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Autobiography and other memorials of Mrs. Gilbert (1874)
Autobiography and other memorials of Mrs Gilbert - 1874 Author:Ann Taylor Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CONTENTS OF CHAPTER II. The " Peaked Farm" and its Inmates—Letters to her Husband, Father, and Sister—Cleethorpes—Death of Jane Taylor—Letter of Consolation t... more »o her Mother—Perplexity at Home—Departure from Hull. CHAPTER II. HULL. 1820-1825. " Across its antique portico Tall poplar-trees their shadows throw." Longfellow. " This river has been a terror to many; yea, the thoughts of it also have often frightened me; but now, methinks, I stand easy." BUNYAN. My mother treasured to the end of her life a thick volume, the gift of a friend at Hull. It was then the days of albums, and this was one; but it was rescued from the common fate of such by the use she made of it as a family record. She immediately appealed to the circle at Ongar for a worthy commencement, soliciting a contribution both in pen and pencil from each. A single withered oak leaf with an acorn, in water-colours, its rich yet pathetic tints of decay exquisitely rendered, was one of two drawings by her sister's hand. It was accompanied by the following sadly significant lines,— " A faded leaf! and need the hand that drew Say why from autumn's store it made this choice ? Stranger, the reason would not interest you, And friends, to you the emblem has a voice. " I might have plucked from rich October's bower A fairer thing to grace this chosen spot; A leaf still verdant, or a lingering flower, I might have plucked them, but they pleased me not. " A flower, though drooping, far too gay were found, A leaf still verdant; Oh! it would not do! But autumn shed a golden shower around, And gave me this, and this I give to you. " But should these tints—these rich autumnal dyes, Appear too gay to suit the emblem well, They are but dying tints, the verse replies, A withered leaf, that faded ere ...« less