Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-01-21
Death ct the Old Wife.


! wall of the room faded into dense
shadows, she awoke and called fceblv
TO her aged partner, who sat motion.
less BY the bedside; he ben, over his
dying wife and took her wan, wrin.
klei hand in his.
Is it night she asked, in tre:nu.
Ious tones, looking at him with ewes
that saw not.
Yes" he answered softly, "it is
growing dark"
Where are the child,eN?" she
qneriea "are they al in -
Poo: old man how could lie an,
swer her the children who hai slept
FOX long years in the oil churchyarI
-wEo had outliysl childhood and
borne the heat and burden Of the dav.
and, growing oil, had lail down the
cross and gone 10 wear the crown be-
fore the Old father and mother had
finished tie soiourn.
The children are safe" answered
the Old man: "don't tl.ink Of them.
Jenet; think Of yourself; does the
way seem dark >" my trust is in
Thee: let me never be confounded.
What does il matter ifth wav is dark .
I'd rather walk with God in the dark
than walk alone in the light. Ti
rather walk with Him hy faith than
walk alone by sight John, where's
little Charlie9" she askel. Tier mind
was again in tie past. The grave
dust Of twenty years hal lain on
Charles golden hair, but the mother
had never forgotten him. The old
man pattei her cold hands-hands
that had lahored so hard that they
were scanned and wrinkled and CAL
loused with years OF toll. and the
wedding ring was worn to q mere
thread Of gold-and then he pressed
his thin lips to them and cried. She
had encouraged and strengthened him
in every toll of life. Why, what a
woman she had been What worker !.
What a leader in Israel Always with
the gift Of PRAYER or service. They
had stood at many a death bed to.
gether-closed the eyes of love! ones,
and then sat down with the Bible be-
tween them to read the promises.
Now she was about TO cross the dark
river alone. And it was strange and
sad to the old man, and the yellow
haired granddaughter left them, to
hear her babble OF walks in the woods
ard gather May flowers, and strolling
with John; Of petty household cares
that she had always put down with n
strong, resolute hand: OF wedding
festivals and death-bed triumphs !;
and when at midnight she heard the
bridegroom's voice, and the old man
bonding over her, cried pltifully, and
the young granddaughter kissed her
pale brow, there was a 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 immortal
itv.
They led the old man sobbing away,
ard when lie saw her again the sun
was shining. the air was Jubilant with
the songs Of birds, and she lay asleep
upon the couch under the north win
dow, where lie had seen her so often
lie down to rest while waiting for the
Sabbath bell. AND she wore the
same black silk, and string OF gold
beads about her neck, and the folds
Of white tulle, Jnly now the brooch
with his miniature was wanting, aud
in its place was a white rose, and 4
spray OF cedar: she had loved cedar
she had loved to sing over her
work
oh. may I in H's courts be seen,
Like a Young cedar, fresh and green.
But what strange transformation
was there, The wrinkles were gone
the traces OF age. and pain. and wear
mess were all snoo,hed out the face
had grown strangely young, and q
placid smile was laid on the pale lips
The old man wa. awea By the like
ness 10 tie bride Of his youth. ID
kissed the unresponsive lips and sale
softly You've found heaven first
Janet; but you Il come for ne soon
Its onr first parting in over seventy
years but il won't be for long!
won't be for long. And il was not
The winter SHOWS have no, fallen, snc
today would have been their diamond
wedding. We had planned much :o'
il. and ! wonder-I wonder-but no
Where they are there 10 neither mar
risge. nor giving in marriage-Se
lected.
! E Brain workers Will regain in
| ,..,.a5 marital ,,,1ra, no -.EYra nr