Love stories; New York (N.Y.) -- History -- 1775-1865 -- Fiction
"The far east glows,
The morning wind blows fresh and free;
Should not the hour that wakes the rose
Awaken thee?
No longer sleep--
Oh listen now!
I wait and weep,
But where art thou?"
From one to another song she went, simple melodies all of them,
delightful little warblings of love, which except for their gladness
and loyalty, had nothing in them to charm.
She was a deserted maiden. Her lover had palpably and with extreme
cruelty deceived her; but she had grieved, and forgiven. And love
brings its reward, even if unrequited. Those who love, and have loved,
are the better for the revelation; for love for love's sake enriches
and blesses the lover to the very end of life. She did not forget, for
love has everlasting remembrance; and she did not wish to forget, for a
great affection is a great happiness, and the whole soul can find
shelter in it.
Neither were her days monotonous or unhappy. All the real pleasures of
life lie in narrow compass; and she found herself very often a little
hurried for want of time. She had not, it is true, the resources of the
woman of to-day--no literary, musical, social, or sporting clubs
existed for Cornelia; but she had duties and devices that made every
moment pleasant or profitable. Many hours daily were given to fine
needlework--calm quiet hours full of thought as well as work; she had
her music to practice, new books and papers to read, calls to make,
mantua makers and milliners to interview, dinners and dances and
tea-parties to attend, shopping to look after, delicate bits of darning
and mending to exercise her skill on, creams and pasties and cakes to
prepare, visitors to welcome and entertain, and many other duties which
sprang up--as extras do--unexpectedly, and yet which opened the door
for very pleasant surprises and events.
Besides which, there was her father. After her return from school she
had always driven with him to some extent; but his claim on her now was
often a little exacting. He said the fresh spring winds were good for
her, and that she stayed in the house too much, and there was no
evading the dictum that came with both parental and medical authority.
Perhaps this demand upon her time would not have been made if the Hydes
had been in New York; but Doctor Moran by frequent inquiries satisfied
himself that they were yet in Philadelphia; and for his daughter's
satisfaction he frequently said as they drove up Maiden Lane, "We will
take the Greenwich Road, there is no fear of our meeting any one we do
not wish to see." She understood the allusion, and was satisfied to
escape meetings that promised her nothing but pain.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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