The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-10-30


for But we have not spoken of thls-and grad
ually the feeling fades away-in place OF that
bliss which lovers dream Of but which not one
of them has realized, we have quiet ever
deepening affection, which lights up our home
and hearts increasingly
Our house is small but pretty-there Is a
little apartment half closet, half recess-whlch
we fill with books, and call the Library. lhere
is breakfast-room, well lighted and arranged,
and my own sitting-room, looking out upon the
garden There are flowers in protuslon about
the house. and creeping vines, and fine OLD trees
In the kitchen garden there is goodly array
of vegetables from the rudy beet and PINK.
eyed potato to the more delicate celery and
asparagus. On these | expend vast deal oil
culinary skill | take a hOusewliely prlde III
preparing dishes mt once savory and frugal.
My husband smiles at my ecOnomy-sometlmes
he calls me Prudence" or propheses That VIII
make him rich man before long
can see now our breakfast-tabe, spread
with its snowy cloth There are the cups OF
steaming coffee. the warm rolls, the half mack
erel nicely broiled and the golden butter
Evcrard, in his dressing gown and slippers. looks
the personicaton of ease and comfort wear
dark wrapper and little collar my hair IL
neatly braided, for | remember, and as yet put
in practice, the advice so often bestowed on
women, not to neglect after marriage the neat
ness which NO pleased the lovers eye before it.
Our meal is finished, yet we lnger at the table
to talk over the various things so interesting to u.s.
50 unmportant to the rest Of the world. A half
hour passes in pleasant converse, and then
| Eyerard. looking at his watch, declares that he
can stay no longer. He comes TO my side, kisses
me, and is gone. go about my household
duties happy in the consciousness OF his love,
proud that my love is so much to him.
Anon we are parents. With a timorOus joy,
a grateful wOnderA measureess affection, we
look upon the little one that God has sent us.
We hang over it with fond solicitude We
watch with delight the movements OF its tiny
limbs Other people see in it only newborn
baby with the red complexion, shapeless fea-
torres, and puny legs and arms which belong to
that early stage Of being But we see in it
our child--our darling-the new link between
our hearts
..The.h ahy crows :. The rcd hue clears away
from its features the thin, silky hair nearly
covers its head. its eyes brighten with intelh
sepee )fbeeins to know ss--it stretches out
ITS arms TO be taken anu nel6 InenceiOrth
every month beholds some new epoch in It's ex-
istence. Ii has cut tooth it can say papa
it has learned some little trick which seems to
us the prettiest that ever baby tried. BY and
by it can walk it begins TO talk too with the
sweet hspng utterance of earliest childhood
All it is indeed a blessing to Eyerard and
me.
Years pass on The little one who first woke
in our hearts the thrOb Of parental tenderness
has been taken in its innocence to purer
home. We have mourned its loss Us only pa
rents san yet mingled with our grief has been
chashned JOY, rs we remembered that our
lamb was safe in the bosom Of the Good Shep-
herd Since then, many children have been
given us They are healthful, blooming crea-
tures--noisy and romping enough, no doubt
and faulty enough too, yet still OF kindly hearts
and generous affections
They grow up--the boys 60 into business,
or enter college; the girls are becoming part
of society. Everard and ! are getting old
silver threads mingle with his dark locks, and
his step is not as free and light as it was in
former days. | am altered a cap cOnceals
the hair which has lost its youthful brightness
and luxuriance; wrinkles furrOw a forehead
that was once smooth and fair. | care little for
the change, however The slight personal van
ity which once possessed is merged in the
pride feel in the beauty of my children. |
often wonder if any mother but myself has
such a family-such strong manly boys such |
graceful, winning daughters Everard and ! |
are still happy couple-life is full of interest |
and occupation for us. Our children are at |
once our chiefest care our most abundant Joy.
But time goes on, and the group is widely |
scattered. Marriage, fortune, chance and
change, and Death, too, have thinned the
blooming ranks. A widowed daughter, a.
young, fair woman still is the only child that
shares our home. She is the light of our dim
med eyes, the sunshine of our closing day. For
we are really old now Everards tall form is
bent, and he moves feebly about leaning on his
staff. But he is kind, generous, loving still
you see that in his face, which has no harsh
ness in his wrinkles no querulous shade in its
gravity Little children love him; they climb
upon his knee, while he tells them stories of
past days, and their slight fingers play with his
gray hair. Peace is ours-happiness in each
others love, in the tenderness Of our children,
the kindness of the few friends whom Time
has spared us and, more than all, in the love
of God and the hope of that bright home to
which We draw so near
At last n great change comes; | am laid
upon that couch of sickness, from which am
never more to rise With what fond, faithful
care am | tended how unweariedly does love
minister to my every want. Kind hands smooth
my pillow gentle, tender tones question me OF
my feelings and desires--anxiOus affection
watches over me- fearing much, yet hoping
ever for my restoration. But that is not to
be- feel it so. In peaceful resignation await
the final hour.
1t comes The time comes when the two
lives for years SO blent together are to- be sew
cred. am dying My children are around
me-they have been summoned to intend their
departing mother, and each has tearfully obey
ed the call. Everard sits by me- my hand
clasped in his. am weak can say but little,
but entreat our children 80 to make their
choice, that they, like me, may be enabled to
look on Death M but the entrance 10 eternal
life beg them to be kind to their father, to
Make happy his few remaining years by their
tenderness and duty. To him | say but little,
since words could i'll express what owe him,
how love him, even then. But he feels the
pressure of my numbng fingers, he sees the
fond looks of my darkening eyes, and knows
all that would tell him of my gratitude for
his lifelong affection, his unceasing care
My sight tails-my breath is short and drawn
with ehort-wth one last look ON the weeping
circle around me, and the bowed form at the
bedside my spirit passes.
There is nothing terrible in such depart
urc, | said-the very last moment ON earth is
cheered by human loye--and then how easy
the quick transition to that Divine love which
shall be ours throughout eternity In such a
death, can well believe that all the natural awe
which we might feel in the near contemplation
of that Unspeakable Glory in whose presence
| We must stand, would be changed into a joyful
serenity, calm and happy waiting for the
coming of the Lord
resumed my musng
When all is over-when the grave is filled,
and my children have gone back to their own
homes-even then am not forgotten They
think often of me-they talk kindly of me to
each other. They tell their children of grand