Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1885-11-06
CHAPTER XVI.
ANOTHER FAREWELL.

ANOTHER FAREWELL.
Daylight came at last; came slowly,
as if it were forced to contend with the
unwilling darkness for mastery; and
even then the clouds did not lift, or the
rain cease its steady down-pour.
Martha Parsons never knew whence
came the strength that enabled her to
close the eyes of her dead husband, or
to continue existence when she had
done so. One was dead, but one yet
lived, and living, needed her care.
While that life continued she felt that
her strength would continue also, and
beyond that she neither thought nor
cared. When his father's spirit took its
fight, and afterwards, while she was
caring for the dead body-straightening
out the limbs and folding the arms
across the breast-Johnny lay in his
cot and watched his mother without q
word or cry, but with look half of
awe and half of surprise. as if he had
seen the flight of the spirit and under-
stood why and whittier it had gone.
And when all was done and the cot in
which he lay had been wheeled into the
kitchen, where the fire burning in the
stove, gave little more cheerful look
to the room, he still asked no questions
and made no complaint.
His mother found herself wondering
if Johnny knew that his father was
dead. but could think of no way of as
certaining without herself impartng
the information if he did not already
possess it, and this she feared to do lest
it should cause his spirit to follow that
of his father.
"If only we could both CO." were
the words that kept swelling up in her
heart, and seeking utterance at her
lips. Then remembering what Lucy
had written; that if possible her mother
should come to them before her babe
was born, that she might be with her
in her hour of trial, she felt anew that
she must live for the sake of her chill
dren. But what was she to dop How
could she obtain help to bury the dead,
or physician for the sick childp The
| rain night continue for week, and
already communication was cut off with
all who lived below, if not with those
on the other side of the mountain, and
she dared not leave Johnny to go for
help, even if she could make her way
through the floods. She did leave him
for few moments, long enough to go
to the stable and throw feed to the ami
mails. She did not milk the COWS, did
not dare leave the child long enough
for that, but the horses she must feed,
for she might need one to ride for help.
and he must be strong to contend with
the torrents which would have to be
crossed if she did go.
About noon she made cup of tea
for herself and tried to eat, but found
it almost impossible to do so, although
she had eaten nothing for twenty -four
hours. and it was only by telling her.
self that she must eat in order to keep
up her strength until help came that
she was enabled to swallow anything.
She dared not think how long it might
be before help came; but, come it late
or early, she must keep up until that
time. She tried to think OF some way
Of hosting q signal of distress, as she
had read of shipwrecked mariners do
ing at sea, but could not. She watched
the one place in the road which could
be seen from the kitchen window, but
she saw no one pass. No one could
pass the gorge, now roaring, noisy
torrent, with depth and power that
made fording it matter of impossible
ty. And 80 the minutes and the hours
dragged slowly by.
Night closed in early, owing to the
darkened heavens, and she lit tho
lamps, placing one in the room with
the dead, the other on q stand near the
cot of the living, and sat down by the
side of her child to watch him die.
That he would die before the morning
came she knew, and she wondered at
her ability to act coolly, or to act at all.
All through the fore part of the night
she sat watching every movement of
the hands, every rise and fall of the
chest. every trembling of the eyelids,
utterly unconscious of any WEAKNESS in
her own frame. She kept fire burn
ing in the stove. and every little while
gave the dying child few drops of
some liquid preparation which she had
made, as the only thing she could do to
prolong life. The child slept almost
continually now, and when he awoke,
made no effort to speak, but the ques-
tioning look which had been there since
his fathers death had not left his eyes.
AS midnight approached she saw IN
creasing evidences of approaching
ueuln, anu hnelJ ny tne sue OF tne cOt
with one arm under the pillow on which
her child's head lay. His breathing
was less regular now, and weaker COM
ing in little quivering sighs and half
formed sobs. He was awake, and had
been for some moments, At last his
eyes were open and he seemed to be
looking at her, but when she asked him
II 'there was anything mother could
do for her poor sick darling" he only
smiled the faintest little smile possible,
and made no effort to speak.
She remained kneeling for more than
an hour, now raising now lowering his
head little as seemed to make his
breathing easier, until just as the clock
struck one. look of surprise over
spread his face. and slowly raising one
arm, he placed it about his mothers
neck, allowed 1t to rest there for an in
slant, then slowly removed 1t, lifted
both hands as II to some one unseen by
her. murmured family: Take me up.
papa? sank back into his mothers
a. and