South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1888-04-06
Kindness That Came Too
Late.

rest. folded peacefully over the
heart that had ceased to throb with
Joy or pain. It, seemed strange
that Rachel Mathews should be a
guest ir the darkened parlor,
where Ter weary feet had never
been wont to linger. 1t was not
like her to lie there 80 still aud
quiet, while the cove lowed uneasi
ly at the barnyard gate and the
harvest hands waited for the sound
of the breakfas. bell that Tor the
first time failed to ring out It's well
come summons promptly to the
minute. In the kitchen every
thing showed the touch of her
magic fingers. The table was
spread ready for the morning meal
while the fuel in the stove needed
but the application of a match to
send the flame roaring up the
chimney. Everything is now
ready for the mornings work. she
SAID YEARLY the night before, as
she lett the kitchen, where SO mucl,
of her dreary life had been epen,.
Yes every thing was ready, but
other hands than hers would take
up the work where she had laid 1,
down, for IN the client watches OF
the eight the angel Of dealt, paused
at her threshold,and with his lev
finger stilled the breathing of her
heart. The morning sun rose as
on other days, but in the old farm
house on the hill ils bright efful-
gent rays seemed mockery for they
shone in upon a family, stricken,
snitten OF God and afflicted
Those were bitter tears that John
Mathews let fall upon the face of
his dead wife that summer morn.
ing. All! but it Is too late TO
smooth out the tangles in the bar.
rem life that had opened into the
full fruition of eternal day.
twenty-five years befoI g, when
Rachel Weutworth left her fathers
house TO make a home for John
Mathews, she carried with her a
warm loving heart in which he
ruled king.
What an eden che hoped to
make for this man " no. before
God had promised to love cherish
and protect her: but even before
the honeymoon began to wane the
scales fell from her eyes and to
her dismay she discovered the ut.
ter selfishness of the man bv
whose side she was to finish her
earthly pilgrimage. When her
soCl cried out for the sweet minis.
tres that bad come 80 naturally
during their courtship, he coolly
informed her that as q married
woman she must give up all such
nonsense and settle down into a
thrifty housewife. So one after
another of the joys che had antici-
pated we're put aside until her life
that promised so much in the ont
start was stripped Of all she held
most dear. At times her whole
being rebelled against this dwar.
fing OF her soul, but she wac too
true a woman to herald her wrongs
before the world, so she took nu
her Cross and without complain,
slipped hopelessly INTO the dreary
treadmill life into which she had
walked blindfolded.
When her children came she
lavished upon them the love which
her husband had cast from him
In her anxiety to shield them from
hardship, she took upon herself the
burden their young shoulders
should have borne, thus i'm her
mistaken devotion, laying the
foundation for the selfisbnets that
characterized their after lives
Though they dearly loved their
patient, Flooding mother they did
not hesitate to take from her tired
lands the comforts and pleasures
of life which they should have be.
slowed upon her and unnatural "a
1t may seem there were times when
they we're actually ashamed of her