Reveries of a bachelor: or, A book of the heart

Front matter

w^m m m

V^'i

BEYER lES

Preface

XI

As for the style of the book, I have nothing to say for it, except to refer to my title. These are not sermons, nor essays, nor criticisms ; — they are only Eeveries. And if the reader should stumble upon occasional magniloquence, or be worried with a little too much of sentiment, pray, let him remember, — that I am dreaming.

But while I say this, in the hope of nicking off the wiry edge of my reader's judgment, I shall yet stand up boldly for the general tone, and character of the book. If there is bad feeling in it, or insincerity, or shallow sentiment, or any foolish depth of affection betrayed, — I am responsible ; and the critics may expose it to their heart's content.

I have moreover a kindly feeling for these Reveries, from their very private character ; they consist mainly of just such whimseys, and reflections, as a great many brother bachelors are apt to indulge in, but which they are too cautious, or too prudent to lay before the world. As I have in this matter, shown a frankness, and naivete which are unusual, I shall ask a corresponding frankness in my reader , and I can assure him safely that this is eminently one of those books which were " never intended for publication."

^j PREFACE.

In the hope that this plain avowal may quicken the reader's charity, and screen me from cruel judgment,

I remain, with sincere good wishes,

Ik Marvel.

New York, Nov. 1880.

Contents

FIRST REVERIE.

Over a Wood Fire, i"?

I. Smoke, signifying Doubt, . . .21

II. Blaze — Signifying Cheer

I PUSHED my chair back; drew up another; stretched out my feet cosily upon it, rested my elbows on the chair arms, leaned my head on one hand, and looked straight into the leaping, and dancing flame.

Love is a flame — ruminated I ; and (glancing round the room) how a flame brightens up a man's habitation.

" Carlo," said I, calling up my dog into the light, " good fellow, Carlo ! " and I patted him kindly, and he wagged his tail, and laid his nose across my knee, and looked wistfully up in my face ; then strode away, — ^turned to look again, and lay down to sleep.

" Pho, the brute ! " said I, "it is not enough after all, to like a dog."

If now in that chair yonder, not the one

your feet lie upon, but the other, beside you — closer

BLAZE—SIGNIFYING CHEER. 31

yet — were seated a sweet-faced girl, with a prettjr little foot lying out upon the licartli — a bit of lace running round the swelling throat — the hair parted to a charm over a forehead fair as any of your dreams; — and if you could reach an arm around that chair back, without fear of giving offence, and suffer your fingers to play idly with those curls that escape down the neck ; and if you could clasp with your other hand those little white, taper fingers of hers, which lie so temptingly within reach, — and so, talk softly and low in jDresence of the blaze, while the hours slip without knowledge, and the winter winds whistle uncared for; — if, in short, you were no bachelor, Init the husband of some such sweet image — (dream, call it rather,) would it not be far pleasanter than this cold single nightsitting — counting the sticks — reckoning the length of the blaze, and the height of the falling snow ?

And if, some or all of those wild vagaries that grow on your fancy at such an hour, you could whisper into listening, because loving ears — ears not tired with listening, because it is you who whisper — ears ever indulgent because eager to praise ; — and if your darkest fancies were lit up, not merely with bright wood fire, but with a ringing laugh of that sweet face turned up in fond rebuke — how far better, than to be waxing black, and sour, over pestilential humors — alone — your very dog asleep !

And if when a glowing thought comes into your brain, quick and sudden, you could tell it over as to a second self, to that sweet creature, who is not avray, because she loves to be there ,' and if you could watch the thought catching that girlish mind, illuming that fair brow, sparkling in those pleasantest of eyes — how far better than to feel it slumbering, and going out, heavy, lifeless, and dead, in your own selfish fancy. And if a generous emotion steals over you — coming, you know not whither, would there not be a richer charm in lavishing it in caress, or endearing word, upon that fondest, and most dear one, than in patting your glossy coated dog, or sinking lonely to smiling slumbers ?

How would not benevolence ripen with such monitor to task it ! How would not selfishness grow faint and dull, leaning ever to that second self, which is the loved one ! How would not guile shiver, and grow weak, before that girl-brow, and eye of innocence I How would not all that boyhood prized of enthusiasm, and quick blood, and life, renew itself in such presence !

