Mattie:—A Stray (Vol 3 of 3)Robinson, F. W. (Frederick William)
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Mattie:—A Stray (Vol 3 of 3)
Robinson, F. W. (Frederick William)
English fiction -- 19th century
"I had not the courage to look you all steadily in the face and say that
I was going away for ever--I preferred to see you all one by one, as
though nothing was about to happen to separate us, and to leave to the
letters, which are already in the post-office, the last news which you
have thus forestalled."
"You speaking of want of courage! said Harriet.
"I am stronger now--I am glad now to see you all--I can bear to say
good-bye to you."
She says it well and stoutly, too, when the time comes, and friends are
warned to let the ship proceed upon its course, and not delay it by
their presence there. With Sidney, facing him with her hands in his, she
gives way somewhat; she lets him stoop and kiss her--for the second time
in life--the last!
"God bless you, Mattie!--best of women!" he murmurs.
"God bless you, Sidney!--with this dear girl!"
She flings herself into Harriet's arms, and cries there for a little
while--there is no jealousy now--Harriet is the little girl of old, old
days, the first of all these friends she has learned to love, and is
learning now to part with.
"To lose _you_, Mattie--the friend, sister, counsellor, whose good words
and strong love have kept me from sinking more than once--it _is_ hard!"
"In a few months, a wiser, better, and more natural counsellor than
I--trust in each other, and have no secrets--don't forget me!"
Thus they parted--thus hoping for the best, and believing that the best
had come for all, Mattie is borne away to the new world, wherein her
father had prophesied would come new friends, new happiness. And they
came; for Mattie made no enemies in life, and won much love, and was
rewarded for much labour in God's service, by that good return, even on
earth, which renders labour sweet and profitable.
THE END.
MESSRS. HURST AND BLACKETT'S LIST OF NEW WORKS.
COURT AND SOCIETY FROM ELIZABETH TO ANNE, Edited from the Papers at
Kimbolton, by the Duke of Manchester. Second Edition, Revised.
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Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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