The Arkansaw traveler. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1882-1???, 1888-11-03
DEATH OF THE OLD WIFE.
PhIlAdelphia Gall.


She had lain all day in stupor,
breathing with q heavy labored
breath, but as the sun sank to rest in
the far-off western sky and the red
glow on the wall of the room faded
into dense shadows, she awoke and
called feebly to her aged partner, who
was sitting motionless by the bedside
he bent over his wing wife and took
her wan, wrinkled hand in his.
"Is it night2" she asked in tremu-
lous tones, looking at him with eyes
that saw not.
EYES," he answered, softly; "it is
growing dark"
"Where are the children2" she que
ried fare they all in?"
Poor old man! How could he an
swer her2-tbe children who had
slept for long years in the old church.
yard-who had outlived childhood
and borne the heat and burden of the
day, and, growing old, had lain down
the cross and gone to wear. the crown,
before the old father and mother had
finished their sojourn.
"The children are safe," answered
the old man, TREMENDOUSLY "don't think
Of them, Janet, think of yourself.
Does the way seem dark?"
"My trust is in Thee; let me never
be COMPOUNDED. What does 1t matter
If the way is dark2 I'd rather walk
with God in the dark than walk alone
In the light. I'd rather walk with
Him by faith than walk alone by
sight"
"John, where's little Charlie?" she
asked. Her mind was again in the
past. The grave dust of twenty years
had lain on Charles golden hair, but
the mother had never forgotten him |
The old man patted her cold hands
hands that had labored 80 hard that
they were scanned and wrinkled and
calloused 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 q
woman she had been! What worker |!
What a leader in Israel Always with
the gift of prayer or service. They
had stood at many deathbed together
closed the eyes of loved ones, and
then sat down with the bible between
them to read the promises. Now she
was about to cross the dark river
alone.
And 1t was strange and sad to the
old man, and the yellow haired grand
daughter left them, to hear her babble
of walks in the woods, of gathering
May flowers and strolling with John,
of petty household cares that she had
always put down with a strong, reso-
lutte hand; of wedding feasts and
deathbed triumphs; and when at mid
night she Leard the bridegroom's
voice, al d the old man bending over
her cried pitifully, and the young
granddaughter kissed her pale brow,
there was q solemn joy in her voice as
she spoke the names of her children
one by one, a. If she saw them with
immortal eyes, and with one glad
smile put on immortality. They led
the old man sobbing away, and when
he saw her again the glad morning
sun was shining, the air was jubilant
with the song of birds, and she lay
asleep on the couch under the north
window, where he had seen her 30
often lie down to rest while waiting
for the Sabbath bell. And she wore
the same best black silk and the string
of gold beads about her thin neck, and
the folds of white tulle. Only now
the brooch with his miniature was
wanting, and In its place was . white
rose and spray of cedar-she had
loved cedar-she had loved to sing
over her work:
"Oh, may in his courts be seen,
Like young cedar fresh AID green"
But what strange transformation
was therel The wrinkles were gone.
The traces of age and pain and weari-
ness were all smoothed out; the face
had grown strangely young; and .
placid smile was laid on tho pale lips.
The old man was awed by this likeness
to the bride of his youth. He kissed
the unresponsive lips and said softly
"You've found heaven first, Janet,
but you'll come for me soonl It's our
first parting in more than seventy
years, but it won't be for long-it
won't be for long!"
And it was not. The winter SHOWS
have not fallen, and there is another
grave, and to-day would have been
their diamond wedding We had
planned much for it, and I wonder
| wonder-but mol where they are
there is neither marriage nor giving in
marriage.