The Freemason's Daughter: A Novel — page 288: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE FREEMASONS DAUGHTER. 281 Dear mother, smile as once you amiled— Your lightest frown my spirits chill ; Embrace once more your wayward child, For, mother, I will do your will: I’ll listen to the rich one’s vow, And meet the world’s reproving gaze— Who'll see the blush upon my brow, Beneath the sparkling diamond’s blaze? Yes, mother, I'll return each gift; Why should I weakly keep one token, Since life’s young bark is now adrift, And heart and faith alike are broken P There, take the chain—he little thought How worthless was the faith it bound; That woman’s love could ere be bought— Her promise but an empty sound. And there the ring, and there the flower— What have I done? Return the last— "Twas given in an earnest hour, And holiest spells are round it cast. *T was given with the heart’s warm vow, "Twas the first gift he ever gave; I thought ’twould grace my bridal brow— At least, ’twill serve to deck my grave. Then, mother, smile as once you smiled— Your lightest frown my spirits chill ; Embrace once more your wayward child, For, mother, I will do your will. The rest of the evening was cheerfully spent; William and Mary were perfectly happy, and poor Amy would have felt happy too, if, like her friend, she had had by her side the being to whom she had given the richest treasure in woman’s power to bestow—the first love of a young unsullied heart. COniiclooecl —_) SS (SO