{"id":10277,"date":"2012-10-10T13:04:17","date_gmt":"2012-10-10T17:04:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=10277"},"modified":"2023-03-22T13:14:29","modified_gmt":"2023-03-22T17:14:29","slug":"all-through-the-night","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=10277","title":{"rendered":"All Through the Night (by bahj)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary<\/strong>: Left alone once again to pick up the pieces, Ben struggles to move forward after Marie’s death, and finds comfort in the words to an old song.<\/p>\n

Rating K (1050 words)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

All Through the Night<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cStar of faith, the dark adorning,
\nall through the night
\nleads us fearless t’wards the morning
\nall through the night.
\nThough our hearts be wrapt in sorrow
\nfrom the hope of dawn we borrow
\npromise of a glad tomorrow
\nall through the night.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben Cartwright walked softly down the hall toward his youngest son\u2019s bedroom. He had a suspicion of what he would find and he was not disappointed. Little Joe was curled up in a ball in the middle of his bed, his blankets lay in a heap on the floor beside him. Even in sleep the vivacious young boy was never still. He picked up the blankets and gently laid them over his son, then sitting on the edge of the bed he spent a few moments just watching his little chest rise and fall. Reaching out he smoothed back the unruly brown curls and smiled as his son gave a soft sigh. Just a few hours ago the five-year-old had had a tantrum and it had taken over an hour to calm him. Joe was too young to understand the pain he was feeling over his mother\u2019s death and tended to react to those feelings with anger, taking it out on those around him.<\/p>\n

Ben could understand anger. The temptation to lash out was there for him also and he\u2019d had to rein himself in on many an occasion in the few short months since his wife\u2019s death.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love you, Joseph,\u201d he whispered before getting up to leave.<\/p>\n

He made his way to his middle son\u2019s room next. For once, the over-sized eleven-year-old wasn\u2019t snoring. Ben made his way over to the bed and again took a seat. His two youngest boys were sound sleepers and he had no fear of waking them with his slight movements. A bit of moonlight shone through the window and Ben could see the traces of tears on Hoss\u2019 face. He thought back to the conversation they\u2019d had just a short time ago.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, are you gonna leave me too?\u201d The tremble in his son\u2019s voice had broken his heart.<\/p>\n

\u201cSon, when you truly love someone, they never leave you.\u201d He\u2019d held Hoss to him, letting him cry out his fears.<\/p>\n

He understood fear for he himself had been terrified to try and face life without his beloved at his side. Looking down at his son, he prayed that God would always let him be there for his boys.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love you, Hoss,\u201d he said as he gently laid a hand on his son\u2019s cheek.<\/p>\n

Seeing the light coming from under the door of his oldest son\u2019s room he rapped lightly.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome in,\u201d was the soft answer.<\/p>\n

Ben opened the door and saw Adam sitting on his bed, a book in hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s getting late, son,\u201d he said crossing the room.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know Pa,\u201d Adam answered. \u201cI just wanted to finish this last part.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben moved toward the bed and Adam scooted over to make room for him to sit. Ben gazed for a moment into the face of the man his little boy had become. In a few short weeks Adam would be leaving for college and Ben\u2019s heart ached at the thought. But even now he could see the hope and excitement dancing in his oldest son\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n

He understood hope. It was what he clung to so desperately during each and every day.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, are you sure it\u2019s alright?\u201d Adam asked softly, his eyes pleading.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure, son,\u201d he answered placing a hand on Adam\u2019s shoulder, \u201cIt\u2019s time for you to follow your dreams. Your brothers and I will miss you, but we\u2019ll be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Pa,\u201d he replied.<\/p>\n

Ben fought to keep his voice even as he spoke, \u201cI love you, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

Back in his room Ben stared at the bed he had shared with the woman he loved. He was so tired but just as he\u2019d done every night since her death, he headed for the rocking chair by the window. He took the worn letter from where he\u2019d left it on the sill and held it to his chest. He didn\u2019t need to read the words for they had been imprinted upon his heart.<\/p>\n

