Page:Bianca, or, The Young Spanish Maiden (Toru Dutt).djvu/2

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BIANCA.
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"I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die."

"I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another."

"We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."

"I said, I will take heed to my ways: that I offend not in my tongue."

"I will keep my mouth as it were with a bridle: while the ungodly is in my sight."

Mr. Smith stopped; father and daughter lifted their eyes; they had arrived at the place of rest.

Now the procession stopped; Miss Garcia stooped down to place a wreath of white roses on the coffin; two small buds fell from the garland to the ground; she took them up and kept them within her hand. 'Twas dead Inez' gift to her; thought she.

They lowered the coffin. The father stood, silent, his eyes half-closed, his lips trembling; was he praying? was he weeping? Bianca’s tears fell silently, drop by drop; sometimes a deep-drawn sigh shook her slight frame; she kept down the sobs in that way. The first lump of earth was thrown over the pale blue colored coffin; it was soon invisible. The grave was filled. Every one went away. Father and daughter stayed some minutes longer; at last Miss Garcia took her father’s hand in her own. "Come away father, come home." He went with her docilely. She turned back her head once more; oh, she longed to go and lay herself down on the newly made grave, and die there.

They came home. The father went straight to the room whence the dear dead had been borne away, where she had pass-