 | Dream life |  |
IV.
The End of Dreams.
A FEEBLE old man, and a young lady, who is just
now blooming into the maturity of womanhood,
are toiling up a gentle slope, where the spring sun lies
warmly. The old man totters, though he leans heavily
upon his cane; and he pants, as he seats himself upon
a mossy rock, that crowns the summit of the slope.
As he recovers breath, he draws the hand of the lady in
his, and with a trembling eagerness he points out an
old mansion that lies below under the shadow of tall
sycamores; and he says—feebly and brokenly,—
“That is it, Maggie,—the old home,—the sycamores,—
the garret,—Charlie,—Nelly”—
The old man wipes his eyes. Then his hand shifts:
little cottage below, heavily overshadowed:—
“That was it, Maggie:—Madge lived there—sweet
Madge,—your mother,”—
Again the old man wipes his eyes, and the lady
turns away.
Presently they walk down the hill together. They
cross a little valley, with slow, faltering steps. The lady
guides him carefully, until they reach a little grave-yard.
“This must be it, Maggie, but the fence is new.
There it is Maggie, under the willow,—my poor
mother's grave!”
The lady weeps.
“Thank you, Madge: you did not know her, but
you weep for me:—God bless you!”
The old man is in the midst of his household. It is
some festive day. He holds feebly his place, at the
head of the board. He utters in feeble tones—a
Thanksgiving.
His married Nelly is there, with two blooming
children. Frank is there, with his bride. Madge—
dearest of all,—is seated beside the old man, watchful
of his comfort, and assisting him, as, with a shadowy
dignity, he essays to do the honors of the board.
The children prattle merrily: the elder ones talk of the
with floating glimpses of glee,—into the cheer, and the
rejoicings.
—Poor old man, he is near his tomb! Yet his
calm eye, looking upward, seems to show no fear.
The same old man is in his chamber: he cannot
leave his chair now. Madge is beside him: Nelly
is there too, with her eldest-born. Madge has been
reading to the old man:—it was a passage of promise
—of the Bible promise.
“A glorious promise,”—says the old man feebly.
“—A promise to me,—a promise to her—poor
Madge!”
—“Is her picture there, Maggie?”
Madge brings it to him: he turns his head; but the
light is not strong. They wheel his chair to the
window. The sun is shining brightly:—still the old
man cannot see.
“It is getting dark, Maggie.”
Madge looks at Nelly—wistfully—sadly.
The old man murmurs something; and Madge
stoops:—“Coming,” he says—“coming!”
Nelly brings the little child to take his hand.
Perhaps it will revive him. She lifts her boy to kiss
his cheek.
The old man does not stir: his eyes do not move:—
they seem fixed above. The child cries as his lips
touch the cold cheek:—It is a tender Spring
flower, upon the bosom of the dying Winter!
—The old man is gone: his dream life is
ended.
| Dream life | |