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CONSTANCY MISPLACED. 159
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
» Herself With Eijise Its Had With Preci...
I awoke to life after many weeks of unconsciousness ; especially was I indebted to cousin Agneswlio attended my sick bed like a
nay , ministering destined for * e angel ach other . Erom by the our wish childhood of our A parents gnes and ; but I had disliking been
her everything Her quiet like compulsion character , seemed I had hitherto to me emp been ty indifferent and insignificant towards ,
. but in the long days of the almost hopeless illness which succeeded my awakening to consciousness , I learned to appreciate this angel
spirit which gently pursued its own path of usefulness . I discovered the rich inner life beneath the quiet exterior , which drew
its fulness and strength from an inexhaustible source . " I had not forgotten Elise ; your _yoLithful beautiful image
first had weak never feelings left my of -wildest conscious you fevered , life dream but it s , seeme it reapp d to eared stand with at the an
, immeasurable distance , far , far in the misty past , as far away as the strength of my youth and the spirit of my life . I spoke to
Agnes of you , and her quiet eyes rested mildly and kindly upon me when I related to her the events of that spring day , but it
sounded to her also like a fairy tale which had never had any realit . Bslow degrees I recovered , I rejoiced over the newly
• acquired y freedom y of the Fatherland , but it was no longer possible for me to take an active part in its affairs . My father , who was
still in the service of government , wished me to superintend his estate he never expressed his wishes concerning Agnes , but I
felt myself ; that she had become indispensable to my life , and that it was the very mildness and truthfulness of her nature which
enabled her so well to calm my excitable temperament . Still I could not without scruple fulfil my father ' s desires—Elise , I will be
quite candid with you , your lovely image appeared to me now , only as a dream of my youthit was Agnes herself who solemnly
reminded me that those hast ; y words on the morning of our separationand our connection through your brotherhad a deeper
signification , than a dream ; and at her request I made , enquiries after you through the ambassador of your [ Fatherland , as a letter
which I had addressed to your residence , without exactly remembering its name , had remained unanswered . I learned that your
father was dead , and that you were married . Whether this news was strictltrueor the ambassador too desirous of furthering my
father ' s wishe y s , I do not know . I believed his statement at the time , and did not , wish to disturb your peace and domestic _hajypiness .
Agnes however delayed for a long time to become my wife ; it was only after the death of my father , when I was left alone , that she
bestowed her hand upon me . She has remained the _g-ood angel of life . Elise ' s image has accompanied me in unfading beauty
my and youth , and in the fulness of my prosperity and my restored health , I have often prayed to Grod , to bless the morning star of
my youth with peace and joy , even as He has blessed me .
Constancy Misplaced. 159
CONSTANCY MISPLACED . 159
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Citation
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English Woman’s Journal (1858-1864), May 1, 1863, page 159, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ewj/issues/ewj_01051863/page/15/
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