And all was over - By her husband's bones,
The widow rests beneath the sculptured stones,
That yet record their fondness and their fame,
While all they left, the virgin's care became :
Stock, bonds, and buildings;—it disturb'd her rest,
To think what load of troubles she possess'd:
Yet, if a trouble, she resolved to take

Th' important duty for the donor's sake;
She too was heiress to the widow's taste,
Her love of hoarding, and her dread of waste.

Sometimes the past would on her mind intrude, And then a conflict full of care ensued ;

The thoughts of Rupert on her mind would press,
His worth she knew, but doubted his success :
Of old she saw him heedless; what the boy
Forbore to save, the man would not enjoy;
Oft had he lost the chance that care would seize,
Willing to live, but more to live at ease:
Yet could she not a broken vow defend,

And Heav'n, perhaps, might yet enrich her friend.

Month after month was pass'd, and all were spent In quiet comfort and in rich content:

Miseries there were, and woes the world around,
But these had not her pleasant dwelling found;
She knew that mothers grieved, and widows wept,
And she was sorry, said her prayers, and slept:
Thus pass'd the seasons, and to Dinah's board
Gave what the seasons to the rich afford;
For she indulged, nor was her heart so small,
That one strong passion should engross it all.

A love of splendour now with av'rice strove, And oft appear'd to be the stronger love: A secret pleasure fill'd the Widow's breast, When she reflected on the hoards possess'd; But livelier joy inspired th' ambitious Maid, When she the purchase of those hoards display'd: In small but splendid room she loved to sec That all was placed in view and harmony; There, as with eager glance she look'd around, She much delight in every object found; While books devout were near her to destroy, Should it arise, an overflow of joy.

Within that fair apartment guests might see
The comforts cull'd for wealth by vanity:
Around the room an Indian paper blazed,
With lively tint and figures boldly raised;
Silky and soft upon the floor below,
Th' elastic carpet rose with crimson glow;
All things around implied both cost and care,
What met the eye was elegant or rare:
Some curious trifles round the room were laid,
By hope presented to the wealthy Maid;
Within a costly case of varnish'd wood,
In level rows, her polish'd volumes stood;
Shown as a favour to a chosen few,
To prove what beauty for a book could do:
A silver urn with curious work was fraught;
A silver lamp from Grecian pattern wrought:
Above her head, all gorgeous to behold,
A time-piece stood on feet of burnish'd gold;

A stag's-head crest adorn'd the pictured case, Through the pure crystal shone the enamell'd face; And while on brilliants moved the hands of steel, It click'd from pray'r to pray'r, from meal to meal.

Here as the lady sate, a friendly pair

Stept in t' admire the view, and took their chair:
They then related how the young and gay
Were thoughtless wandering in the broad highway:
How tender damsels sail'd in tilted boats,

And laugh'd with wicked men in scarlet coats;
And how we live in such degen'rate times,

That men conceal their wants, and show their

crimes;

While vicious deeds are screen'd by fashion's name, And what was once our pride is now our shame.

Dinah was musing, as her friends discoursed, When these last words a sudden entrance forced Upon her mind, and what was once her pride And now her shame, some painful views supplied; Thoughts of the past within her bosom press'd, And there a change was felt, and was confess'd: While thus the Virgin strove with secret pain, Her mind was wandering o'er the troubled main; Still she was silent, nothing seem'd to see, But sate and sigh'd in pensive reverie.

The friends prepared new subjects to begin, When tall Susannah, maiden starch, stalk'd in; Not in her ancient mode, sedate and slow, As when she came, the mind she knew, to know;

Nor as, when list'ning half an hour before,

She twice or thrice tapp'd gently at the door;
But, all decorum cast in wrath aside,

"I think the devil's in the man!" she cried; "A huge tall sailor, with his tawny cheek, "And pitted face, will with my lady speak; "He grinn'd an ugly smile, and said he knew, "Please you, my lady, 't would be joy to you: "What must I answer?". -Trembling and distress d Sank the pale Dinah by her fears oppress'd; When thus alarm'd, and brooking no delay, Swift to her room the stranger made his way.

"Revive, my love!" said he, "I've done thee harm,

"Give me thy pardon," and he look'd alarm: Meantime the prudent Dinah had contrived Her soul to question, and she then revived.

"See! my good friend." and then she raised her

head,

"The bloom of life, the strength of youth is fled; Living we die; to us the world is dead;

"We parted bless'd with health, and I am now

66

Age-struck and feeble -so I find art thou;

“Thine eye is sunken, furrow'd is thy face, [race; "And downward look'st thou

So we run our

"And happier they whose race is nearly run,

"Their troubles over, and their duties done.

"True, lady, true

we are not girl and boy,

"But time has left us something to enjoy."

VOL. IV

"What! thou hast learn'd my fortune? —yes, I

live

"To feel how poor the comforts wealth can give: "Thou too perhaps art wealthy; but our fate "Still mocks our wishes, wealth is come too late."

"To me nor late nor early; I am come

"Poor as I left thee to my native home :

"Nor yet," said Rupert, " will I grieve; 't is mine "To share thy comforts, and the glory thine; "For thou wilt gladly take that generous part "That both exalts and gratifies the heart; "While mine rejoices"- "Heavens!" return'd the

maid,

"This talk to one so wither'd and decay'd? "No! all my care is now to fit my mind "For other spousal, and to die resign'd: "As friend and neighbour, I shall hope to see "These noble views, this pious love in thee; "That we together may the change await, "Guides and spectators in each other's fate; "When, fellow-pilgrims, we shall daily crave "The mutual prayer that arms us for the grave."

Half angry, half in doubt, the lover gazed On the meek maiden, by her speech amazed; “Dinah,” said he, " dost thou respect thy vows? "What spousal mean'st thou ?—thou art Rupert's

spouse;

"The chance is mine to take, and thine to give; "But, trifling this, if we together live: