The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-09-24
CHA PIE II V.
30, woman! in our hours Of case,
Uncertain, coy, and hard to please;
When pain and anguish wiring the brow,
A notwithstanding nnurl lhnn.'

mntiscrins angel thon.'
When the Young man awokc the next morning.
with the lngry strife Of the elements still in his ears
for while his memory played him false, and he
gazed confusedy about the strengthening apart
mcnt completely at loss TO account for his being
in such an unfamiliar place. by degrees, however,
he became aware of the true state Of the case, and
he lifted his head from the pillow to survey the
singular appearance of the room. Barely had he
time 10 notice the ncaness aud taste with which it
was furnished ere feeling of extreme dizziness
forced MIN back 10 his pillow. The exposure 10
which he had been subjected, coupled TO the en-
element he had undergone, operating on frame
not vet recovered from facilitating sickness, had
proved too much for him. burning fever prey
ed upon him, and through the day the symptoms
grew more and more unflvorabe, so that by the
second night the violence of the attack was mani
tested by the frequent wanderngs of the patient.
Well has the poet characterized woman "a min
is,erng angel, when pain and anguish wiring the
brow Such an angel fitted around the couch of
Edward Irving, while the hand of disease was
heavy upon him. Day after day he continued to
grow worse, and for the many weeks he was con-
fined 10 sick-bed, on Ellen devoved the duties Of
nurse. II was her hand that smoohed his pillow
and it was from her hand that he received the
simple medicines prepared by the wrecker's WIFE
During all the wnndeIlngs of her patient he be-
slowed upon her the tender cpithet of sister,
and often would she resign her hand to his burning
clasp while he addressed her in all those endcaring
terms prompted bya strong brolherly love.--Ofen,
too, would he speak of his mother, wondering that
she was not present; and then pressing the hand
he held 10 his lips he would thank the bushing
girl for her kind attentions So accustomed at last
did she become to the familiar appellaiion that she
Immediately started TO do his bidding whenever he
mentioned that sisters name. And when at last
the veil was removed from his mind, and he in
quired in feeble whisper--lorgeiul that he was
amidst s,rangers-for sister CaroIine-she step
ped softly TO his bedside and gently answered, |
am here, Edward, can do anything for you y the
sudden start and the inquring look he gave were
the first limitations TO the delighted girl that his
delusion had vanished.
Surely sister Caroline has been with met said
he, as he gazed with an earnest look into the face
of his lovely attendant.
She shook her head, while in n tone slightly en-
barrassed, she informed him of his deception, at
the same time caucning him not to exert himself
by talking in his then critical state.
'Then it is to your kindness and care ! am in
debied for lie would have said more, but she
gently checked him. imposing upon HIM for the
present strict silence lie obcyed her, but ex-
pressed what he would have said by raising her
unressting hand 10 his lips and breathing the word
thanks
Slowly did health and strength come back to
young Irving, and for long time he was compell-
cd to endure the irksomeness Of a sick-chamber.
But did the young man find it iri,somc' If he did
he exhibited no signs Of WEAKNESS, unless on those
occasions during the absence of that lovely being
whose delicate attentions and gentle sympathy
operated as spell upon hm-banishing the gloom
Of confinement and the ennui of inaction In Or
binary cases, perhaps, the attentions of a young
female upon stranger, thrown as Irving was upon