Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1884-03-13


mother, silently gazing upon my imam
innate from through great, scalding
tears that were following each other
down her furrowed cheeks. There
stood the beloved partner of my bo
som, ,speechless and fearless in his heav-
ing agony, slowly rubbing one hand
oyer the other, with no power TO give
vent to feelings that were internally
rending his manly frame. There stood
my two cnildren-my bright-eyed boy
of ten, and my sweet little girl Of eight
both were crying and sobbing as if
their little hearts would break. Oh,
how longed and struggled to force my
lips to move and say that was not
dead that a loving daughter, wife
and mother was still with them in the
earthly land.
Slowly, with respectful steps, the
doctor withdrew, and one by one the
other strangers followed him till only
the black nurse and my own family re-
mained.
"Oh. mamma ! my dear, dear man.
ma - now burst from my little fair
haired Ada, as jmpulsiYely she seized
and pressed to her bosom the same
hand the doctor had left fall won't
you speak to me again ? won't you
speak to me again if only just once,
dear mamma il only just once Speak
once more to your dear little Ada,
mamma won't you ? won't you ?"
Oh, how l struggled TO comply
with her passionate prayer and what
a strange thrill of agony went through
my whole being when | found myself
power,ess to move single muscle of
my hfeless form
"Your poor mamma is dead, my dear
child ~ said my own mother, in
choking voice "she will never speak
to any of us again ~
"No no 7" cried Ada. with child.
lIAC CdSCIuCH' oCaI th"lAuo . AOt
dead l won't have her dead will
you, Edgar 2-will you, papa ?'' and
she passionately kissed my hand, again
and again, and fairly bathed it with
her tears.
'Oh, my God J my God this blow
will kill me ~ groaned my husband,
wringing his hands and beginning to
pace TO and fro.
"Henry, my son." said my mother,
affectionately laying her grief-trembling
hand upon his shoulder, "you must not
give too much way to your grief but,
while thinking of your great loss, bless
the Lord that He has left you your
two dear children for a comfort and
consolation. Tho Lord gave, and the
Lord hath taken away, blessed be the
name of the Lord Mary was good
daugh:er--a true, affectionate wife and
mother-and would that heaven had
spared her and taken Inc instead but
feel to say, the Lord has done it and
it is for the best She suffered great
deal while she was with us and, now
that she is at rest, l feel it is almost
sinful to wish her back again in this
world of pain and trouble. Let us re-
sign her into the hands of Him who
has taken her for His own wise pur-
pose. and epdeavor TO be prepared to
meet her in that blessed world where
there will be no more sorrow-no more
parting !"
"Oh, mother mother - groaned my
poor husband, with heaving breast and
fearless eyes-'T cannot, cannot give
her up-it will break my heart ~
"And mine, dear papa !" cried Ada,
again kissing my hand !; cit would
break my heart to have her dead and
| can't have her dead won't have
her dead sha must come back again
to life, and speak to her little Ada like
she used to do Oh, won't you, dear
mamma ? won't you, my dear, dear
mamma ?''
Iwould have given the world then,
had it been mine, to have been able to
say yes but though l tried in my
great agony, till it seemed as if my
soul would burst, yet he lips remained
as motionless as if the seal Of death
had indeed been upon them. Heavenly
Father was this indeed death ? had
my life really departed forever from
the body and did my consciousness
truly belong to the mysteries of anoth-
er world ?
Henry" said my mother to my
husband, gently taking him by the arm,
s'had you not better retire into anoth-
er apartment ? We can no longer do
any good here, and the sight of poor
Mary is too great trial for YOU"
With deep, heavy groan, he suffer.
ed her to lead him away !; and then she
came back and led off the children,
both crying and sobbing fearfully.
After this the black nurse came up
and closed my eyes, by carefully press
ing down the lids with her fingers
II 4boo oopnobom 7 coamod Orodnall &