Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-10-03
50ortester @ailp Spp.
The Quaker Widow.
BY j. C. WHITTIER.

The Quaker Widow.
BY j. C. WHITTIER.
Thee finds me in the garden, Hannah-cOme in lis
kind Of thee
To wait until the Friends we're gone who came to
The still and quiet company peace may give in
But blessed is the single heart that comes to us at
Come, sit thee down Here is the bench where BEN
jamin would sit
On Firstday afternoons in spring, and watch the
swallows fit;
He loved to swell the sprouting box, and hear the
pleasant bees
Go hummng round the lilacs and through the ample
trees.
- think he loved the spring. not that he cared for
flowers; most men
Think such things fooishness-but we were first ac-
quainted then,
One spring: the next he spoke his mind the third
was his wife,
And in the spring lit happened sol our children
tered life.
He was but seventy-fve did not think to lay him
In Kennett yard, where at Monthly Meeting
first we met.
The Fathers mercy shows in this: It's better l
should be
Picked out to bear the heavy cross-alone in age
than he.
We've lived together fifty years; it seems but one
One quiet Sabbath of the heart, till he was called
away;
And we bring from Meeting -time sweet content
ment home
So, Hannah have store of peace for all the days
that come.
mind flor can tell thee now how hard it was to
know,
If had heard the spirit right and told me should
go;
For father had deep concern upon his mind that
But mother spoke for Benjamin-she knew what
best to say.
Then she STILL they sat awhe at last she spoke
1.-THE I lord incline thee to the right!n and Thou
shalt have him, Jane'
My father said l cried Indeed, twas not the least
of shocks,
For Benjamin was Hicksite, and father Orthodox.
l thought of this ten years ago, when daughter
Ruth we lost
Her husbands of the world, and yet, l could not
She wears, thee knows, the gayest gowns, he hears
a hirelng priest
Ah dear! the cross was ours; her lie's happy one
at least.
Perhaps she'll wear palmer dress when she's as
Would thee believe it, Hannah? once Ttelt tempta-
ton nigh,
My wedding gown was ashen silk too simple for
my taste;
wanted lace around the neck, and ribbon at the
waist.
How strange it seemed to sit with him upon the
did not dare to lift my eyes, felt more fear than
pride,
III.
then there
holy strength upon my heart, and could say the
same.
1 used to blush when he came near but then l
showed no sign,
With all the meeting looking on, held his hand in
mine.
1t seemed my bashfulness was gone, now was his
for life;
Thee knows the feeling, Hannah-thee too has been
q wife.
AS home we rode, saw fields look half so green
ours;
The woods were coming into leaf, the meadows full
of flowers;
The neighbors met us in the lane, and every face
IT'S strange how lively everything back upon
my mind.
see as plain thee sits there the wedding dinner
spread;
At table we were guests, with father at the
And Dinah Passmore helped us both-twas she
stood up with me,
And Abner Jones with Benjamin-and now they're
gone, all three!
IT is not best to wish for DEATH the Lord disposes
best,
His spirit comes to quiet hearts, and fits them for
And that he halved our little flock, was merciful,
For Benjamin has two in Heaven, and two are left
with me.
Eusebius never cared to farm-twas not his call in
TRUTH
And must rent the dear old place and go to daugh-
Thee'll say her ways are not like mine-young peo-
pie nowadays
Have fallen sadly off, think, from all the good old
ways
But Ruth is still a friend at heart she keeps the
simple tongue,
The cheerful, kindly nature we loved when she
young;
And it was brought upon my mind, remembering
her, of late,
That we on dress and outward things perhaps lay
too much weight
once heard jesse Kersey say, spirit clothed with
grace,
And pure, almost as angels are, may have homely
face,
And dress may be of less account; the Lord will
look within;
The soul it is that testfes of righteousness sim
Thee mustn't be too hard on Ruth; she's anxious
should go,
And she will do her duty daughter should, 1
know;
IT'S hard to change late in life, but we must be
resigned;
The Lord looks down contentedly upon a willing
mind.