The Forrest City times., 1891-04-24
THE DEVOTED WIFE.

pestilence, the yellow fever, in the city
 of Boston United States) when
 thousands, becoming frantic with fear
 were deserting their homes, and leaving their stricken friends in the hands ol
 strangers-when the heavy rumble ol | the death-carts, with the solemn and
 appalling cry of Bring out your deadv'
 were almost the only sounds that
 broke the dismal stiffness of the streets at that time, we say, man in the prime of life, surrounded by his wife I and little ones, was smitten by the | devastating scourge.
 Upon the first appearance of the fearful symptoms, the wife immediate l ly gave her children into the care oi
 her friends, with request that they should be forthwith taken from the city to the country. And you must go with theml" said they.
 "Non" she replied; "the place of the
 wife is by the side of her husband-es- pecially in his darkest hour of need. ? "But he will die, and you become a victim also"
 "As God will" she piously rejoined. But why remain, and thus expose yourself, and make your children or phans?"
 Would you have me leave my hus- band in the hands of strangers?" But he will soon become delirious, and not know who attends upon him."
 But I shall knowl" returned the de- voted wife; and should I survive, it will ever be a consolation to me to re- member did my duty"
 No remonstrance, no persuasion, could induce that heroic woman to de- part. Taking leave of her beloved lit- tie ones with maternal tenderness perhaps for the last time-she resigned them to heavens care and her friend s, and went back to the gloomy dwelling which till late had been bright and happy home. Already the dreadful sign was upon 1.-the sign which told the passers-by there was another vic tim of the pestilence within, and would probably soon be another burden for those whose duty it was to bear the remains of the departed to the com mon sepulchere; but with the heroism of matyr, that angel wife crossed the threshold to perish or to save.
 We will not dwell with a physicians mlnuteness upon the alarming symp- toms and progress of the disease. Suffice 1t to say that the sick man soon became delirious, raved like a maniac, and in spite of the best medi- cal attendance which could be pro- cured, and the most careful and de- voted nursing of that devoted wife. gradually sunk, grew weaker and more weak, and at last lay still, and became rigid and cold in death
 In that solemn moment, when the fond wife, kneeling beside the corpse of him she loved, his cold hand elasped in hers, was pouring out her loving and agonlzed soul in a prayer to heaven for strength and resignation to bear the earthly separations; in that dread moment when not living thing stirred III all the house except herself--and the night-lamp burned dim-and the clock, with it's steady tick, as 1t meas ured the time to her but not to him. made the only sounds besides her sobs that broke the dreary stiffness ,,,t that ,l Al
 came low distant rumble. the noise gradually increasing; and then the ap. palling words, Bring out your deadl" resounded along the almost deserted street. striking a fearful chill to many an anguished heart, and causing many a tear-fevered eye to rest monrnfully upon the beloved form that must soon by the living be beheld no more for ever
 There were two or three omnous pauses of this dread semi-hourly visi- tor two or three repetions of the dismal cry-and then it seemed to pause under the very windows ofthat death chamber and the awfui words Bring out yonr dead" seemed to pierce the
 very heart ot that poor, horror-strick- en wife and mother
 No dead herel" she erred, with a strange eunacountable impulse, starting toher feet, clasping her temples with
 her hands, and gazing wildly upon the ghastly, withered form of him she
 loved. No dead here! My husband is not dead, He still livesl He only sleepsl Great heaven give me power to wake him, ere he be torn from mel And as these sentences were uttered rapidly and wildly, heavy steps were heard advancing along the hall, and ascending the stairs with slow measur- ed tread. The next moment the door of the death-chamber was slowly open ed, two rough visages and figures were presented to the view of the agonized wife and deep gruff voice said, "Is | it over, good woman?"
 NO, no--it is not over! My husband still lives; he will soon recover" Without making a reply, the fore
 most advanced, took up the light.
 W liked to the bed, held it close to the
 face of the ghastly form that lay there. and quietly observed. He's as dead
 as ever he will be,'' Then turning to i hiscompa nion, he added, Let take
 him downl"
 No; nop' cried the startled wife, throwing herself before them; "I tell you he is living, and will soon be we'll to; he is not n subject for you! Come tomorrow, if you will, and witness
 the truth of my words--but touch him not tonight"
 "She raves, poor woman!" said the spokesman; "but we've got to do our iuty."