Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-03-21
Death of The Old Wife.

She lay all day in stupor, breath
ing with heavily labored breath, bu'
as the sun sank 10 rest in the far of
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 bed side he bent
over his dying wife, and took her
wan, wrinkled hand in his.
rs it night - she asked in trem-
ulous tones, looking at him with eyes
that saw not.
Yes" he answered softly. lit is
growing dark"
Where are the child en- y she
queried ARE they all intN
: Poor old man How could he
answer her The 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 laid
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, tremulously; don't
YOU think OF them, Janet-think OF
Yourself. Does the way seem dark 2
MY trust is in Thee let ne never
be confounded. What does it matter
if the way is dark?
I'D rather walk with God Ia the dark.
Than walk alone in the light;
I'd rather walk with him by faith.
Than walk alone 10y 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,
that had labored SO hard that they
were scanned and wrinkled and
calloused with years OF toll, and the
wedding ring was worn TO mere
thread of gold, and then he pressed
his thin lips to them and cried. She
had encouraged and strengthened
him in every trial Of life. Why what
a woman she had been what n lead
er in Israel always with the gift OF
prayer or service They had stood at
many death. bed 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 il was strange
and sad to the old man and the yellow
haired granddaughter left them. To
her the babble OF walks in the woods,
of gathering May flowers and stroll
ing with John, OF petty household
cares that she had always put down
with strong, resolute hand, OF wedding
fea.ts and death-bed triumphs; and
when at midnight she heard the
bridesroom's voice. and the old man
bending over her cried pitifully, and
the young granddaughter kissed her
brow, there was a solemn JOY in her
voice as she spake the name OF her
children. one by one, rs If she saw
them with immortal eyes, and with
one glad smile put OH immortality.
They led the old man sobbing away,
and when he saw her again the glad
morning sun was shining, the air was
iubilant with the song OF birds, and
she lay asleep on the couch under the
north window, where he had seen her
so often lie down to rest while walt
ing for the Sabbath bell. But what
strange transformation was there
The wrinkles were gone. The traces
OF age and pain and weariness were
all smoothed out the face had grown
strangely young and a placid smile
was laid on the 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 have found Heaven first,
Janet, but you'll come for me soon !
It's our first parting in more than
seventy years. bit it won't be Tor
long. Z won't be for long.
And it was not long. The winters
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
| wonder, | wonder-but no! where
they are there is neither marriage nor