Cummins_The_Lamplighter.txt topic ['13', '324', '378', '393']
thus giving her an opportunity to rise, receive the paper, and at the
same time an unimportant message. she was thus engaged, .
left his chair with the feeble step of an invalid, crossed the
room, addressed a question in a low voice to , and receiving an
affirmatory reply, took by the hand, and approaching . ,
exclaimed, with deep emotion, ", . tells me you are the
person who saved the life of my daughter; and here she is to thank you."
. rose and flung his arm over the shoulder and around the waist
of , who was passing on her way to hand the newspaper to .
, and who, not having heard the remark of . , received
the caress with a sweet smile and an upturned face. "," said he,
". , is the person who saved the life of your daughter. is
true that swam with her to the shore; but it was under the mistaken
impression that was bearing to a place of safety my own darling child,
whom little suspected then of having voluntarily relinquished to
another her only apparent chance of rescue."
" like you, ! like you!" shouted and in a
breath, each struggling to obtain a foremost place in the little circle
that had gathered round her.
" own noble !" whispered , as, leaning on . 's
arm, she pressed 's hand to her lips.
", !" exclaimed , with tears in her eyes, " didn't
know. never thought----"
" child?" cried . 's loud voice, interrupting 's
unfinished exclamation.
", my child, thank !" said . , reverently; "restored at
last to her unworthy father, and--you have no secrets here, my
darling?"-- shook her head, and glanced at , who now stood
at her side "and gladly bestowed by him upon her faithful and far more
deserving lover." he placed her hand in 's.
was a moment's pause. were impressed with the solemnity of the
action. . came forward, shook each of the young couple
heartily by the hand, and, passing his sleeve hastily across his eyes,
sought his customary refuge in the library.
"," said , pulling 's dress to attract her
attention, and speaking in a loud whisper, "are you engaged?--are you
engaged to him?"
"," whispered , anxious, if possible, to gratify 's
curiosity and silence her questioning.
", 'm so glad! 'm so glad!" shouted , dancing round the room
and flinging up her arms.
" 'm glad, too!" said , catching the tone of congratulation,
and putting her mouth up to for a kiss.
" __ am glad," said . , placing his hands upon those of
and , which were still clasped together, "that the noble
and self-sacrificing girl, whom have no words to thank, and no power
to repay, has reaped a worthy reward in the love of one of the few men
with whom a fond father may venture wholly to trust the happiness of his
child."
by so much excitement, . now complained of sudden
faintness, and was assisted to his room by , who, after waiting to
see him fully restored, returned to receive the blessing of upon
his new hopes, and hear with wonder and delight the circumstances which
attended the discovery of 's parentage.
although it was an appointment to meet . which had summoned
him back to , and he had in the course of their interview
acquainted him with the happy termination of a lover's doubts, he had
not, until the disclosure took place in . 's parlour, received
in return the slightest hint of the great surprise which awaited him.
had felt a little astonishment at his friend's express desire to join
him at once in a visit to . 's; but on being informed that he
had made the acquaintance of . in , he concluded that a
desire to renew his intercourse with the family, and possibly a slight
curiosity to see the lady of his own choice, were the only motives that
had influenced him.
now, amid retrospections of the past, thanksgiving for the present,
and hopes and aspirations for the future, the evening passed rapidly
away.
* * * * *
" here, !" said , "come to the window, and see what a
beautiful night it is."
was indeed a glorious night. lay on the ground. air was
intensely cold without, as might be judged from the quick movements of
the pedestrians and the brilliant icicles with which everything that had
an edge was fringed. stars were glittering too as they never
glitter, except on the most intense of winter nights. moon was just
peeping above an old brown building--the same old corner building which
had been visible from the door-step where and were wont to
sit in their childhood, and from behind which they had often watched the
coming of the same round moon.
on 's shoulder, stood gazing until the full
circle was visible in a space of clear and cloudless ether. of
them spoke, but their hearts throbbed with the same emotion as they
thought of the days that were past.
then the gasman came quickly up the street, lit, as by an electric
touch, the bright burners that in close ranks lined either side-walk,
and in a moment more was out of sight.
sighed. " was no such easy task for poor old ,"
said she; "there have been great improvements since his time."
" have, indeed!" said , glancing round the well-lit, warm,
and pleasantly-furnished rooms of his own and 's home, and
resting his eyes at last upon the beloved one by his side, whose beaming
face but reflected back his own happiness--"such improvements, , as
we only dreamt of once! wish the dear old man could be here and share
them!"
tear started to 's eye; but, pressing 's arm, she
pointed reverently upward to a beautiful, bright star just breaking
forth from a silvery film which had hitherto half overshadowed it; the
star through which had ever fancied she could discern the smile
of the kind old man.
