The £1,000,000 bank-note, and other new storiesTwain, Mark
General
The £1,000,000 bank-note, and other new stories
Twain, Mark
American essays -- 19th century; American fiction -- 19th century; Humorous stories, American
Striking as this trait may unfold itself in her character, and as
pre-eminent as it may stand among the fair display of her other
qualities, yet there is another, which struggles into existence, and
adds an additional lustre to what she already possesses. I mean that
disposition in woman which enables her, in sorrow, in grief, and in
distress, to bear all with enduring patience. This she has done, and can
and will do, amid the din of war and clash of arms. Scenes and
occurrences which, to every appearance, are calculated to rend the heart
with the profoundest emotions of trouble, do not fetter that exalted
principle imbued in her very nature. It is true, her tender and feeling
heart may often be moved (as she is thus constituted), but still she is
not conquered, she has not given up to the harlequin of disappointments,
her energies have not become clouded in the last moment of misfortune,
but she is continually invigorated by the archetype of her affections.
She may bury her face in her hands, and let the tear of anguish roll,
she may promenade the delightful walks of some garden, decorated with
all the flowers of nature, or she may steal out along some gently
rippling stream, and there, as the silver waters uninterruptedly move
forward, sheds her silent tears, they mingle with the waves, and take a
last farewell of their agitated home, to seek a peaceful dwelling among
the rolling floods; yet there is a voice rushing from her breast, that
proclaims _victory_ along the whole line and battlement of her
affections. That voice is the voice of patience and resignation; that
voice is one that bears everything calmly and dispassionately; amid the
most distressing scenes, when the fates are arrayed against her peace,
and apparently plotting for her destruction, still she is resigned.
Woman’s affections are deep, consequently her troubles may be made to
sink deep. Although you may not be able to mark the traces of her grief
and the furrowings of her anguish upon her winning countenance, yet be
assured they are nevertheless preying upon her inward person, sapping
the very foundation of that heart which alone was made for the weal and
not the woe of man. The deep recesses of the soul are fields for their
operation. But they are not destined simply to take the regions of the
heart for their dominion, they are not satisfied merely with
interrupting her better feelings; but after a while you may see the
blooming cheek beginning to droop and fade, her intelligent eye no
longer sparkles with the starry light of heaven, her vibrating pulse
long since changed its regular motion, and her palpitating bosom beats
once more for the mid-day of her glory. Anxiety and care ultimately
throw her into the arms of the haggard and grim monster, Death. But, oh,
how patient, under every pining influence! Let us view the matter in
bolder colours; see her when the dearest object of her affections
recklessly seeks every bacchanalian pleasure, contents himself with the
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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