Year: 1861

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selfish heart


But trouble did not come singly. Pau
her dearest brother and chosen counsel
lor became discontented sand sailors
life seemed to him the most desirable .
all pursuits so he left his quiet home
to seek his fortunes on the other side o
the world. and poor Patience mourned il
her heart for her absent idol. But hel
smile was always cheerful, and she strove
IN every way to comfort her mother, and
direct her brothers in their labor, and
help Ruth with her studies. No oues
tion was ever decided without an appeal
to Patience nor did this Difference to
her opinion and judgment excite her van
lly she was one of the few, who possess
the faculty of leading others, without
seeming to be conscious Of their power
and this she never made subservient to
her own selfish qualification.


Years passed on, Silas Carter had mar
ried village maiden and brought her to
his mothers home. Ruth was now nine
teen fair and sprightly maiden, full OF
life and merriment, and Patience watch
ed over her with constant anxiety She
feared much for her, for in her humble
station beauty is sometimes dangerous
gift, and she had numerous admirers.
The favored one was Charles Benton, a
young man from the neighboring city.
In vain did Patience plead with her sis
ter, and warn her not TO be ensnared by
his warm professions she knew he was
a wild and reckless youth, and she felt
that when Ruth's personal charms should
fade, his love would vanish too. But it
was no use quiet wedding, one spring
time morning, and Ruth, the sunbeam Of
the household, went to grace city
home.


No tidings had been received from
Paul ; and as Patience thought day after
day of the dear wanderer, she felt how
true /! Is that " hope deferred maketh
the heart sick" Her mother was a con.
firmed invalid. often petulent and exact
ing but Patience ever proved her right
to her name. She was untiring in her
attention to her parent and as children
were born in the house. she assumed the
relations aud duties Of aunt, with the
same peseyering and unflaggug zeal.
Aunt Patience was all that devoted
aunt can be and we have all looked UP
in our hearts, some family portrait that
bears the self same features, if not OF per-
son, yet of spirit.


Five years after her marriage. Ruth
came home, broken hearted and des-
pairing woman; bringing with her an
only child, who, as the writer of this lit.
lie sketch, need not be minute in person
al description. How tenderly did the
elder sister receive the faded flower :;
which had once SO brightly bloomed in
the sunny atmosphere of home, but had
been SO frail TO bear up the chilling
winds of the world. No reproach was
uttered all was kindness and love. But
il could not avail, save to smooth her
pathway to the grave and in a few
months my wretched mother left me for
that land where the wicked cease from
troubling, and the weary are at rest"
and thenceforth Aunt Patience was more
than q mother 10 me.


How well | remember those early years
of my country life my bed ridden
grandmother, my hard laboring, good ma
tured uncles. and noisy, romping cous
ins and kind Aunt Eunice, Uncle ST.
las wife but above all, the calm, sweet
smile, and gentle loving words of my
Aunt Patience dwell in my memory.
Not long atterward. when Uncle Timothy
was at work in the forest cutting timber
he met with fatal accident, and was
brought home mangled and dying No
one could do anything for him but Aunt
Patience. and she watched by him every
moment, until death put an end TO his
sufferings


And then again, years passed on, and
my grandmother entered the dark val
ley her mind had long been impaired.
but at the twilight hour of life, the
clouds that had dimmed her mental hor-
rizon suddenly dispersed, and in her was
verified the sacred prophecy. "at even
tide there shall be light" In a clear
distinct voice she creds" Paul, Paul !"
and what was my astonishment, when a
dark Drowned man whom | had never
seen, opened the door and stood beside
the bed Aunt Patience gave one scream
OF joy, and turned SO pale thought she
would faint; but she only clasped her
brothers hand, and placed il in her