Alida Part 25

He received his children with gladness and joy, and Theodore with friendly politeness.

[_A&M_:

Her cousin waited on Alonzo to the ball, and introduced him to Melissa, who received him with politeness.]

"This meeting must be highly pleasing to you, miss," said Theodore to Alida, "after your long absence from home." "It is so, indeed," replied she, "and highly gratifying to my father, to meet here his children, and relations, on the annual occasion of celebrating his birth-day, when we are honoured with so numerous a company of uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews, and nieces, that one would suppose we were connected with half the families in the state. And sometimes they do not all leave us, in several weeks afterwards, and regale themselves in riding about the country and visiting the neighbours in the vicinity."

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"We have been thronged with company for several days, [said Melissa]

once a year my father celebrates his birth day, when we are honored with so numerous a company of uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews and nieces, that were you present, you would suppose we were connected with half the families in Connecticut.]

In the course of the evening they were joined by a number from the neighbouring villages, and among the rest was the son of a gentleman who had been long acquainted with the family. He was a gay young man; his address was easy; his manners rather voluptuous than refined; confident, but not ungraceful.

[_A&M_:

Melissa's partner at the ball was the son of a gentleman of independent fortune in New-London. He was a gay young man, aged about twenty five. His address was easy, his manners rather voluptuous than refined; confident but not ungraceful.]

He led the ton in fashionable circles, and was quite a favourite with the ladies generally. His name was Bonville. He had seen Alida long before, but her additional graces since that time appeared far to exceed his expectations.

[_A&M_:

He led the ton in fashionable circles; gave taste its zest, and was quite a favorite with the ladies generally. His name was Beauman.]

Alida at sixteen displayed many pleasing attractions. Her height rose to the majestic. She was tall and graceful, and her expressive features were adorned with hair of light auburn, which hung about her neck in natural ringlets; while her dark blue eyes, mingled at once the rays of sprightly intelligence, and a pleasing affability.

[_A&M_:

Melissa, the sister of Edgar, was about sixteen years of age.]

[[The phrase "her height rose to the majestic" is widely quoted from Robertson's _History of Scotland_, describing Mary Queen of Scots.]]

[Mrs. Sherwood: _Lady of the Manor_:

her brown hair hanging in natural ringlets about her neck....

her eyes were dark blue, and sparkling with intelligence, and her head, before she was half a year old, was adorned with the most abundant ringlets of the richest auburn hair.]

She was arrayed on this occasion, in a dress of white muslin, richly inwrought with needle-work. A silk embroidered sash surrounded her waist, and she wore on her head a wreath of artificial flowers. Her elder sisters manifested their pleasure in beholding the artless, unadorned school-girl, metamorphosed to the interesting young lady of fascinating manners and amiable deportment.

[_A&M_:

She was dressed in white embroidered and spangled with rich silver lace; a silk girdle, enwrought and ta.s.seled with gold, surrounded her waist; her hair was unadorned except by a wreath of artificial flowers, studded by a single diamond.]

[_A&M_ (different scene):

She was dressed in a flowing robe of white muslin, embroidered with a deep fringe of lace.]

Social converse and rural amus.e.m.e.nts took up the greater part of the evening, when the general conversation of the gentlemen turned upon a topic in which they were all more or less interested, on what might be the unhappy result of the present contest, in which the American nation was engaged, which continued to engross their thoughts, and it was a late hour when the company separated.

Those who remained behind accompanied Alida on the next Sabbath to the village church, where they heard an able and sublime discourse delivered by the parish minister; highly edifying to the understanding and improving to the minds of the hearers.

This divine was fully competent in the possession of Christian principles and knowledge for his arduous calling, and had a happy talent of conveying them to others with effect, and communicating them in persuasive eloquence, for the benefit and reformation of mankind.

His powers of intellect and sentiments were no less liberal and enlarged, than they were ingenious and elegant. His aspect was serene, and his manners were cheerful, and the unruffled calmness of his mind bore the same character of exalted excellence, and gave testimony of a peaceful bosom, rich in good works.