The fire was getting hotter, and I moved into the middle of the room. The shadows the flames made, were playing like fairy forms over floor, and wall, and ceiling.

My fancy would surely quicken, thought I, if such being were in attendance. Surely imagination would be stronger, and purer, if it could have the playful fancies of dawning womanhood to delight it. All toil would be torn from mind-labor, if but another heart grew into this present soul,

BLAZE— SIGNIFYING CHEER. 33

quickening it, warming it, cheering it, bidding it ever, — God speed !

Her face would make a halo, rich as a rainbow, atop of all such noisome things, as we lonely souls call trouble. Her smile would illumine the blackest of crowding cares ; and darkness that now seats you despondent, in your solitary chair for days together, weaving bitter fancies, dreaming bitter dreams, would grow light and thin, and spread, and float away, — chased by that beloved smile.

Your friend — poor fellow ! — dies : — never mind, that gentle clasp of lier fingers, as she steals behind you, telling you not to weep — it is worth ten friends !

Your sister, sweet one, is dead — buried. The worms are busy with all her fairness. How it makes you think earth nothing, but a spot to dig graves upon !

It is more : sAe, she says, will be a sister ;

and the waving curls as she leans upon your shoulder, touch your cheek, and your wet eye turns

to meet those other eyes God has sent his angel,

Burely !

Your mother, alas for it, she is gone ! Is there any bitterness to a youth, alone, and homeless, like this !

But you are not homeless ; you are not alone : %lie is there ; — her tears softening yours, her smile lighting yours, her grief killing yours ; and you live again, to assuage that kind sorrow of hers.

Then — those children, rosy, fair-haired ; no, they do not disturb you with their prattle now — • they are yours ! Toss away there on the greensward — never mind the hyacinths, the snowdrops, the violets, if so be any are there ; the perfume of their healthful lips is worth all the flowers of the world. No need now to gather wild bouquets to love, and cherish : flower, tree, gun, are all dead things ; things livelier hold your soul.

And she, the mother, sweetest and fairest of all, watching, tending, caressing, loving, till your own heart grows pained with tenderest jealousy, and cures itself with loving.

You have no need now of any cold lecture to teach thankfulness: your heart is full of it. No need now, as once, of bursting blossoms, of trees taking leaf, and greenness, to turn thought kindly, and thankfully ; for ever, beside you, there is bloom, and ever beside you there is fruit, — for which eye, heart, and soul are full of unknown, and unspoken, because unspeakable, thank-offering.

And if sickness catches you, binds you, lays you down — no lonely moanings, and wicked curses at careless stepping nurses. The step is noiseless, and yet distinct beside you. The white curtains are drawn, or withdrawn by the magic of that other presence ; and the soft, cool hand is upon your brow.

No cold comfortings of friend-watchers, merely come in to steal a word away from that outer world which is pulling at their skirts ; but, ever, the sad,

BLAZE— SIGNIFYING CHEER. 35

shaded brow of her, whose lightest sorrow for your sake is your greatest grief, — if it were not a greater joy.

The blaze was leaping light and high, and the wood falling under the growing heat.

So, continued I, this heart would be at

length itself ; — striving with everything gross, even now as it clings to grossness. Love would make its strength native and progressive. Earth's cares would fly. Joys would double. Susceptibilities be quickened ; Love master itself ; and having made the mastery, stretch onward, and upward toward Infinitude.

And if the end came, and sickness brought that follower — Great Follower — which sooner or later is sure to come after, then the heart, and the hand of Love, ever near, are giving to your tired soul, daily and hourly, lessons of that love which consoles, which triumphs, which circleth all, and centereth in all — Love Infinite, and Divine !

Kind hands — none but Tiers — will smooth the hair upon your brow as the chill grows damp, and heavy on it ; and her fingers — none but hers — ^will lie in yours as the wasted flesh stififens, and hardens for the ground. Her tears, — you could feel no others, if oceans feU — will warm your drooping features once more to life ; once more your eye lighted in joyous triumph, kindle in her smile, and then

The fire fell upon the hearth ; the blaze gave a last leap — a flicker — then another — caught a little remaining twig — blazed up — wavered — ^went out.

There was nothing but a bed of glowing embers, over which the white ashes gathered fast. I was alone, with only my dog for company.