Alida Part 39

[_A&M_ (previous sequence resumes):

Unwilling to disturb the serenity of his parents, Alonzo did not tell them his troubles; he answered that perhaps all might yet come right, but that as in the present state of his mind he thought a change of situation might be of advantage, he asked liberty of his father to travel for some little time.]

A sorrow unknown before seized upon the minds of his parents as Theodore repeated these words. Sad and dreadful ideas crowded their imagination at this gloomy period, when in the war's dread emergency they must risk the life of an only son, to march to the field of battle. 'Tis true, he might be again restored to them, but were there not a thousand chances to one? They were overwhelmed with sorrow at these thoughts, till at length they finally felt themselves obliged to consent to what they considered his inevitable destiny, leaving the result of their united wishes and prayers for his safe preservation to an over-ruling Providence.

His father then offered him money he had on hand to defray his expenses.

Theodore refused, saying, his resources had not yet left him. He then disposed of his horses and carriages, the insignia of his better days, but now useless appendages.

[_A&M_ (continuing from mid-paragraph):

To this his father consented, and offered him a part of the money he had on hand, which Alonzo refused, saying he did not expect to be long gone, and his resources had not yet failed him.

He then sold off his books, his horses, his carriages, &c. the _insignia_ of his better days, but now useless appendages from which he raised no inconsiderable sum.]

After taking an affectionate leave of his parents, he set out the ensuing day to join his companions on their route to meet the army, which was far distant. When hostilities first commenced, Theodore had said, that when it became actually necessary, and his father's affairs were settled, he would enlist in the service of his country.

Nevertheless, he journeyed with a heavy heart and an enfeebled frame of spirits, through disappointment, vexation, and fatigue. The scenes he had so lately experienced moved in melancholy succession over his mind, and his despondency had not abated, even in a small degree, when he reached the army.

[_A&M_:

He then took a tender and affectionate leave of his parents, and set out for New-London.

Alonzo journeyed along with a heavy heart and in an enfeebled frame of spirits. Through disappointment, vexation, and the fatigues he had undergone in wandering about, for a long time, in search of Melissa, despondency had seized upon his mind....]

[[Middle of paragraph summarizes the earlier "He had an excuse..."

pa.s.sage in _A&M_.]]

He now joined the forces under Colonel Van Renssalaer, "who, with a detachment of about one thousand men, crossed the river Niagara, and attacked the British on Queenstown heights. This detachment succeeded in dislodging the enemy, but not being reinforced by the militia from the American side, as was expected, they were ultimately repulsed, and obliged to surrender. Eight hundred British soldiers now came to the aid of the others, and pressed on to renew the attack. The Americans for a time continued to struggle against this force, but were finally obliged to surrender themselves prisoners of war."

[_Interesting Events_: Battle at Queenstown:

Early in the morning of the 13th of October, 1812, a detachment of about 1000 men, from the army of the Centre, crossed the river Niagara and attacked the British on Queenstown heights. This detachment, under the command of Colonel Solomon Van Rensellaer, succeeded in dislodging the enemy, but not being reinforced by the militia, from the American side, as was expected, they were ultimately repulsed, and were obliged to surrender.

Eight hundred British soldiers, from fort George, now hove in sight, and pressed on to renew the attack. The Americans, for a time, continued to struggle against this force, but were finally obliged to surrender themselves prisoners of war.]

The fate of war was hard for Theodore, on his first expedition. He was taken, and carried among the rest on board a prison-ship, and sent with a number of others to England.

[[This paragraph summarizes the equivalent of several chapters of _Alonzo and Melissa_.]]

This disastrous event, however, was shortly followed by one more fortunate for the Americans. "General Dearborn embarked at Sackett's Harbour, with sixteen hundred men, on an expedition against York, and succeeded in the capture of that place.

[_Interesting Events_: Capture of York:

Gen. Dearborn embarked at Sackett's Harbor, with sixteen hundred men, on an expedition against York....]

"York was the seat of government for Upper Canada, and the princ.i.p.al depot for the Niagara frontier. More naval stores were taken by the Americans than could be carried away. The government hall was burned, contrary to the orders of the American general."

[_Interesting Events_: Capture of York:

... more naval stores were taken by the Americans than could be carried away.... York was the seat of government for Upper Canada, and the princ.i.p.al depot for the Niagara frontier, and Detroit....

In the government hall ... the mace and other emblems of power.