" !" said she; "his lamp still burns brightly in heaven,
; and its light is not yet gone out on earth!"
* * * * *
a beautiful town about thirty miles from , and on the shore of
those hill-embosomed ponds which would be immortalized by the poet in a
country less rich than ours with such sheets of blue transparent water,
there stood a mansion-house of solid though ancient architecture. had
been the property of 's paternal grandparents, and the early
home and sole inheritance of his father, who so cherished the spot that
it was only with great reluctance, and when driven to the act by the
spur of poverty, that he was induced to part with the much-valued
estate.
reclaim the venerable homestead, repair and judiciously modernize the
house, and fertilize and adorn the grounds, was a favourite scheme with
. ample means now rendered it practicable; he lost no time in
putting it into execution, and the spring after he returned from his
wanderings saw the work in a fair way to be speedily completed.
the meantime 's marriage had taken place; the had
removed to their house in town (which, out of compliment to , who
was passing the winter with her aunt, was more than ever crowded with
gay company), and the bustling mistress was already projecting changes
in her husband's country-seat.
, who had parted with her greatest treasure, and found herself
in an atmosphere which was little in harmony with her spirit, murmured
not; but, contented with her lot, neither dreamed of nor asked for
outward change until came to her one day and, taking her by the
hand, said gently--
" is no home for you, . are as much alone as in my
solitary farm-house. loved each other in childhood, our hearts became
one youth, and have continued so until now. should we be longer
parted? father will not now oppose our wishes; and will you,
dearest, refuse to bless and gladden the lonely life of your grey-haired
lover?"
shook her head, while she answered, with her smile of
ineffable sweetness--
" no, ! do not speak of it! of my frail health and my
helplessness."
" health, dear , is improving. roses are already coming
back to your cheeks; and for your helplessness, what task can be so
sweet to me as teaching you, through my devotion, to forget it! , do
not send me away disappointed, ! cruel fate divided us for years;
do not by your own act prolong that separation! me, a union with
my early love is my brightest, my only hope of happiness!"
she did not withdraw the hand which he held, but yielded the other
also to his fervent clasp.
" only thought had been, dear ," said she, "that ere this
should have been called to my 's home; and even now feel many a
warning that cannot be very long for earth; but while stay, be it
longer or shorter, it shall be as you wish. word of mine shall part
hearts so truly one, your home shall be mine."
when the grass turned green, and the flowers sent up their
fragrance, and the birds sang in the branches, and the spring gales blew
soft and made a gentle ripple on the water, came to live on the
hillside with ; and . came too to superintend all things,
and especially the dairy, which became henceforth her pride. had
long since tearfully implored, and easily obtained, the forgiveness of
the much-wronged ; and proved, by the humility of her voluntary
confession, that she was not without a woman's heart.
. pleaded hard for the cook's situation at the farm, but
kindly expostulated with her, saying--
" cannot all leave my father, . . would see to his hot
toast, and the fire in the library?" and the good old woman saw the
matter in the right light and submitted.
is the long-wandering, much-suffering, and deeply-sorrowing exile
happy now? is; but his peace springs not from his beautiful home, his
wide possessions, an honourable repute among his fellow-men, or even the
love of the gentle .
these are blessings that he well knows how to prize; but his
world-tried soul has found a deeper anchor yet--a surer refuge from the
tempest and the storm; for, through the power of a living faith, he has
laid hold on eternal life. blind girl's prayers are answered; her
last, best work is done; she has cast a ray from her blessed spirit into
his darkened soul; and should her call to depart soon come, she will
leave behind one to follow in her footsteps, fulfil her charities, and
do good on earth until such time when he shall be summoned to join her
again in heaven.
they go forth in the summer evening to breathe the balmy air, listen
to the winged songster of the grove, and drink in the refreshing
influences of a summer sunset, all things speak of a holy peace to the
new-born heart of him who has so long been a man of sorrow.
the sun sinks among gorgeous clouds, as the western light grows dim,
and the moon and the stars come forth in their solemn beauty, they utter
a lesson to his awakened soul; and the voice of nature around, and the
still, small voice within whisper in gentlest, holiest accents--
" sun shall be no more thy light by day, neither for brightness shall
the moon give light unto thee; but the shall be unto thee an
everlasting light, and thy thy glory."
" sun shall no more go down, neither shall thy moon withdraw itself;
for the shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy
mourning shall be ended."