[_NY Weekly_: Select Reflections On Education:

He who is conversant with the best Greek and Roman writers, with a Plato, a Xenophon, and a Cicero, must imbibe, if he be not deficient in the powers of intellect, sentiments no less liberal and enlarged than ingenious and elegant.]

He manifested a lively interest in the welfare of his congregation, and by his genuine goodness and pious example made many proselytes.

It was his endeavour to unite the minds of the people in one interest, and excite them to be zealous in the common cause of Christianity, where each individual, acting for the benefit of the whole, would find their own happiness blended with that of society in general, and be blessed in the reciprocal communication of charity and benevolence.

CHAPTER VII.

"Come, Friendship, twine a wreath for me, And weave it with the choicest flowers, To cheat the ling'ring steps of time, And gladden all life's pa.s.sing hours."

The time now arrived when Theodore was to enter upon his professional studies, and he became engaged in the office of an eminent attorney in New-York. He frequently absented himself, however, to accompany Albert to visit his father's family, and since his acquaintance with Alida, there was a charm that attracted him thither. If he had admired the manly virtues of the brother, could he fail to adore the gentle graces of the sister? If all the sympathies of the most ardent friendship had been drawn forth toward the former, must not all the softer sensibilities of the heart be attracted by the milder and more refined excellencies of the other?

[_A&M_ (beginning of continuous text):

The time now arrived when Edgar and Alonzo were to part. The former repaired to New-York, where he was to enter upon his professional studies. The latter entered in the office of an eminent attorney in his native town, which was about twenty miles distant from the village in which lived the family of Edgar and Melissa. Alonzo was the frequent guest of this family; for though Edgar was absent, there was still a charm which attracted him thither. If he had admired the manly virtues of the brother, could he fail to adore the sublimer graces of the sister. If all the sympathies of the most ardent friendship had been drawn forth towards the former, must not the most tender pa.s.sions of the soul be attracted by the milder and more refined excellencies of the other?]

Bonville had become the admirer of Alida; of course he and Theodore sometimes met. He had made no serious pretensions, but his particularity indicated something more than fashionable politeness. His manners, his independent situation, ent.i.tled him to respect. "It is not probable, therefore, that he will be objectionable to her friends, or to Alida herself," said Theodore, with an involuntary sigh, and as his visits became more frequent, an increasing anxiety took place in his bosom. He wished her to remain single; the idea of losing her by marriage, gave him inexpressible regret. What subst.i.tute could supply to him the happy hours he had pa.s.sed in her company? What charm could wing the lingering moments when she was gone?

[_A&M_:

Beauman had become the suitor of Melissa; but the distance of residence rendered it inconvenient to visit her often. He came regularly once in two or three months, of course Alonzo and he sometimes met. Beauman had made no serious pretensions, but his particularity indicated something more than fashionable politeness.

His manners, his independent situation, his family, ent.i.tled him to respect. "It is not probable therefore, that he will be objectionable to Melissa's friends, or to Melissa herself," said Alonzo, with an involuntary sigh.

But as Beauman's visits to Melissa became more frequent, an increasing anxiety took place in Alonzo's bosom. He wished her to remain single; the idea of losing her by marriage, gave him inexpressible regret. What subst.i.tute could supply the happy hours he had pa.s.sed in her company? What charm could wing the lingering moments when she was gone?]

How different would be the scene when debarred from the unreserved friendship and conversation of Alida. And unreserved it could not be, were she not exclusively mistress of herself. But was there not something of a more refined texture than friendship in his predilection for the company of Alida? If so, why not avow it? His prospects, his family, and of course his pretensions might not be inferior to those of Bonville.

[_A&M_:

How different would be the scene when debarred from the unreserved friendship and conversation of Melissa! And unreserved it could not be, were she not exclusively mistress of herself. But was there not something of a more refined texture than friendship in his predilection for the company of Melissa? If so, why not avow it? His prospects, his family, and of course his pretensions might not be inferior to those of Beauman.]

But perhaps he was preferred. His opportunities: his prior acquaintance with the lady. Distance was no barrier to his addresses. His visits became more and more frequent. Was it not then highly probable that he had gained her affections?

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