This building was burned, contrary to the orders of the American General.]

CHAPTER XIV.

"See, winter comes," and boisterous on its way, See darkening clouds obscure the cheerful day; Its hollow voice is muttering in the gale, While chilling hail and snow the earth a.s.sail.

[[The phrase in quotation marks is from Thomson's _Seasons_ (see second paragraph, below).]]

Some length of time had elapsed since the family had been settled in the city, and the cool breezes of autumn had changed to the hoa.r.s.e murmuring gales of winter. No sound scarcely was heard except bl.u.s.tering winds, or their whistling murmurs around the angles of the mansion, blended with the more slow, monotonous cadence of the advancing waves of the Hudson.

The evenings were cold, dark, and gloomy, except when the resplendent rays of the moon's mild l.u.s.tre was seen dispensing its light and cheering influence, dissipating, in a material degree, the dreariness of the evenings of this inclement season. Winter had commenced, "sullen and sad, with all his rising train." "Vapours, and clouds, and storms,"

succeeded each other. Instead of copious showers of rain, snow and ice were spread over the pavement in heavy ma.s.ses.

[Thomson: _Seasons_: Winter, first three lines:

See, Winter comes, to rule the varied year; Sullen and sad, with all his rising train; Vapours, and Clouds, and Storms....]

One evening as a storm was approaching, and the winds blew tremendously, and the snow began to fall in abundance, Where now, thought Alida, is Theodore? though the cold may pierce and storms molest him, yet there is no friend to sympathise with him in his distress, or to mitigate the heaviness of his cheerless hours, and shed the rays of gladness over his troubled mind.

[Robert Bloomfield: _The Farmer's Boy; a Rural Poem_ (1798, quoted from 1820): Winter:

_Him_, though the cold may pierce, and storms molest, Succeeding hours shall cheer with warmth and rest; Gladness to spread, and raise the grateful smile,]

How great the contrast is now with his former fortunes, how severe his afflictions! He feels not so much the loss of wealth, but he sighs for the smiles of former a.s.sociates and friends. She looked upon her finger, there was the ring he had given her in happier days. This she vowed to keep and cherish, through every trial and affliction. It was Theodore's last gift. Where was he now? What dangers he may have encountered, and what hardships endured! and what might he not yet have to suffer, ere she should behold him again, if indeed she ever should.

She had not heard from him in a long time. He had promised to write--why was he not faithful to his promise?

[The Merchant's Daughter:

How great the contrast-- how severe her afflictions! She felt not the loss of wealth, she sighed not for the smiles of former a.s.sociates.... She looked upon her finger, there was the plain gold ring-- the only one of all her jewels that she had not parted with-- she vowed she would keep and cherish it through every trial and affliction-- it was George's last gift. Where was he now? What dangers he must have encountered, what hardships endured; and what might he not yet have to suffer before he returned, if indeed he ever should return-- she had not heard from him in a long time; and when he last wrote he was ignorant of her father's failure. Would he be faithful to his plight in this reverse of fortune?]

Thus meditated Alida. At length she articulated in a calmer tone, and her feelings became more composed.

Infinite Ruler of events! Great Sovereign of this ever-changing world! Omnipotent Controller of vicissitudes! Omniscient Dispenser of destinies! In thy hands are all things terrestrial, and the condition of our lives are at thy disposal. The beginning, the progression, and the end is thine. Unsearchable are thy purposes!-- mysterious thy movements!-- inscrutable thy operations! Thy will must be done. To bow in submission to thy decrees, is right:-- for we are unable to scrutinize the past, and incompetent to explore the future.

[_A&M_ (Alonzo speaking):

Infinite Ruler of all events; Great Sovereign of this ever changing world! Omnipotent Controller of vicissitudes! Omniscient Dispenser of destinies! The beginning, the progression, the end is thine.

Unsearchable are thy purposes! mysterious thy movements! inscrutable thy operations! An atom of thy creation, wildered in the mazes of ignorance and woe, would bow to thy decrees. Surrounded with impenetrable gloom, unable to scrutinize the past, incompetent to explore the future--]

Alida had lived retired since she had been in town, although in the midst of gay scenes of every description. The acquaintance she had made were few. Her second mother had no relatives there, except her sister's children, which formed a princ.i.p.al part of her society.

[[_Alida_ page 105 (chapter XIII), referring to Alida's "second mother", says that "her many excellent qualities had endeared her to numerous friends and acquaintances".]]