Graham's Magazine, Vol. XXXV, No. 1, July 1849Various
General
Graham's Magazine, Vol. XXXV, No. 1, July 1849
Various
Literature -- Periodicals; Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals
Great was the relief experienced by the troubled sisters when, on the
waning of the Sabbath, they saw their truant swains approaching as
usual. But, with this sense of relief, came a maidenly indignation, and
a determination to resent the wanton slight that had been put upon them.
Clouds were on the faces once so smiling and happy, when the young men
entered, and their presence, so far from dispersing these clouds, only
caused them to grow darker. It was in vain that every effort was made to
remove them; not a sun-ray came to dispel their gloomy shadows.
Explanations were made. The apparent slight was acknowledged as only a
merry jest. However this relieved the oppressed hearts of the maidens,
it did not lighten up their sober faces. Forgiveness and smiles were not
to come so easily.
Andy affected to treat the whole matter lightly, and rather jested with
Florence; but Harry’s sweetheart seemed so deeply grieved and wounded,
that he had little to say after the first few efforts at reconciliation.
Finally, the young men went away, apparently unforgiven; and all
parties, for the next week, were unhappy enough. Sunday came again; and
now the doubt in the minds of the young men was, whether, if they
offered to go home as usual with Jane and Florence, they would be
permitted by the offended maidens to do so. This doubt was, in a
measure, dispelled during the morning service, for more than a dozen
times did Andy catch a stealthy glance from Florence, in which was a
beam of forgiveness; and the same thing happened to Harry as he turned
his eyes frequently upon Jane. At last the service ended; and, as the
young girls passed from the door, their lovers were beside them as
usual. There was no repulse. The maidens were too glad to have them
there once more. But, the feelings of each were sobered. Evening came,
and they met as before. Their intercourse was tender but not joyous as
it had been. And thus it was for weeks ere their hearts lost a sense of
oppression. The reader may be sure that there were no more games at
cross purposes after this. The lovers were cured of all inclination to
indulge further in that species of pastime.
* * * * *
LINES
ON BURNING SOME OLD JOURNALS AND LETTERS.
BY THE LATE WALTER HERRIES, ESQ.
Ay, let them perish—why recall
Dreams of a by-gone day?
Why lift Oblivion’s funeral pall
Only to find decay?
The heart of youth lies buried there,
With all its hopes and fears,
Its burning joys, its wild despair,
Its agonies and tears.
A light has vanished from the earth,
A glory left the sky,
Since first within my soul had birth
Those visions pure and high;
Or is it that mine eye, grown dim,
Hath lost the power to trace
The glory of the Seraphim
Within life’s holy place?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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