HESPER, THE HOME-SPIRIT.
A SIMPLE STORY
OF
HOUSEHOLD LABOR AND LOVE.
BY
ELIZABETH DOTEN.
“CHARITY NEVER FAILETH.”
BOSTON:
ABEL TOMPKINS, 38 & 40 CORNHILL,
BROWN, TAGGARD & CHASE,
1859.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, by
A. TOMPKINS,
In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.
BAZIN & CHANDLER,
Electrotypers and Printers,
37 Cornhill, Boston.
PREFACE.
In pursuance of one leading idea, has this littlework been written:—that of giving to true meritits due. The world is ever ready to celebrate theachievements of its conquering heroes, who, accordingto the conceptions of mankind, are noble andgreat, but the patient, persevering heroism of thosein humble life, who struggle hard and suffer long, ispassed by unnoticed. Many such there are whobear their cross of suffering in silence, and go downto the grave with their hard fought battles andmoral victories unhonored and unsung. God andhis angels alone take cognizance of such, or it maybe, some soul who has known a life experience,sends out a warmly gushing fount of sympathy, tocheer these lone wanderers upon their way. It isnot the great and overwhelming sorrows of existence,but the petty, inglorious vexations of daily life,that most severely test the soul’s energies. Theywho can meet such trials with patience and firmness,[iv]gradually obtain the mastery, not only over circumstances,but also over themselves and others. It isone of the eternal laws of God that thus it shall be,and sure it is in its fulfilment, as the promise of hisword. One thing only is needful for a complete andglorious victory, and that is “the love that neverfaileth,” “that seeketh not its own, but another’sgood.” The working of especial wonders and miracles,the dazzling manifestations of genius, and thegreat intellectual attainments which cause the worldto wonder and admire, belong only to the few, butthe power to love is a gift for all, from the highestto the lowest, and the one thing needful is what allmay obtain. Mankind, however, are not contentwith what is so common, but are continually gazingupward for some more glorious manifestation of theHoly Spirit, but not till the “Angels in the House”and “The Home Spirits” are fully known and appreciated,will the celestial beings unveil their lovelycountenances and walk with man as of old. Whenhuman hearts have learned to live and love aright,then will “the kingdom come.” By love alone shallthe world become regenerate and redeemed. Godspeed the day then, when its reign shall be universaland all the nations of the earth shall acknowledgeits sway!
E. D.
Plymouth, December, 1858.