New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-19
Whittier Thou
GOeSt



again. rcve~ again shelter her from the storms
Of life, saying No matter what comes niue
wife, We viii bear il together
On the table by her bed stood picture OF
her husband In decorated frame. \ frien"
had given IL TO her as a wedding present seven
years before. There we're myrtle twgs on II
and pair Of flaming hearts, pierced by two
golden rings linked into each other.
"Whithcr thou gocst ] will CO. was IN
s,ribci under the white myrtle blossoms
Ed.th cazcd sorrowfully upon this motto.
~Whitbe~ chou goost"-- That also was a
Rib,c text. Must she not heed it, therefore,
On the happicst DAY OF her lifc when Alfred
had knelt beside her in the little church at
home. the pastor had also used that text
"Yes." she had answered. 4 yes so clear
and iovfal that al the wedding guests NODDED
,hcr heads to her-the bride who gave the
wedding pledge 50 jubilantly and with such
alacrity.
"Wither you goest, will 60"
Whittier had Alfred gone? Into strange
gloomy land. Of which nobody knew anything
definite. Was it not her duty to follow HIM!
She didn't know yet how she could do 1t best
Ter mother was always there. looking after the
housekeeping and the children, torturing her
with things 20 eat and drink What need had
she anv longer of things to eat and drink?
Some time she would be left entirely alone
and then-then it would be easy and pleasant
70 take leave of life, which no longer held out
to her any JOY or satisfaction.
On the fourth day, up to which time, her
mother executed, she had seen and talked with
friends
had come to offer their sympathy suddenly IN
the dusk of an autumn afternoon some one
entered her room, undeterred by those outside
who were always whispering and weeping IN
the corridor.
II was a tall, S nder woman, wearing
black dress. over which a long, broad mourn
ing veil foated
"Maria!" cried the young wife, straighten-
ing herself up against the pillows and assum-
ing half-defensve attitude
The friend clasped her for minute silently
70 her heart. although Edith showed strong
desire to escape the encircling arms.
al didn't know didn't know at all-that
vou-that you, too-you, too'-she whispered
weakly. HELPLESS as a child before the others
widows weeds.
"He fell two months ago. ! did not send out
notices. / wanted first to be alone-to read
lust myself TO what had happened. After that
knew that could be of service to others. Now
the readiustment is over. | have taken up my
life again and therefore l came straight to you.
We are sisters. Edith. We are one IN suffer-
mo. For that reason | understand you. Don't
be 50 freezing! I'm not going to stay long. l
only wanted to see how you were taking 1t.
The Young wife sobbed, and without her real
ling it, the first tears came which she had
shed for many days.
What do you all want of me? Let me be.
Nobody can help me. Everything Is lie
everything. Faith prayer and Bible texts.
See there You yourself gave me that picture
frame on my wedding day. Don't you remem-
Der? Whittier thou goest, will 60 Must
not keep the pledge which l made at the sltar?
Must-1-not?
The head under the dark veil nodded.
Eyes. Edith, you must. 1t is your sacred
duty Only in another way, perhaps, than you
now think, and so many poor, widowed wives
think in their first bitter grief. See! ! GER
tainly loved my husband, and we were one in
ioy and sorrow. And had TO give him up
after three years of marriage. / have offered
TO the Fatherland what l could offer, just as
YOU and thousands Of other wives and mothers
have. But am reconciled to live and for the
first time feel in me the power to help you,
Edith, for only one who knows what grief is
can help another in her need.
whittier thou goest-yes, I remember ".
gave you the picture frame then. It is sweet
Of you that you still care for it."
She broke off and looked for a moment at
The Bible text under the myrtles.
Edith began to weep violently.
Il know what | shall do" she sobbed. 81
shall keep my promise-without FAIL
The friend nodded approval. She passed her
hand soothngly again and again over the deli
cate, agonized face in the pillows
"You must do that Edith. You knew your
brave husband through and through. Go the
way that he always went with his strong WILL
his noble spirit and his ripe knowledge. For
his body was but the outward, perishable in
carnation of his precious personal qualities.
His body is az rest now. II must be at rest
after life Of struggle. But his spirit lives
and must live in you, If you keep faith with
him now, as you have always done Show now
that you are still willing to keep that faith
Go the way that he always went in spirit, loyal
TO the uttermost, strong in battle, just whenever
there were two sides to controversy. There