112
JENNY
AND
JOHNNY.——THE
SUNSET JOURNEY
There were no more talks on books and philosophy that day. I kept my room closely, and
Frits and Margaret were too happy to observe
anything in me except the results of imprudence.
I, of course, gradually recovered from the effects of such severe mental excitement.
I pursued my old round of study, but now generally alone. When Frits was kept in by rainy days, at his feet, or by his side on the sofa, was such a happy little witch, that philosophy would not only have been misplaced, but irksome to all.
At Margaret’s request, I, “her sober little aunt,” acted as bridesmaid. The Sabbath before the marriage, as we were passing from the church, I overheard one lady say to another,
“She to be the bridesmaid? why, I thought she was to have been the bride! and the wicked thought came up, “but for a deed I did one bright morning, years ago, it might have been.”
I owe to that one act the first dawning of a power within me, to throw off the net of sin, which was tangling and involving me inextricably. I am well repaid, though that power, in developing my capacity for enjoyment, also enlarged my capabilities for suffering. For our spiritual perfection we must wear chains of sorrow, must turn aside from the paths of enchantment which selfishness opens, and walk over the thorns, and under the shadows of self-saorifioe, for that only leads us out into the glory of God.
JENNY BY
AND J.
A.
JOHNNY.
TURNER.
Sat in the garden, Jenny,
Flowers about her feet,
Flowers above her, many
Flowers and maiden sweet.
Slumber sweetly closed
Jenny’s drooping lid,
And a theft proposed,
Timid Johnny bid.
Longing. sighed for the honey
Ofl'ered to the bee.
Flowers above her bloomed,
Flowers around her grew,
Never a bower perfumed
Curtains loveller drew.
Softly crept he to her,
Stole a single kiss,
Bashful, timid wooer,
'Mid a world of bliss.
Emeral drapery bound her,
Iild from human eye,
Humming-bird around her,
Bee and butterfly.
Back to his covert hosted
Johnny in a triee;
And the kiss sho tasted
Wukened Jenny nice.
“0h! humming-bird," said Jenny,
“Hover round my lip,
Sweets are wasting, many,
Johnny dare not sip.
"Humming-bird," she spake out,
“Butterfly and hes,
Butterfly, come sip some,
Sip some, honey-bee,
Taste tltls glowing lip, some
Nectar you'll agree."
Why don’t your feast you make out?
Dainty feast to me."
Despite this wasting honey
Ioliliny went to school:
Who’d have thought that Johnny
IIad been such a fool?
Hid near the bower, young Johnny
Peeping from a tree,
THE
SUNSET
JOURNEY.
N. Y. CARTER.
The casement opens to the sunset skies;
A flood of glory bursts on languid eyes!
They kindle In the crimson light!
The pole lips part with glad surprise,
She whispers u with Heaven in sight!
"Mother, around me now thine arms entwine,
One more soft pressure of thy lips to mine,
As token of thy love for me,
Another blessed smile of thins,
And let my ravished soul go free!"
And then the mother clasp: her In her arms,
With love‘s red wine her ebbing life she charms,
She smiles with tenderness once more,
And in her heart of hearts enibulms
The flush of joy the dying wore!
And thus, a blossom of the early May,
In angel loveliness she passed away,
As fades the morning stars from light,
Ere she had known on Autumn day,
Or bid the Summer flowers "good night!"
