The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1857-07-18
Select Gkcttl).
My Old Wife and |.
BY PUTNAM.

She is sitting close beside me in the old
armchair, mate to my own--the earnest
true hearted friend Of long lfetimc--my
own mcek-cycd Ruth. Yeas ago, 50 very
long ago, that memory secs those years as far
of pictures, indis,nclly and dreary. Years
ago my Ruth whispered to me IN the purple
twilight of mid summer evening, whittier
thou soeSt, | will go"-and trustful'y has
the promise been kept.
Sometimes. when the winter fire burns low
and Goals glow hlood-red in the broad open
chimney take her withercI hand in mine,
and W" talk with huShcd voices of those hui
ried days, and of the buried dead who d NC
ed with us in the hey day of youth Voices
silent, hearts puiSelcSS and eyes close yelled
Ruth and are gladly looking toward to
thc hour when we Shall see the band Of dear
departed ones. beyond the golden gates Of
the city Beautiful"
1--WE shall 20 soon, very soon, Jack. Says
the tranquil voice: and answer hopefully
VERY soon Tlun she strikes the sweet
old melody Of "Summcr and the tones Of
our old trembling voices ring through the
quiet room, like the echoes Of Il far away
song sung by Il group Of forms known aud
loved in the past.
In thewarin summer nights we st. each by
the Other, on the vcrdEdah that commands a
view of the hraving sea. and the whie-sailed
ships that glide Mthcr and thither with their
great wings.
Life is like the bi!iowy OCEAN" say to
the mild face and the dim eyes, covered with
countless banks, Some filled with every thing
rich and gloiions, laden with wealth and beau
ty of other lands; others idle and bare with
gaping seams and ,attcrd sails. They float
Serenely on the blun depths, tossed. unharm-
cd, by the fick!e winds Will" the nobv-ladcd
ones, freighted with the hope ofloving friends.
90 down even in the soft sunlight and the
li.htest of brceZcs. Yonder gotwo fairy sails
side by side like old companions, happy, if
the winds do not drive them aSundrr. so we,
rocked by the pillows, waited by the prosper
Gus breczcs, have kept closely together. ill
our 5arks have grown almost unseaworthy, ~
The pilot will come to us, Jack, ere many
moons" says the old wife, chccrfully, land
| thank God that he has suffered US to wear
out so nearly in the service Of what is good
and true"
II thank Him, also, deep in my heart of
hearts. that He gave Inc the unapproprialed
loneliness of Ruth Seymour, When the golden
clouds of manhood's dawn hung over-me :
that we together began the stately revrl of
life, and have kept undying and immortal,
amid mortality, the pure love ofhusband and
wife
Now though age has sown silvery harvest
among the sllvery gnllocks and made wrn-
kles where once smile played DO peep to smile
| among dimples, she is still dear as the first
years of married life-still beautiful-still
my Ninon D'Ehclos. love her for the
memory of what she has been to me through
the devious pathway Of circling days-forthe
freely given trust. the perfect confidence.
the unmasked obedience of love and faith.
Dear old wife!
We can now talk fearlessly of the poverty
days. Days, when we ate Sparingly, and iv-
cd sparnglv, that the notlc children God
gave US, might climb over the rugged heights
more easily.
1--WE shall yet reap bountifully, Jack, "
said Ruth and believe her. ''I1ave we not
reapcd plentiful harvest? Robert blesScs
his gray haired parents every day for the cdu-
cation he won by their selfdenial-our Robert
the orator and the statesman.
Then the proud smile creeps over the wrn-
killed. cheek, and lights up the fading eye and
as read slowly and carefully the burning
words Of the young politician. Ruth CONES
closely to my side and steals her shrunken lin
gers between my own, her foot tapping the
floor nervously, as speak of applanding
crowds and eagerly excited multitudes.
Sometimes tear slides down the thin cheek
a tear Of gratitude that all our efforts were not
in vain.
There is Paul, too, the artist and poet-be-
loved by the noble and great. lie came, last
| summer with the oJOr Of laIIrelS abuut him
here to the old homestead, with its gables
and queer roofs; its guarded oaks and wide
spreading orchards, came to blend, In unfad-