Benjamin,<\/p>\n

As I sit here watching you sleep I am overwhelmed with the love I feel for you.
\nThe words to this old song give expression to what I\u2019m feeling much better than I ever could.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile the moon her watch is keeping
\nAll through the night
\nWhile the weary world is sleeping
\nAll through the night
\nO’er thy spirit gently stealing
\nVisions of delight revealing
\nBreathes a pure and holy feeling
\nAll through the night.\u201d<\/p>\n

All my love, Marie<\/p>\n

Ben had found the letter under his pillow. It had been written the night before she had left this earth. He clutched it tightly to him, breathing in the scent of her that still lingered on the paper. After a few moments, he took the letter over to his desk and added another verse of the song.<\/p>\n

\u201cLove, to thee my thoughts are turning
\nAll through the night
\nAll for thee my heart is yearning,
\nAll through the night.
\nThough sad fate our lives may sever
\nParting will not last forever,
\nThere’s a hope that leaves me never,
\nAll through the night.\u201d<\/p>\n

All my love, Ben<\/p>\n

Setting down his pen, he took up the letter and placed it under her pillow then, stepping to the window once more, he gazed up at a starry sky. One particular star seemed to twinkle extra brightly and he knew she\u2019d received his message.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love you, Marie,\u201d he said and blew out the lamp.<\/p>\n

As he fell asleep that night, he could almost hear her sweet voice singing softly to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cSleep my love and peace attend thee,
\nAll through the night
\nGuardian angels God will lend thee,
\nAll through the night
\nSoft the drowsy hours are creeping
\nHill and vale in slumber steeping,
\nI my loving vigil keeping
\nAll through the night.\u201d
\nAll Through the Night – An ancient Welsh folk song, the English lyrics were written by Harold Boulton.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/g><\/svg><\/i> \"Loading\"<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summary: Left alone once again to pick up the pieces, Ben struggles to move forward after Marie’s death, and finds comfort in the words to an old song.<\/p>\n

Rating K (1050 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":8499,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[23,30],"tags":[14,15,17,16],"class_list":["post-10277","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-prequels","tag-adam-cartwright","tag-ben","tag-hoss","tag-joe","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-30-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":1594,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/Pine-Trees-Mist-01a.jpg?fit=575%2C970&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":11887,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=11887","url_meta":{"origin":10277,"position":0},"title":"Night Visitor (by Helen A)","author":"HelenA","date":"August 14, 2000","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 Not everything that shuffles in the night is a bad omen. 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Rating:\u00a0 R\u00a0 (65,725 words) Due to subject matter contained in this series, the stories are only available via e:mail from the author -- ryjennie@comcast.net","rel":"","context":"In "Action\/Adventure"","block_context":{"text":"Action\/Adventure","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=2"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/4Cs.jpg?fit=400%2C401&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":12147,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12147","url_meta":{"origin":10277,"position":2},"title":"He Said Not To Tell (by DebbieB)","author":"DebbieB","date":"May 1, 2003","format":false,"excerpt":"The author requests those who wish to read this series contact her via eMail: DLB1234@aol.com","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/1-joe.jpg?fit=238%2C226&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":49277,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=49277","url_meta":{"origin":10277,"position":3},"title":"The Cartwright Family (by LindaBl)","author":"Preserving Their Legacy Author","date":"May 22, 2002","format":false,"excerpt":"Synopsis:\u00a0A cute new song about the Cartwrights Rating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 Words:\u00a0 270","rel":"","context":"In "Family"","block_context":{"text":"Family","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1008"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7623,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=7623","url_meta":{"origin":10277,"position":4},"title":"Seeing An Angel (by DJK)","author":"DJK","date":"May 9, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0A girl from Marie\u2019s past has something for Little Joe. 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