But  her  thoughts  were  far  away  from  the  lonely  hearth.  The
sight  of  that  boy,  looking  at  her  so  steadfastly  with  those  dark,
expressive  eyes,  so  like  his  father's,  had  penetrated  the  icy


64  RENA;  OR,  THE  SNOWBIRD.
crust  which  covered  the  waters  of  memory,  and  the  current
rolled  coldly  and  darkly  along.
It  rolled  colder  and  darker,  till,  overwhelmed  by  its  waves,
she  bent  her  head  forward  till  it  rested  on  her  knees,  and
tears,  bitter  and  passionate,  gushed  from  her  eyes.
Oh  !  how  many  such  tears  gush  forth  in  secret,  which  the
world  knows  not  of !  How  many,  who  are  deemed  cold  and
unfeeling,  and  harsh  and  selfish,  thus  in  solitude  and  darkness
give  vent  to  the  anguish  of  a  wounded  heart,  and  mourn  with
unavailing  regret  over  their  blighted  hopes,  withered  affections,
and  embittered  feelings !

Who,  that  saw  Aunt  Debby  the  next  morning,  bustling
about  the  house,  directing  Hannah  how  to  skim  the  milk  and
scald  the  churn,  and  Peter  how  to  feed  the  cattle  and  the
swine,  her  quick  eyes  seeing  and  controlling  everything,  would
have  recognised  the  passionate  woman,  who  sat  weeping  by  the
lonely  hearth-stone  ?


CHAPTER  V.      •

"  I  saw  her  once — so  freshly  fair,

That,  like  a  blossom  just  unfolding,
She  opened  to  life's  cloudless  air ;

And  Nature  joyed  to  view  its  moulding.
Oh !  who  could  look  on  such  a  form,

So  heavenly  fair,  so  softly  tender,
And  darkly  dream,  that  earthly  sin

Should  dim  such  sweet,  delicious  splendour  1"

A  MESSENGER  from  Mr.  Lindsey!  Aunt  Debby's  face
reddened,  but  she  did  not  dash  the  packet  into  the  man's  face.
