News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-12-17
THE YOUNG WIFE'S DEATH.
PATHETIC SCENE Of DOMESTIC Ar
FLICTION.
Fhei Cruel Parting of the Bridal Pair of a
Observation-Disclosures the Dark Valley.

Il q
Observation-Disclosures the Dark Valley.
The doctor has just told him and he
has gone into the little parlor and closed
tie door. All the room is suggestive of
her who lies dying in the chamber above.
Her bird is singing in its cage at the
window as merrily as if sorrow were I'M
known in the world. The room is flooded
with the warm sunlight, full of life and
radiance, little in consonance with the
desolate heart of the man standing there
alone. Her bird, her books, her loung-
ing chair, the touch and design that
make home, are hers Her living pres
ence seems to animate the common
things, and makes them gracious and
loving like herself. And it is only a
brief Jwelvemonth since she stood there
a bride, and listened to her husbands
proud welcome to their home. Now she
lies yonder-dying, dying
And he, how can he bear it How do
men bear in their undisciplined character
the mighty shock of such a grief as
this Oh, if he could only lean his
head On his mothers shoulder and sob
out his sorrow, as he used to do when
boy. But he knows of that unwritten
law which forbids a man to cry or wear
his grief on his sleeve for the DAVIS to
peck at. He must meet ii alone, and
''Know how sublime a thing it is
To suffer and be strong"
And all the while the scalding drops
of anguish are forcing themselves to his
eyes, soaring them as with red hot iron,
while he stands there trying to look in
the face this awful intruder, who has
come an unbidden guest into his house.
''She wants you; she has sent for
you" says one of the household, sobbing
bitterly; and he goes, with vague, me-
ehanical steps up the stairs to their
room and into her presence.
''Have they told youl Do you know"
she asks in whisper. ''Oh, love, we
are going to be separated. God is tax
ing me from you"
''He cannot be so cruel" he says
bluntly and unreconciled, and he takes
her into his arms as if to defy death to
part them. The hours wear on, the
clock ticks in the death chamber.
''Forever-never,
Never-forever."
He does not heed it; his eyes are fast
ened upon that beloved face, changing
from its bloom and beauty into the
ashen pallor which the shadows of the
unseen forecast. Presently she opens her
troubled eyes and fixes them upon his
haggard face.
''Read to me, DEAR" she whispers
family. He knows what she wishes him
to read. That is one of the beautiful in
tuitive qualities which made of their
lives perfect harmonious sphere-a
congenial union, rich in love and mutual
faith, and to which there can be no
fnality of death or limitation. So he
brings her Bible and turns the leaves in
search OF some text of comfort, such as
they have often read together.
But which one There are so many,
and all are good. He is not compelled
to decide. The blessed Book opens to
the most precious one of all, that has
comforted so many homesick hearts, the
sweetest of the heavenly madrigals:
The Lord is my shepherd,
shall not want"
She repeated it after him.
At intervals she broke forth into
snatches of speech:
Though I walk through the valley
OF the shadow of death,
Willie no evil"
at is dark in the valley-dark-
dark, " he heard her murmur.
"Oh, love, there shall be no night
there" he answers brokenly, feeling
how poor a comforter he is.
He holds her hand and she sleeps, and
dreams such dreams as the dying have,
and death goes on relentlessly with his
work. Her bird breaks out into joyful
strain of music below sounds of life come
into the darkened chamber; watching
friends are near; soon she opens her
eyes and there is bright, glad smile in
them.
sit is life beyond" she says, and
sleeps again.
He does not notice how cold her hand
has grown; how still the room is. Nor
does he resist when they loosen his clasp
and lead him away, telling him with
fearful pity that it is all over.
What is all Overt The love that has
blessed his manhood with its crown of
completeness The companionship that
made heaven aud home synonymous
terms7 Are these ended forever2
When he sees her again she is wearing
her wedding dress. Her soft pretty
hair is arranged as she liked it best.
Her eyes are closed and her lips unre-
sponsive to his kisses.
And over her bosom they crossed her hands.
Detroit Free Press.