[The following brief passage is from our story, "The Wife," in theseries "Maiden," "Wife," and "Mother."]
A NEW chord vibrated in Anna's heart, and the music was sweeter farin her spirit's ear, than any before heard. She was changed.Suddenly she felt that she was a new creature. Her breast was filledwith deeper, purer, and tenderer emotions. She was a mother! A babehad been born to her! A sweet pledge of love lay nestling by herside, and drawing its life from her bosom. She was happy--how happycannot be told. A mother only can feel how happy she was on firstrealizing the new emotions that thrill in a young mother's heart.
As health gradually returned to her exhausted frame, and friendsgathered around her with warm congratulations, Anna felt that shewas indeed beginning a new life. Every hour her soul seemed toenlarge, and her mind to be filled with higher and purer thoughts.Before the birth of her babe, she suffered much more than even herhusband had supposed, both in body and mind. Her spirits were oftenso depressed that it required her utmost effort to receive him withher accustomed cheerfulness at each period of his loved return. But,living as she did in the ever active endeavour to bless others, shestrove daily and hourly to rise above every infirmity. Now, all waspeace within--holy peace. There came a Sabbath rest of deep,interior joy, that was sweet, unutterably sweet. Body and spiritentered into this rest. No wind ruffled the still, bright waters ofher life. She was the same, and yet not the same.
"I cannot tell you, dear husband! how happy I am," she said, a fewweeks after her babe was born. "Nor can I describe the differentemotions that pervade my heart. When our babe is in my arms, andespecially when it lies at my bosom, it seems as if angels were nearme."
"And angels are near you," replied her husband. "Angels loveinnocence, and especially infants, that are forms of innocence. Theyare present with them, and the mother shares the blessed company,for she loves her babe with an unselfish love, and this the angelscan perceive, and, through it, affect her with a measure of theirown happiness.
"How delightful the thought! Above all, is the mother blessed. Shesuffers much--her burden is hard to bear--the night is dark--but themorning that opens upon her is the brightest a human soul knowsduring its earthly pilgrimage. And no wonder. She has performed thehighest and holiest of offices--she has given birth to an immortalbeing--and her reward is with her."
Hartley had loved his wife truly, deeply, tenderly. Every day, hesaw more and more in her to admire. There was an order, consistency,and harmony in her character as a wife, that won his admiration. Inthe few months they had passed since their marriage, she had filledher place to him, perfectly. Without seeming to reflect how sheshould regulate her conduct toward her husband, in every act of herwedded life she had displayed true wisdom, united with unvaryinglove. All this caused his heart to unite itself more and moreclosely with hers. But now, that she held to him the twofoldrelation of a wife and mother, his love was increased fourfold. Hethought of her, and looked upon her, with increased tenderness.
"Mine, by a double tie," he said, with a full realization of hiswords, when he first pressed his lips upon the brow of his child,and then, with a fervour unfelt before, upon the lips of his wife."As you have been a good wife, you will be a good mother," he added,with emotion.
THE END.
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