Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1888-06-30
\ BIi9bted Life.
THE uNLUcKY MONTH OF MAY.
BY 4 BERKELEY SEMINARY GIRL,
CHAPTER V CONTINUED.
OR

=
that, after many futile attempts, |
have at last summoned up the requl-
site strength to write you the melan-
eholv news of the death, under her
own wine and fig tree, OF my pre-
cious daughter-your dearly beloved
friend.
"Just eight days have elapsed since
the angel Azrael, at the gray dawn
of morning cruelty invading our little
circle, pitilessly snapped asunder the
slenderlsilken thread oflife, to which;
for several days, our frail darling had
been weakly clinging.
ait was hard to believe, y COO,
that my only child must die. with
what overwhelming anguish | wit
messed the cold, dark waters of Jor-
dan encompass her, and knew her
gentle spirit was waiting its way to
the God who gave it.
"With the little head OF his idol
lied child-wife tenderly pillowed up
on his aching breast, the grief-strick-
en- young husband watched, in indie
scribable agony, each one infiictlng a
deeper pang, the short, gasplng
breaths grow fainter, fainter still, I'M
til they finally ceased, and she was
dead O, anguish insupportable
O, misery unutterable !!
"But God, in his infinite mercy,
left not our stricken hearts wholly
uncontrolled tender little bios
som, with it's angel mothers melting
blue eyes, will henceforth cheer the
desolate hearth.
I'm compliance with her dying re-
quest we laid our darling to rest I'M
der the large weeping willow in the
old family burying ground, near the
church, where, just three years ago,
she gave her heart to Jesus.
"As the clods of the valley fell
heavily upon her casket, covering up
forever all that remained Of the bride
of a year, | thought my poor heart
would break when my bereaved son,
bitter sobs convulsing his tremulous
frame, in heart-rending anguish,
moaned, oh, my wife ! my wife |
would have given my life for thee 7
Women wept, and even strong men
dropped tear of sympathy But
oh. my love, | realize only too well
Vain is our mournful weeping
Her gentle lite is DER,
Only the worm is creeping,
Where she now Is sleeping,
ForeVermore.'
can aching void, which only a
mother can know, is left in my heart,
but. with resigned spirit, | can say
.The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh
away; blessed be his holy name |
feel assured my darling is bright
angel now in the celestial city, and
heaven is all the closer to me that L
have another treasure there.
SIN conclusion, | earnestly hope
and believe, my dear Agnes, that
your kind, sympathetic nature will
prompt you to pay us, at once, pro,
tracted visit. The beloved friend OF
our sainted daughter viii ever be
very dear to both Mr.. Kingsley and
myself, and in the delight OF her pres
ence some of the gloom which now
hangs, like sable curtain, over our
sky. cannot fail to be dispelled. My
dear husband, Frustrated with grief,
sends you this message, come.
THAT the tender grace OF GOO
may attend you up the thorny hill OF
life, and guide you to the eternal ha-
ven of rest, is the heartfelt prayer OF
Your affectionate friend,
CLARIssA KINGSLEY.
Mrs. Kingsley had not overestlmat-
ed Agnes generous disposition.
After freely INDUCING, for some
time, her own grief, yearning de
sire thrilled the unselfsh girl to
throw her arms around this sorrow
ing heart, while her heart overlooked
with pity and love for the little moth
erless infant.
Calming, by a mighty effort, the
troubled waters Of her soul, she arose
feeling a new duty in life would
hencefoward be her pleasure to per-
form, and commenced, diligently.
packing her trunk for an intended
journey.
1t behooves us to draw sacred
veil over these dark days.
Methinks, 0 compassionate eader,
you will, willingly, sip up draught
of the fountain of Lethe for, at least,
several weeks after Agnes arrival at
the house of mourning, for it requires
time. that great soother and healer