按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
they sent to request us to go there。 On our arrival we found them dancing
out of doors； and a most melancholy affair it was。 All the bride's sisters
were not to be recognised； they had cried so。 The mother sat in the house；
and could not appear。 And the bride was sobbing so； she could hardly
stand！ The most melancholy spectacle of all to my mind was； that the
bridegroom was decidedly tipsy。 He seemed rather affronted at all the
distress。 We danced a Monferrino； I with the bridegroom； and the bride
crying the whole time。 The company did their utmost to enliven her by
firing pistols； but without success； and at last they began a series of yells；
which reminded me of a set of savages。 But even this delicate method of
consolation failed； and the wishing good…bye began。 It was altogether so
melancholy an affair that Madame B。 dropped a few tears； and I was very
near it； particularly when the poor mother came out to see the last of her
daughter； who was finally dragged off between her brother and uncle； with
a last explosion of pistols。 As she lives quite near； makes an excellent
… Page 56…
MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS
match； and is one of nine children； it really was a most desirable marriage；
in spite of all the show of distress。 Albert was so discomfited by it； that
he forgot to kiss the bride as he had intended to do； and therefore went to
call upon her yesterday； and found her very smiling in her new house； and
supplied the omission。 The cook came home from the wedding； declaring
she was cured of any wish to marrybut I would not recommend any man
to act upon that threat and make her an offer。 In a couple of days we had
some rolls of the bride's first baking； which they call Madonnas。 The
musicians； it seems； were in the same state as the bridegroom； for； in
escorting her home； they all fell down in the mud。 My wrath against the
bridegroom is somewhat calmed by finding that it is considered bad luck if
he does not get tipsy at his wedding。〃
Those readers of Miss Procter's poems who should suppose from
their tone that her mind was of a gloomy or despondent cast； would be
curiously mistaken。 She was exceedingly humorous； and had a great
delight in humour。 Cheerfulness was habitual with her； she was very
ready at a sally or a reply； and in her laugh （as I remember well） there was
an unusual vivacity； enjoyment； and sense of drollery。 She was perfectly
unconstrained and unaffected： as modestly silent about her productions；
as she was generous with their pecuniary results。 She was a friend who
inspired the strongest attachments； she was a finely sympathetic woman；
with a great accordant heart and a sterling noble nature。 No claim can be
set up for her； thank God； to the possession of any of the conventional
poetical qualities。 She never by any means held the opinion that she was
among the greatest of human beings； she never suspected the existence of
a conspiracy on the part of mankind against her； she never recognised in
her best friends； her worst enemies； she never cultivated the luxury of
being misunderstood and unappreciated； she would far rather have died
without seeing a line of her composition in print； than that I should have
maundered about her； here； as 〃the Poet〃； or 〃the Poetess〃。
With the recollection of Miss Procter as a mere child and as a woman；
fresh upon me； it is natural that I should linger on my way to the close of
this brief record； avoiding its end。 But； even as the close came upon her；
… Page 57…
MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS
so must it come here。
Always impelled by an intense conviction that her life must not be
dreamed away； and that her indulgence in her favourite pursuits must be
balanced by action in the real world around her； she was indefatigable in
her endeavours to do some good。 Naturally enthusiastic； and
conscientiously impressed with a deep sense of her Christian duty to her
neighbour； she devoted herself to a variety of benevolent objects。 Now； it
was the visitation of the sick； that had possession of her； now； it was the
sheltering of the houseless； now； it was the elementary teaching of the
densely ignorant； now； it was the raising up of those who had wandered
and got trodden under foot； now； it was the wider employment of her own
sex in the general business of life； now； it was all these things at once。
Perfectly unselfish； swift to sympathise and eager to relieve； she wrought
at such designs with a flushed earnestness that disregarded season；
weather； time of day or night； food； rest。 Under such a hurry of the
spirits； and such incessant occupation； the strongest constitution will
commonly go down。 Hers； neither of the strongest nor the weakest；
yielded to the burden； and began to sink。
To have saved her life； then； by taking action on the warning that
shone in her eyes and sounded in her voice； would have been impossible；
without changing her nature。 As long as the power of moving about in
the old way was left to her； she must exercise it； or be killed by the
restraint。 And so the time came when she could move about no longer；
and took to her bed。
All the restlessness gone then； and all the sweet patience of her natural
disposition purified by the resignation of her soul； she lay upon her bed
through the whole round of changes of the seasons。 She lay upon her bed
through fifteen months。 In all that time； her old cheerfulness never
quitted her。 In all that time； not an impatient or a querulous minute can
be remembered。
At length； at midnight on the second of February； 1864； she turned
down a leaf of a little book she was reading； and shut it up。
The ministering hand that had copied the verses into the tiny album
… Page 58…
MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS
was soon around her neck； and she quietly asked； as the clock was on the
stroke of one：
〃Do you think I am dying； mamma？〃
〃I think you are very； very ill to…night； my dear！〃
〃Send for my sister。 My feet are so cold。