Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland, Volume 10
General
Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland, Volume 10
Scottish Borders (Scotland) -- Fiction
She was borne to her cottage home insensible, in which state she
remained all that night, and next day revived, only to know that she was
dying. Yes, the arrow that had pierced her was poisoned; but the venom,
though fatal, worked slow. Gold is refined by fire, and the more intense
the heat applied, the purer will the metal become. So is it with the
human soul. It is made perfect through suffering; and the more it is
destined to endure, the fitter will it become for taking a part with the
choirs of saints and angels, when it shall have thrown aside the garment
of mortality, and mounted on high, like the unshadowed moon, through
parted clouds. But May was happy notwithstanding. In all her looks and
movements were disclosed the peace of mind which passeth understanding.
It was diffused, like light from heaven, over her countenance; it was
heard, like a rich chord of music, in the tones of her voice; her every
word and action betrayed its presence and all-prevailing power. Her
Bible, although always a favourite study, became now her sole one; and
by its all-hallowing influence, her mind, looking down with calm
complacency on all terrestrial things, had an early foretaste of
immortality, in many a delightful contemplation of that abode and that
felicity which shall reward the just.
"It was a delightful evening, about the middle of autumn," says the
worthy clergyman to whom we have been indebted for many of the facts of
the foregoing narrative, "that I was hastily summoned by John Darling to
visit his daughter, who, he believed, was dying. I lost no time in
proceeding to his cottage, and found that his conjecture was but too
true. In an easy-chair, placed at an open window which faced the west,
reclined the victim of a broken heart. On her pale cheek death had
impressed his seal, though there the deceitful rose-tint fluctuated,
which was not so in her days of health and hope. Her words, when she
spake (and that was seldom), seemed to come forth without her breath;
and the lightest down that ever was wafted through summer's air might
have slept unfluttered on her lips. I kneeled down, and prayed that the
gentle spirit, which was about to be released from its mortal bonds,
might receive a welcome to the realms of life and light. She understood
distinctly that she was dying; and, in token that her mind was at
perfect ease, she faintly uttered, when I had finished, 'Yes! oh yes!
Heaven! he----!' The words died unfinished on her tongue, and her spirit
rose to its native sky.
'Peace to her broken heart and virgin grave!'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account