Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1856-11-06
HOPEFUL AND BEAUYIFUL,

D. BY MRS. HARRIET r. FRANCIS.
o Inc sun shOne down on the earth with soft
" hazy light, and the river flowed with a dull
l. monotonous sound as il half asleep, for drow..
4 sy universal quiet seemed to have spread over
h nature, and sunk each element to rest. But
d neither the subdued light nor the drowsy river
" was noticed BY Mrs. Seymour, as she sat busily
sewing by the cradle of her slee plug infant.
Ihere was ook of care oil her fair brow, and
an anxious, and expression in her eyes, as il
the light Of her life had been dimmed in sor-
row, ere age had marked her forehead, or slo
len the raven lusire from her hair. She had
been the pet idol Of fond father and mother,
and no sorrow ever crossed her path in child
mood home; and no one, not even those who
always view tao future through dark cloud,
pIophesed evil for her as she stood by the side
OF Clarence Seymour on her bridal morning
| very ialf and beautiful was she, with lock
Icllnglng tenderness in her eyes, as if she had
always had and expected strong ann to up
held her, and lead her through the apweTy
paths Of life; and competent seemed her chosen
one tor that task, with his broad, Intellectual
orow' and piercing eye, softened, as he gazoI
on MS bride, TO look of almost woman's tens
derness.
A handsome mansion, short distance from |
her fathers became their home, and for few |
Years she passed through one unclouded scene
OF JOY and happiness; but dark cloud hOyered
ln the horizon. and soon spread over her bright
hopes like gloomy pail. milking her days of
darkness seem still more cheerless for The
giadness that had proceeded them. Her gifted
and intellectual husband had been welcomed
everywhere, and at every gathering the wine
cup had awaited him; and almost before he as
aware, strong coils were around him that he had !
no strength NJ resolution to unloose. Riches, d
honor' society, respectability, passed away from
fhtE hIa ~ a.VI
nozzle trees, or clustering vines or sweet assO.
Citations, was all that now they could call their
own. u
Mrs. Seymour was thinking of these past
scenes as she sat sewing; of the mossy graves
OF her father aHd mother; of the soft, subducd
hght stole in through the honeysucke aud
rose that festooned the windows of The old
home; of the bright love glance from he hush
ahd's eve that quiyered her haaiL.stIiuls; and j
also OF taat hour when the truth crept into her v
heart that her chosen one loved the wine cup : u
alas, too well!-of her useless relnonstrances, II
OF bitter words; and cold, averted eye ana even $
Of one heavy blow that which sci her reeling o
TO The door, but even that seemed nothing to b
the thought that her sweet, innocent boy, ~
her darling Frank" would be tauuted as q,
irunkard's child, that no fathers hand would
lead him to better world. But the btterest ia
ireg in her cup was the words, ..No drunkard
IAN inherit the kingdom Of heaven" All the 4,
hight previous and part of that day, that sent di
'ncs had rung in her ears until her mind seem in
d on the verge of madness. What could she ia
10? She had wept, prayed, and heseeched and
lie was drunkard still. But faith whispered u
God is powerful seek his aid once more >; al
md anxiously she sought her bedroom, and re- L
used ber thoughts in prayer. First, low moans ca
md sobs arose. but, as her heart gathered I, ~
strength. she pleaded aloud for help from Him oI
Vbo is mighty to save. She asked not for less d,
are or suffering for herself; only lead him from
he error of his ways, and win him for an hum I'll
Ne follower Of Jesus. :,
Little dreamed she that her husband had stol- "
n so5erly, quietly in, and was listener to CT
ixr imploring words. Ills heart became pierced
nd broken; and tcarfully he knelt by her side
md raised his voice with hers for mercy, for iu
trength to break through the bonds that had RI
'een whitening curse TO him as for her. y. y