In this mood she now approached Mrs. Scudder, and, holding up her hand on the door-side to prevent consequences, if, after all she should be betrayed into a loud word, she said, "I thought I'd just say, Miss Scudder, that, in case Mary should —— the Doctor,—in case, you know, there should be a —— in the house, you must just contrive it so as to give me a month's notice, so that I could give you a whole fortnight to fix her up as such a good man's —— ought to be. Now I know how spiritually-minded our blessed Doctor is; but, bless you, Ma'am, he's got eyes. I tell you, Miss Scudder, these men, the best of 'em, feel what's what, though they don't know much. I saw the Doctor look at Mary that night I dressed her for the wedding-party. I tell you he'd like to have his wife look pretty well, and he'll get up some blessed text or other about it, just as he did that night about being brought unto the king in raiment of needle-work. That is an encouraging thought to us sewing-women.
"But this thing was spoken of after the meeting. Miss Twitchel and Miss Jones were talking about it; and they all say that there would be the best setting-out got for her that was ever seen in Newport, if it should happen. Why, there's reason in it. She ought to have at least two real good India silks that will stand alone,—and you'll see she'll have 'em, too; you let me alone for that; and I was thinking, as I lay awake last night, of a new way of making up, that you will say is just the sweetest that ever you did see. And Miss Jones was saying that she hoped there wouldn't anything happen without her knowing it, because her husband's sister in Philadelphia has sent her a new receipt for cake, and she has tried it and it came out beautifully, and she says she'll send some in."
All the time that this stream was flowing, Mrs. Scudder stood with the properly reserved air of a discreet matron, who leaves all such matters to Providence, and is not supposed unduly to anticipate the future; and, in reply, she warmly pressed Miss Prissy's hand, and remarked, that no one could tell what a day might bring forth,—and other general observations on the uncertainty of mortal prospects, which form a becoming shield when people do not wish to say more exactly what they are thinking of.
[To be continued.]
Once and Now.
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The Mourner lies in the solemn room Where his Dead hath lately lain; And in the drear, oppressive gloom, Death-pallid with the dying moon, There pass before his brain, In blended visions manifold, The present and the days of old. Fair falls the snow on her grave to-day, Shrouding her sleep sublime; But he sees in the sunny far-away None among maidens so fair and gay As she in her sweet spring-time: Where the song and the sport and the revel be, None among maidens so fair as she. He marks where the perfect crescent dips Above the heaven of her eyes, Her beamy hair in soft eclipse, The red enchantment of her lips, And all the grace that lies Dreaming in her neck's pure curve, With its regal lift and its swanlike swerve. In pictures which are forever joys, She cometh to him once more: Once, with her dainty foot a-poise, She drives the bird with a merry noise From her lifted battledoor, And tosses back, with impatient air, The ruffled glory of her hair;— Then gayly draping a painted doll, To please an eager child; Or pacing athwart a stately hall; Or kneeling at dewy evenfall, When clouds are crimson-piled, And all the hushed and scented air Is tremulous with the voice of prayer;— Or standing mute and rapture-bound The while her sisters sing; From voice and lute there floats around A golden confluence of sound, Spreading in fairy ring; And with a beautiful grace and glow Her head sways to the music's flow. One night of nights in lustrous June, She walks with him alone; Through silver glidings of the moon The runnels purl a dreamy tune; His arm is round her thrown: But looks and sounds far lovelier Thrill on his trancéd soul from her. And then that rounded bliss, increased To one consummate hour! The marriage-robe, the stoléd priest, The kisses when the rite hath ceased, And with her heart's rich dower She standeth by his shielding side, His wedded wife and his own bright bride! And then the sacred influence That flushed her flower to prime! Through Love's divine omnipotence She ripened to a mother once, But once, and for all time: No higher heaven on him smiled Than that young mother and her child. Then all the pleasant household scenes Through all the latter years! No murky shadow intervenes,— Her gentle aspect only leans Through the soft mist of tears; Her sweet, warm smile, her welkin glance,— There is no speech nor utterance. O angel form, O darling face, Slow fading from the shore! O brave, true heart, whose warmest place Was his alone by Love's sweet grace, Still, still, forevermore! And now he lonely lieth, broken-hearted; For all the grace and glory have departed. Snow-cold in sculptured calm she lies, Apparelled saintly white; On her sealed lips no sweet replies, And the blue splendor of her eyes Gone down in dreamless night; All empery of Death expressed In that inexorable rest! Now leave this fair and holy Thing Alone with God's dear grace! Her grave is but the entering Beneath the shadow of His wing, Her trusty hiding-place, Till, in the grand, sweet Dawn, at last, This tyranny be overpast. |