A House to Let

BER

ok’d dark

and narr

sound of

amp of pas

r glow of

ring mist

how slow

ay’s cheer

I

the sul

the drea

er drop,

rkening w

the heart

that wi

r of her li

o fade

I

hat had bee

he snare

and ear

m and stead

eigh’d dow

ering now

ath now see

her grie

V

t, Truth,

nd save t

ading wide

her the

ng from t

nown days

on them t

her soul

t how in h

was giv

mn promi

so well

er broth

een help

his arti

lm streng

I

life’s fre

on and fi

soothed a

rue sist

e hopes h

his sak

at strange

d her as

I

flower that b

sigh, sof

bling spr

’s murmur

ow of th

or twili

ey were, w

ng them

I

year as i

ll, fever

till more

ish care

alm joy

ght him t

m with wis

with ten

X

her life,

ius, on

thing to

herewith

t words had

could n

had fill’

nge and w

him for

t indee

ave cost s

this vi

er faith?

nd in he

ed all th

a dream

I

within

f land w

ch might ha

ich might

not the

y ebb a

tself had

had le

I

r heart t

e well-k

ed this bri

d her fo

s of sorr

reproach

a farewel

of cold

I

was the st

ed her so

the words

so cold,

t had she

hat God

choose eart

aside fro

I

as it thi

ong, fear

the work

d be year

a crue

reat suffe

O, still m

own wor

V

repent?

we ling

hy loving

thy gen

ears fall

onate mur

upon he

th, and lov

V

burns mor

has pas

will see

s home

Bertha g

bly tend

a fonder

his gold

BER

dio is

and brus

rests on

t is sca

e — who se

er depth

ound that

s a dumb

I

feels it

thless, s

he dreadf

te brings

oung life,

il, and

at migh

ds the ho

I

when the s

he uppe

s not Be

e close-s

r all — he

ng in th

nge myste

her from

V

one week

have chan

ot died h

n by one q

months h

g relentl

hat shrink

ss, hopel

gle was s

tmas Eve h

still wer

e wounded

rt — who,

d no inwar

in pride a

is fair y

I

ejoice, an

his eyes

he thus co

she gav

right life w

nd joyo

, check

, Too late

I

ould she ha

ort week

life was

ing hers

— O sad

t have bee

t,” should

le vain

I

d her no

it grew m

h a start

a wonder

his wife be

durst Ber

hen quick

the young w

X

ng talks b

sh times

of future

must reac

ere her pu

th unerr

the worthl

re refi

but sure

oor jeal

all’d love

tha from

e of nerv

their alt

a check t

n to hi

I

he least;

eaded, KNE

his natur

nd power, a

’d the da

his nob

weak purpo

r, weak

I

when he

words she

be hers,

of one s

care is a

prayer mu

hey learn

eir mothe

I

at last:

old stiffe

ing plead

her un

with sole

but tremb

life hen

devote

I

is ove

t remain

s the frig

sobbing

ak child wi

an dare

sends a

rt each

ER T

e is all

im eveni

e figur

rom room

ing at ea

thering

r heart t

ne joy

I

an earnes

who onw

ith weary

the comi

a deepe

ore strong,

it who lo

for what

I

hearth sh

ch well-kn

om every

on eve

ese months b

more yea

mas Eve sha

one and

V

ul, wayw

irst weeks

k and fin

soothing,

a — last

n-heart c

hing stil

or Herbe

h her weste

ian isla

news tha

his home

it — joy,

hey — hopes

her cheeks

her eyes

I

And who

and hear

ast hours;

and love

came; a

heart, a

n by other’

t upon hi

I

he voice

true car

d to watch

revivin

hat little

gloom pa

ight hour

he livel

I

d. The gol

n heat b

right, glow

scorchi

and sound

the warm

he honey’

the wings

X

ht hour, b

al, Bert

e fresh swe

that Leon

en’d doors

p through

appealing

tha from

s there; a

r the op

r heart’s q

and paused

ice Dora’s

ing — Yes

the words —

had heard

I

ha blame he

der answ

was far

or dream

e sure he

h the one

a lifeti

oul and on

I

a plaintiv

d once b

d Bertha —

is far

and I,

I fanc

brief d

r,— lon

I

he Past a

eak moment

As some los

ck flash

gulf be

zy, sick

tch backward

r chasm

I

ht grew st

nt flowers

shone out

leam’d down

pass’d i

ir new-f

uld think o

tha was

V

and calmly

hey strov

t’s memor

f upon

o wonder sh

ng could

was not le

er not m

V

not hear

e in word

t calm summ

ert — mi

have once

day sha

st one: she

t — mine o

V

tmas Eve

tha sta

r, greet

smilin

the gloo

tha pale

he house

er out

II

nay, not s

its work

ass’d throu

still pur

there wait

est nob

ile, God is

her own t

er had done reading it; but I could not say that it tended in

t evening, as being in his usual spirits. And though he declared that he was not in the least daunted by his want of success thus far, and that he w

boldly asked for leave of absence for two days, and for a morning to himself afterwards, to complete the business, in which he solemnly declared that I was interested. In remembrance of his long a

is head was in a flannel petticoat; a green shade was over his eyes; the rheumatism was in his legs; and a mustard-poultice was on his chest. He was also a little feverish, and rathe

mised explanation began, like Jarber’s discoveries, with the reading of a written paper.