The Mask of the Red Death - Graham's Magazine, May 1842 — reading text

green—through gay. And the flames of the tripods éxpired. And the green to the orange,—through this again to the Darkness and Decay and the Red Death held illimi- white—and even thence to the violet, ere a decided table dominion over all. SPRING’S ADVENT. BY PARK BENJAMIN. From Winter into Spring the Year has passed The soft, sweet feelings that from lovely forms As calm and noiseless as the snow and dew— Like odors float, receives them to itself The pearls and diamonds which adorn his robes— And fondly garners with a miser’s care, Melt in the morning, when the solar beam Lest in the busy intercourse of life, Touches the foliage like a glittering wand. They, like untended roses, should retain Blue is the sky above, the wave below; No fragrant freshness and no dewy bloom. Slow through the ether glide transparent clouds Just wafted by the breeze, as on the sea To me the coming of the Spring is dear White sails are borne in graceful ease along. As to the sailor the first wind from land Lifting its green spears through the hardened ground When, after some long voyage, he descries The grass is seen; though yet no verdant shields, The far, faint outline of his native coast. United over head in one bright roof,— Rocked by the wave, when grandly rose the gale, Like that which rose above the serried ranks He thought how peaceful was the calm on shore. Of Roman legions in the battle plain— Rocied by the wave, when died the gale away, Defend it from assailing sun and shower. He dreamed of quiet he should find at home. In guarded spots alone young buds expand, So, when I heard the Wintry storm abroad, Nor yet on slopes along the Southward sides So, when upon my window beat the rain, Of gentle mountains have the flowers unveiled Or when I felt the piercing, arrowy frost, Their maiden blushes to the eyes of Day. Or, looking forth, beheld the frequent snow, It is the season when Fruition fails Falling as mutely as the steps of Time, To smile on Hope, who, lover-like, attends I longed for thy glad advent, and resigned Long-promised joys and distant, dear delights. My spirit to the gloom that Nature wore, It is the season when the heart awakes In contemplation of the laughing hours As from deep slumber, and, alive to all That follow in thy train, delicious Spring ! ; i; t ’ é ; | : PROCRASTINATION. i i } | i BY MRS. M. H. PARSONS. ‘ To-morrow, I will do it to-morrow,” was the curse best suited with their present means. Surely Wil- of Lucy Clifton’s life. When a child, she always liam Clifton was not unreasonable, when he looked had it in view to make such charming little dresses forward to a life of domestic happiness, with his —to-morrow. When girlhood came her lessons young and tenderly nurtured bride. He could not were never perfect,—‘‘ only excuse me this once know that her many bright excelling virtues of char- mamma, and I will never put off my lessons again !’ acter would be dimmed, by the growth of the one The pleader was lovely, and engaging, mamma was fault, until a shadow lay on the pathway of his daily weakly indulgent; Lucy was forgiven and the fault life. If mothers could lift the dim curtain of the future, grew apace, until she rarely did any thing to-day, and read the destiny of their children, they would see that could be put off tillto-morrow. She was awife, neglected faults, piercing like sharp adders the and the mother of two children, at the period our bosoms that bore them, and reproach mingling with story commences. the agony, that she, who had moulded their young With a cnltivated mind, most engaging manners, minds, had not done her work aright ! gnd great beauty of form, and features, Lucy had al- It was four years after their marriage, Doctor ready lost all influence over the mind of her husband, Clifton entered the nursery hurriedly. and was fast losing her hold on his affections. She ‘*Lucy my dear, will you have my things in order had been married when quite young, as so many by twelve o’clock? I must leave home for two days, American girls unfortunately are, and with a charac- perhaps longer, if I find the patient I am called to see ts nt Tn ST Lee satenninenememeearenneeenenain a ter scarcely formed, had been thrown into situations very ill.” of emergency and trial she was very unprepared to “Yes, yes! I will see tothem. What shall I do encounter. Her husband was a physician, had been with the child, William, he is so very fretful? How but a year or two in practice, at the time of their I wish I had given him the medicine yesterday ; he marriage. William Clifton was a young man of fine is very troublesome !” abilities, and most excellent character; of quick tem- ‘Tf you think he needs it, give it to him at once ;” per, and impatient, he was ever generous, and ready said her husband abruptly, ‘“‘and don’t I beg Lucy i at emer RL es 5S eating nie ee nn to acknowledge his fault. When he married Lucy, forget my clothes.” He left the room, and Lucy he thought her as near perfection as it was possible tried to hush baby to sleep, but baby would not go, for a woman to be ; proportionate was his disappoint- then the nurse girl who assisted her could not keep ment, at finding the evil habit of procrastination, al- him quiet, and the mother, as she had often been most inherent in her nature from long indulgence, before, became bewildered, and at a loss what to do threatening to overturn the whole fabric of domestic first. happiness his fancy had delighted to rear. There ‘If you please ma’am what am I to get for din- was no order in his household, no comfort by his ner?” said the cook, the only servant they kept in fireside ; and oftimes when irritated to bitter anger, the kitchen, putting her head in at the door, and look- words escaped the husband, that fell crushingly on ing round with a half smile, on the littered room, and the warm, affectionate heart of the wife. The evil] squalling baby. habit of procrastination had ‘‘grown with her growth” ‘Directly, I shall be down directly Betty, I must no parental hand, kind in its severity, had lopped off first get baby to sleep.” the excrescence, that now threatened to destroy her ‘* Very well ma’am,” was the reply, and going peace, that shadowed by its evil consequences her down an hour afterwards, Mrs. Clifton found Betty otherwise fair and beautiful character. In Lucy’s with her feet stretched out and her arms folded one sphere of life there was necessity for much self-exer- over the other, comfortably seated before an open tion, and active superintendance over the affairs of window, intent in watching, and enjoying the move- her household. They lived retired; economy and ments of every passer-by. good management were essential to render the limited *‘ Betty, Betty !” said her mistress angrily, “ have income Doctor Clifton derived from his practice fully you nothing to do, that you sit so idly here ?” adequate to their support—that income was steadily ‘*T waited for orders, ma’am.’”? Dinner was an on the increase, and his friends deemed the day not hour back, Lucy assisted for a short time herself, and far distant, when he would rise to eminence in his then went up stairs to arrange Clifton’s clothes. fe ps he we ee ie a profession. Lucy’s father,a man of considerable Baby was screaming terribly, and Lucy half terrified wealth, but large family, had purchased a house, did yesterday’s work, by giving him a dose of medi- furnished it, and presented it to Lucy ; she was quite cine. So the morning sped on. Clifton came in at willing to limit her visiting circle to a few friends, as the appointed time. |ae