That, when united, tve ahould In his aunt,

A raoiher then to hiin, propose to divfll,

Inmate in herheredilary home,

Notonly, then, the circumstance that all

Her habits were conrormed to long abode.
Even from early life, in this small dwelling ;

Not only this forbade whalebe might seem

Means to augmrnt her comfort, but still more

Such incapacity for personal change

Of place, was hen's, that I couki never bear

Even to hint to her of bis proposal;

Lest from a generous wish, or 'ei<e she died

To see ine in a safe protection placed,

She should ii^sist on my canforniily

To a change, in which I knew she could nol^haii

And thus to her a sacrifice. Though blind.
She loveil this liille spot, A happy wife

There lived she with her lord. It ivasu home

In which an oi>ly brother, long siucc dead.
A TRAGEDY. 133

And I, were edaoated ; 'twas to her

As the whole world! Its scanty garden plot,

The bum of bees hived there, which still she heard

On a warm suminer's day, the scent of flowers.
The honey-suckle which trailed round its porch,

Its orchard, field, and trees, her universe! —

I knew she could not long be spared to me.
Her sofierings, when alleviated best.
Were most acute ; and I could best perform

That sacred task. I wished to lengthen out, —

By consecrating to her every moment, —

Her being to myself ! A life I prized.
Not as that only of a tender mother,

Bot as that of a character endowed

With every attribute to excite at once

Reverence and tenderness : and latterly

She seemed to me, so exemplary was

Her resignation, so sublime her patience.
