The bridal is a home-crisis. It is the breaking up of home-ties and
communion, a separation from home scenes, a lopping off from the parent
vine, an engrafting into a strange vine, and alas! too often, into a
degenerate vine. As the youthful bride stands beside her affianced husband,
to be wedded to him for life, and reflects that the short ceremonial of
that occasion will tear her forever from the loved, objects and scenes of
her childhood-home, what tears of bitter sorrow adorn the bridal cheek, and
what pungent feelings are awakened by her last farewell!
"'I leave thee, sister! we have played
Through many a joyous hour,
Where the silvery gleam of the olive shade
Hung dim o'er fount and bower.'
"Yes! I leave thee, sister, with all that we have enjoyed together; I leave
thee in the memory of our childhood-haunts and song and prayer. We cannot
be as we have been. I leave thee now, and all that has bound us together as
one; and hereafter memory alone can hail thee, and will do so with her
burning tear; therefore, kind sister, let me weep!
"I leave thee, father! Eve's bright moon,
Must now light other feet,
With the gathered grapes, and the lyre in tune,
Thy homeward steps to greet."
"Yes, I leave thee, father! I receive thy last blessing; no longer shall
thy protecting hand guide me; no longer shall thy smile be music to my ear.
I leave thee, oh, therefore, let me weep!
"'Mother! I leave thee! on thy breast,
Pouring out joy and woe;
I have found that holy place of rest
Still changeless--yet I go!"
"Yes, I go from thee, mother! Though you have watched over me in helpless
infancy with all a mother's love and care, and 'lulled me with your
strain;' and though earth may not afford me a love like yours; yet I go!
Oh, therefore, sweet mother, let me weep!"
"'Oh, friends regretted, scenes forever dear
Remembrance hails you with her burning tear;
Drooping she bends o'er pensive fancy's urn,
To trace the hours which ne'er can return.
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