FAITHFUL JEANIE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 23 December 1890, Page 3

FAITHFUL JEANIE.

A TRUE STORY. In 1 heir spring time of life, two fond lovers Both pleasant lo look upon, ! I f;i<l plighted their troth to each other — Sweet -leanie ami handsome John. Their love for a while was unspoken. But it could not long be '.-oncealed ; From heart to lip the .secret h.i.l ; r^sed. And by words was fully re waled. Then like an Eden the world appeared To the happy hopeful pair; With not a cloud to darken the sky. Bright sunshine seemed everywhere. They dwelt in the land of the heather. Blooming purple, on moor and fell; Land of the thistle, and golden gorse, And the bonnie bright blue-bell. No happier pair could be than they When lovingly side by side, They strolled along by the peaceful stream In the pleasant eventide. Or roamed o'er the breezy, heathery hills On a summer's holiday, Or listened entranced to the skylark's songWhile they sat on a sunny brae. As John looked down on the girl's fair face & A proud young lowr was he ; Gaily he talked of their future life, And planned what that life would be. Then with shy sweet smiles did Jeanie look up And think, that th.> sun ne'er shone On nobler features, or kindlier eyes, Than those of her handsome John. Most happy were they — but not for long. Love's joys are oft. n but brief, For when trouble come?-., and lovers must part Their hearts are h avy with grief. It was so with this pair, for time passed on And brought a turn in the tide, So John had to leave old Scotia's shores And sail o'er the ocean wide. To New Zealand"' f>ir isles, where he fondly hoped That forttuk- aiight be more kind, And where e'er li:ng. he might have a good home For the giil \w left behind. A sorrowful time to Jeanie it was, Yet hope, !:k- a bright star, shone In her clouded s . v <nd cheered her oft As she thoj-.K of her absent John. The days and weeks and months pass away To the gay at a rapid rate ; But slowly indeed u> the lonely ones Who tearfully watch and wait. Thus Jeanie with fnthful loving heart. Earnestly k-nged for the day When the weary waiting time would be o'er, And her troubi-.-s would pass away — When the wished IV letter would bid her leave Her friend.-;, mm 1 her native iand And sail o'er the v:.-s, her lover to meet On a far-off Southern strand. But alas ! alas ! for/the fickle heart Of him whom she thought so true ; His old home, ami old love, he soon forgot, For a home and a love both new. And when to the lonely waiting one The cruel tidings had sped, None but her Maker could count the tears Which Jeanie in secret shed. The arrow was keen, and it deeply pierced The poor girl's loving heart, And long was it, e'er the wound was healed Or ceased the grievous smart. But as time went on, at length there came, Mealing, and peace to her mind, Though still her old lover continued to be In her faithful heart enshrined. Bravely she learned to carry her cross, And to bear her heavy load, Tn meek submission unto the will Of her heavenly Father — God. * * ■::■ '*#>:: Year after year rolled on apace, And the two — once young and gay, She in the old home, and he in the new, Were now both old and gray. Full forty years had passed away, The old man's wife had died, And in his trouble he thought of her Who was once his promised bride. He thought with regret how she had been left To struggle alone in life ; And resolved to ask her to come and spend Her last days with him, as his wife. It would be no sacrifice this, he thought For her who loved him to make, As he had heard that Jeanie remained Umvedded still for his sake. He judged her aright, for her loving heart Forgot all its grief and pain, She only thought of the joy it would be To meet her old sweetheart again. Far away from the land of the heather And the bonnie bright blue-bell — Far away from the home of their childhood. And scenes they once loved so well. Those long parted ones — in a New Zealand manse - One day, stood as bridegroom and bride. And solemnly vowed that nothing but death Would them ever again divide. i i The minister knew their story and felt i Deep interest in the pair, s Kindly he looked on the calm sweet face > Of the bride who was still so fair. For though the years had taken away x The bloom and freshness of youth, p They had stamped more deeply upon her brow The beauty of goodness and truth. 1 As soon as the marriage knot was tied fc A smile o'er her sweet face passed, And from heart o'ertlowing with joy, she said ' '• Lontj looked for has come at last." 3 s Then she lovingly looked in her husband's face a While the smile still illumined her own. And Jeanie went forth— a happy wife (1 By the side of her dear old John. 1 foffon, Dt>c. 23rrl. 1800' fl.fl.