* * * * * Harriet at school was very much the same As other misses; and so home she came, Like other ladies, there to live and learn, To wait her season, and to take her turn. Their husbands maids as priests their livings gain: The best, they find, are hardest to obtain. On those that offer both awhile debate— 70 “I need not take it, it is not so late; Better will come if we will longer stay, And strive to put ourselves in fortune’s way:” And thus they wait, till many years are past, For what comes slowly—_but it comes at last_. Harriet was wedded,—but it must be said, The vow’d obedience was not duly paid. Hers was an easy man—it gave him pain To hear a lady murmur and complain; He was a merchant, whom his father made 80 Rich in the gains of a successful trade; A lot more pleasant, or a view more fair, Has seldom fallen to a youthful pair. But what is faultless in a world like this? In every station something seems amiss. The lady, married, found the house too small— “Two shabby parlours, and that ugly hall! Had we a cottage somewhere, and could meet One’s friends and favourites in one’s snug retreat; Or only join a single room to these, 90} It would be living something at our ease, } And have one’s self, at home, the comfort that one sees.” } Such powers of reason, and of mind such strength, Fought with man’s fear, and they prevail’d at length. The room was built—and Harriet did not know A prettier dwelling, either high or low; But Harriet loved such conquests, loved to plead With her reluctant man, and to succeed; It was such pleasure to prevail o’er one } Who would oppose the thing that still was done; 100} Who never gain’d the race, but yet would groan and run. } But there were times when love and pity gave Whatever thoughtless vanity could crave. She now the carriage chose with freshest name, And was in quite a fever till it came; But can a carriage be alone enjoy’d? The pleasure not partaken is destroy’d; “I must have some good creature to attend On morning visits as a kind of friend.” A courteous maiden then was found to sit 110 Beside the lady, for her purpose fit: Who had been train’d in all the soothing ways And servile duties from her early days; One who had never from her childhood known A wish fulfill’d, a purpose of her own. Her part it was to sit beside the dame, And give relief in every want that came; To soothe the pride, to watch the varying look, And bow in silence to the dumb rebuke. This supple being strove with all her skill 120 To draw her master’s to her lady’s will; For they were like the magnet and the steel, At times so distant that they could not feel. Then would she gently move them, till she saw That to each other they began to draw; And then would leave them, sure on her return