the unresponsive lips,
and then SAID, softly: t' -'' 80 -
you've found Heaven first, Janet, but
you'll come for me soon It's our first
parting in more than seventy years, bal
it won't be for long-it won't be fol
longm SO = 'f'''' = '''. 3 ''' =, +
And it was not, The Winter snow
has not fallen. and there is another
grave, and to-day would have been theft
diamond wedding! We had planned
much for it, and I wonder-I wonder-
but no! Where they are there is neither
marriage nor given in marriage De-
troI Free Press. 50 =