Richer than ever

A sneer upon another’s lip— A foolish, fancied slight, O’er the young summer of our lives Had cast estrangement’s blight;

And courtesy usurped the place Where wedded love should reign— Ah! mocking wealth! thy gauds were flung To such chilled hearts in vain!

There came an hour, the changeful god Revoked his gifts and fled; And Ruin, with her cruel eyes, Sat brooding in his stead.

Then, to my couch at night he came, And with a lingering kiss, Poor girl!” he said, “I never dreamed Thy fate would change like this!

The little fortune leaves is thine— Myself, I will not care, Where this now homeless form may stray, Or what fresh sorrows bear.

Yet hope my aimless life had stirred, Couldst thou have loved as I”— He paused. “Perhaps ’tis better thus;” Yet ended with a sigh.

With joyful tears and broken words, My arms were round him thrown; Oh, ecstasy! what recked I else, If he was all my own!

Now, blessings on my cottage home! Where, when my babe’s at rest, I fling my work aside to go And lean upon his breast;

To press the hands that toil to make My own a happy life; And list unwearied to the voice Which calls me dear, dear wife!