One precious pearl in sorrow’s cup
Unmelted at the bottom lay,
To shine again, when all drunk up
The bitterness should pass away.
And that was hope, a fair sweet hope;
And oh, it woke such happy dreams,
And gave her soul such tempting scope
For all its dearest, fondest schemes.—Moore.
The loving little wife, the zealous little housekeeper, did not sit down in idleness and repining while her husband was absent. Occupation was always her great resource against melancholy.
She was, besides, too much in sympathy with all nature not to feel the influence of the vitalizing spring season, with the reviving world around her.