happiest course; for there is a pleasure in doing one's duty, though it may not always seem pleasant at first, still an approving conscience will finally make it so. So Emily passed on her lone way. Month after month, and her husband grew more reckless and extravagant. In the hands of evil companions his large property was fast wasting away. Dissipation had altered his person and disposition ; his manly beauty was gone, and his temper soured and irritable. He grew subject to sudden and fearful sickness, raving and delirium, which it was frightful to witness. Emily was patient and forbearing with him; she looked upon this visitation, as part of her punishment, and bore it with meekness and resignation. She felt that soon the trial would be over; the poor, misguided spirit at rest. And it was so; the strong constitution gave way at last. After a week of revel and debauch, he came to his home and his wife, to die. So wild, and so fearful were his ravings, the servants fled in terror. None but Emily came near him; but her voice calmed him. Constant still in his love for her, he obeyed her wishes. His eye followed her in her movements about his chambers, sometimes with a sort of unmeaning stare, and then again with almost a look of affection. Anguish racked his frame by spells, and fearful, terrible sights and visions haunted him, till nature was fairly exhausted; then one faint gleam of returning reason, one farewell to the wife who had watched so untiringly beside him, and he lay a corpse before her. What more remains to be told? Emily was left with but a small remnant of that fortune which was once so large; but for this she cared not, only as riches gave her more opportunities for doing good. Her life, henceforth, was like the life of many a quiet, unobtrusive woman; their worth best known in private, and in the hearts and homes they have blessed. She was not unhappy; many and true sources of happiness were opened to her, as she passed on in life, but they were, like herself, simple and unostentatious. When, after a life well spent, she died, full of days and honors, many tears were shed over her grave, and many hearts mourned for a true and sincere friend, who had left them for a better land. Death was very welcome to her; for ever had she kept treasured up in her heart the promise, "We shall meet again ;" and, with a faith that ever since the hour of her celestial vision, had been firm in immortality and re-union, she passed from earth. She was laid by the side of her sister. Kind hands trained the wild rose and woodbine over both their graves; and two plain white stones bear the simple inscription, "EMILY AND LIZZIE." TO MY LITTLE NEPHEW, IN DEATH. BY J. G. ADAMS. WHERE art thou, loved one? 't was but yesterday Bidding me list the music of its play, And, warmly in my arms did I not clasp Thy form so frail and fair; Not dreaming that so soon the death-king's grasp Should in this nearness share? What art thou? All, this sleeping doth not tell And yet so beautiful;—what mystic spell For life thou still must have; its glowings yet As twilight beamings when the sun has set, Angelic life is thine; and while we hold ; Be thou to us, dear one, amid these days Of toil, and strife, and care, Love's holy messenger, to wake and raise Our daily hope and prayer: Till we in heavenly mansions shall renew Our better life with thee, And in eternity's instructive view, God's gracious dealings see. ELISHA AND THE SYRIANS. A BIBLE BALLAD. BY DAY. K. LEE. BEN-HADAD was a haughty king But God he touched Elisha's soul, The thoughts of mad Ben-hadad's mind, And Syria's king was sore incensed, And soon he doomed to death The man among his armies, who Had breathed the treacherous breath. Answered a servant then to him "Thy friends, O king, are true, But there's a priest in Palestine, Reveals all thou would'st do. |