FOR FOUR VOICES. THE WIFE TO HER HUSBAND. MUSIC WRITTEN FOR THIS WORK BY GEO. J. WEBB. 9፡8 b8 Lin-ger not long! Home is not home, with-out thee; Its dear-est Linger not long! Though friends may woo thy staying, Costs the fond heart which sighs to have thee near? Linger not long! How I shall watch thy coming, Linger not long! How I shall watch for thee, when fears grow stronger, Linger not long! Yet I should grieve not, though the eye that seeth thee, My cup of happiness is all too full! Linger not long! Haste, haste thee home, into thy welcome dwelling! Haste as a skiff, when tempests wild are swelling, Linger not long! THE YOUNG LADY'S FRIEND. Written for the Young Lady's Friend. PATIENCE. BY MRS. E. A. W. NEWHALL. THE postman arrived, and four or five gay, laughing girls presented themselves at the gate. The most eager one snatched the letter, and bore it in triumph to the parlor. The group gathered around their venerable grandmamma, who had to search in the lowest depths of a capacious pocket, for her spectacles, and adjust them on her nose, before she could proceed to gratify their curiosity. The seal was at last broken, and the first glance directed to the end of the letter, to learn the signature. "O! from sister Ruth!" she ejaculated, as a smile settled itself upon her placid features. "Aunt Ruth!" repeated the girls, with sparkling eyes. "Our rich aunt! Is she coming, grandmamma?" "I hope she is," chimed in a black-eyed maiden, "she always brings us beautiful presents." Grandmamma was too much occupied with the contents of the letter to reply to their exclamations. She was obliged to take off her spectacles more than once to wipe them, and the girls saw tears standing in the corners of her eyes. This was very impressive to these young hearts, and silence reigned among them. Grandmother at length laid down her spectacles, and holding the letter in her hand, looked round on the silent group, as if about to explain to them its purport. "Your aunt Ruth is coming next week." Upon this a merry shout rang from their lips, and they clapped their hands with glee. 66 O, we shall be so glad of a visit from her!" "It is not for a visit, dear children, but to take up her abode with us. And now I want you to listen to me with attention for a few moments. You have been accustomed to call her your rich aunt; but I suspect that she is no longer rich. However, if she has lost her property she has not lost her kindly nature, and that, I hope, will endear her more to my grandchildren and her nieces than the wealth of the Indies. She appears very reluctant to add to our cares, and regrets that she may be a trouble to the young people, as she has grown very infirm, is nearly deaf, and sees with difficulty. I shall answer that objection as I know your kind hearts would dictate; for what sacrifice would be too great to make for one whose sacrifices and kindness to you have been continued from your infancy?" One glance at the countenances of the youthful group was sufficient to see that they regarded themselves ready to acquiesce. The terms, sacrifice and self-denial, sounded noble in their ears, and they felt gratified at being called on to bear a part. They had yet to learn how much easier it is to talk of than to practise these virtues. A word or two to the reader, descriptive of this group of young girls and their grandmamma, to whom we have thus unceremoniously introduced them. They were orphans, and the youngest of them was left at a very tender age. Their grandmother received them from the hands of their dying mother, her only daughter, with many promises to be faithful to their temporal and religious wants. She had discharged her duties thus far so faithfully that conscience had never lifted its reproving voice, nor had she ever feared to ask God's blessing on her efforts. There were four girls and a brother. The latter, after he graduated, went to Europe with a gentleman, as tutor to his son. As there were four girls, so there were four different complexions, forms, and dispositions; and we will allow our readers to form their own ideas of them, from the following sketch. The next week they watched eagerly for the carriage which was to bring Mrs. Wilson. They saw it at last, moving slowly over the road, and their patience was almost exhausted before it reached the gate. Mrs. W. alighted with much difficulty, and the meeting between the aged sisters was saddened by many a bitter reflection. Mrs. Meldron observed with sorrow the feebleness of her sister, and it forcibly reminded her that they could journey together but a short time. The girls were very tender and affectionate to their aunt, and the evident kindness and sympathy of those she met, caused tears to trickle down her furrowed cheeks. After great effort and much delay, she was got into the comfortable easy-chair, which had been arranged for her in her own room. The taste of her young friends, and the kind consideration of her sister, were everywhere visible around her. "And now, dear sister," said Mrs. Meldron, "now that you are settled in the place which is to be your future home, I hope you will believe we welcome you, not only willingly, but joyfully. The thought that I am so situated that you can spend your last days with me, gives me more pleasure than you can conceive." Tears flowed freely from both. Frances, the youngest, drew near to her, and said, "We are to have our turns, a week each, in waiting upon you, aunt Ruth." "Ah! dear children, I am afraid your patience will many times give way before the bright, warm summer will end." They all smiled incredulously, while Mrs. Wilson continued, "It will require greater self-denial than any of you are aware of, to confine yourselves for a week at a time in a close room, to help me dress and undress, to be obliged to assist me every time I get up or sit down; in fine, to answer to the numerous calls which every invalid, however considerate she may be, is obliged to make. To the God of heaven above, you must look alone for recompense; and they who patiently and willingly discharge whatever duty Providence calls upon them to perform, fail not to reap a rich reward in the improvement of their own temper and spirit." There was silence for a few moments; and it seemed, to look upon the group, thus standing with solemn faces, that they were invoking aid from on High. But the most found within themselves, as they vainly thought, a self-relying power able to sustain all their good resolutions. "The eldest is to commence first," said Mrs. Meldron, "and we will see what a worthy example Ellen will furnish for the rest of the sisters." |