What need to tell Of the succeeding summer days, and all Their deeds and incidents? They floated by Like silent sails upon a summer sea, That, sweeping in from farthest heaven at morn, Traverse the vision, and at evening slide Out into heaven again, their pennant-flames The rosy dawns and day-falls. O'er and o'er, I walked the path, and crossed the stream, that lay Between me and the idol of my heart; And every day, in every circumstance, I found her still the same, yet not the same; For, every day, some unsuspected grace, Or some fresh revelation of her wealth Of character and culture, touched my heart To new surprise, and overflowed the cup Whose wine was life to me. Though I could see That I was not unwelcome; though I knew I gave a zest to her sequestered life, I had built up so high my only hope On her affection--I had given myself So wholly to the venture for her hand, I did not dare to speak of love, or ask The question which, unasked, held hopefully My destiny: which answered, might bring doom Of madness or of death. Meanwhile, I learned The lady's history from other lips Than hers--her aunt's. Alas! the old, old tale! She had been bred to luxury; and all That wealth could purchase for her, or the friends Swarmed by its golden glamour could bestow, She had possessed. But he who won the wealth, Reaching for more, slipped from his height and fell Dragging his house to ruin. Then he died-- Died in disgrace; and all his thousand friends Fell off, and left his pampered family, The while the noisy auctioneer knocked down His house and household gods, and set adrift The helpless life thus cruelly bereft. The mother lived a month: the rest went forth, Not knowing whither; but they found among The poor a shelter for their poverty,-- Kathrina with her aunt. Thus, in few words, A tragedy of heart-breaks and of death, Such as the world abounds with. But this girl, With her quick instincts and her brave, good heart. Determined she would live awhile, and learn What lesson God would teach her. This she sought, And, seeking, found, or thought she found. How well She learned the lesson--what the lesson was-- Her life, thus far revealed, and waiting still My feeble record, shall disclose. Enough, Just now and here, that out of it she bore A noble womanhood, accepting all Her great misfortunes as the discipline Of a paternal hand, in love prescribed To lead her to her place, and whiten her For Christian service.