The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-03-08
A soRRowFUL STORY.

"Peach Blossom" Continues the sketch
That She Began In Former Letter.
DEAR HOWARD FRIENDS-This afternoon
l write more OF the sketch which | began
a few weeks ago.
Quite gray, and very Old and scarcely
clothed, a woman was seen sitting by tho
fireplace. seemingly unconscious OF ali
that passed around her. Her features were
remarkably large and in expression harsh.
Her white hair, turned back from the
forehead. hung uncombed upon her
shoulder. Her whithered arm. stretched
without emotion on her knee, in form aud
cOloring seemed nothing that had lived.
Her eyes were fixed on the wall before
her-sn expression of suiFerin. and flint
movement of the lips alone giving token
of existence. Placed with her back
toward the door she perceived not my iu-
trusion, and while | paused 10 listen AMI
to gaze, IN ght have determined thai here
At least was a spot where happiness could
not dwell. One being at least TO whom
enjoyment upon earth must he forbidden
by external clrcumstance-with wnOm t.
live was OF necessity TO be wretched.
Well might the listener in such q scene az
this be startled by expressions Of delight
strangely contrasted with the mu'-
murr we are used to hear
amidst the worlds abundance.
But il was even so. From the pale shriv-
eled lips OF this poor woman we hsafd a
whispering expression of enjoyment
scarcely articuaie; yet not so low but
that we could distinguish the words "de.
lightiul" happy" As we advanced with
the hesitation of disgust into the insight
ly hoyel the old woman looked at us with
kindness but without emotion, babe us be
seated and till questioned showed very
little inclination 20 speak
Being asked how she did she at first re.
piled: Very ILL.," then hastily added.
MY body is III but am well, very well. 7"
And then she laid her head on n cold,
black stone projecting from the wall be-
side the fireplace as II unable to support
il longer.
We remarked that it was bad weather.
"Ies" she answered, then hastily cor
recting herself. mo, not bad. il IL God
Almighty's weather, and cannot be- bad
Are YOU in pain2' We asked-a Ques-
ton hard necessary, so plainly did her
moveiu ents betray IL.
Yes. n ways in pain. but not such pain
as nv Savior su cred for me; Ills pain
was lar worse than mlne-mine is notnlng
10 it,"
Some remark being made upon the
wretchedness of her dwelling. her
stern features almost relAxed
into a smile and she said she
did not think il 80. and wished us all as
hsppy AS herself As she showed little
disposition TO talk and never made any
remark until asked for il, and then in
words as few and simple as might express
| her meaning. 1t was slow y and by re-
| peated questions that we could draw from
| her q simple tale. Being asked If that was
ali the bed she had on which to sleep, she
said she seldom sept, and IL was now a
long time since she had been able to I'M
dress herself; but II was on that straw she
passed the night. We asked her ii the
night seemed very long.
No. not long" she answered. "never
long. | think OF God all night, and when
the cock crows am surprised that the
morning has come so eoon."
"ADd the days2 You cit mere all day in
pain and unable 10 move. Are the days
not long2"
How can they be long? Is
not lie with me7 Ia it not all
| up-upH are expressions she often
made use of 10 describe the joyful eleva-
ton OF her mint.
On saying she passed much time in
prayer, she was asked what she prayed
| for. To this sine always answered:
'Oh. TO go, YOU know 0o-when he
plesses; not ill He peases."
To express the facility she found in
prayer she once said it seemed as ii her
| prayers We're all laid out ready for her
in bed
But time would fail us 10 repeat the
words. brief they were, in which this
aged saint expressed her gratitude 20 the
Savior who died for her: her enjoyment
| OF the God who abode with her. her ex-
pectations of the heavens TO which she
was hasting, and perfect contentedness
| with her earthly portion- 1t proved on