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 848 HISTORY OF a heart, dearer to him than his own life, already heaving with anguish. Harriet, Harriet, I must leave you. To the tender care of the- '■ widow's G-od,^ I now commend you. In His hands you are safe, and may He protect and watch over you and our child, until in His own good time we meet again. Farewell and the next moment Colonel L. sprang into his carriage, and was fast receding from those who loved him devotedly, sin- cerely. Amid the ever-changing scenes he was called to realize, the image of his lovely wife and child was ever with him, serving as a beacon-light to cheer and guide the husband and father, during his lonely pilgrimage. Could Mrs. L. he forgetful ? No. Sweet thoughts of her husband would steal over her mind, ravishing her senses with love and beauty, and causing her heart to grow fonder and fonder, and long more and more for the companionship of an absent dear one. Soon after Colonel L.^s departure, Mrs. L. occupied her time in teaching a select school, that afterwards laid the foun- dation for the Delaware Academy. TMs served in a great measure to dispel her loneliness. Great was her joy when- ever she received messages from her husband, filled as they were, with fond regrets and tender recollections. He revealed his heart fully to his wife, and she read therein naught but constancy and affection. Her letters in turn, were such as would inspire his magnanimous soul with confidence, and so deeply was his mind absorbed in their contents, that he seemed to forget his cares and perplexities— I had almost said, their very existence.