Alida Part 53

To contemplate the inimitable works of Creation, was to him no less pleasing than instructive. Where so many objects arrest the attention, and afford abundance of entertainment, equally calculated to raise in the human breast the most unfeigned offerings of wonder, grat.i.tude and praise to the great Dispenser of benefits to mankind, and the Author of universal existence.

[_NY Weekly_: The School of Nature:

Nature presents to the imagination an inexhausted fund of rational amus.e.m.e.nt. To contemplate the inimitable works of creation, is no less instructive than pleasing. Animate as well as inanimate objects afford an abundance of entertaining ideas, equally calculated to raise in the souls of human beings the most unfeigned offerings of wonder, grat.i.tude, and praise. The gaiety of spring, the smiles of summer, the secundity of autumn, and the dreariness of winter, all combine to celebrate the Author of universal existence.]

The magnificence of the celestial, and the curiosity and variety of the vegetable world, that have properties which, if accurately seen, yield inconceivable astonishment to the eye of the beholder, and confess alike the happy influence of the Deity. It charms in all the genial warmth and softness of spring, when the earth teems with a matchless splendour, when its green hues and universal verdure come forth in all their pristine elegance and enchanting attractions, which constantly afforded the contemplative mind of Albert, an inexhaustible variety of entertaining and useful lessons.

[_NY Weekly_: The School of Nature:

The magnificent and wonderful objects of the celestial, and the curiosity and variety of the vegetable world, as well as the formation of all animals, reptiles, insects, and other productions of Nature, have properties which, if accurately viewed, yield inconceivable astonishment to the beholder.]

[_NY Weekly_: Detraction:

In a word, the whole reign confessed the happy influences of the Deity, and charmed in all the genial softness of the spring.]

[_NY Weekly_: The School of Nature:

When spring, for example, returns with all it's native beauties, as succeeding the gloomy aspect and forbidding horrors of winter; when it teems with a matchless splendour and magnificence; when its green hues and universal verdure come forth in all their pristine elegance, and enchanting attractions.... which would afford him an endless variety of useful and instructive lessons....]

In the meantime his new station in life called him to new responsibilities, and a new field of action, unknown to him before, presented itself, wherein he must act in many different capacities. He was naturally of a domestic turn of mind, and had always declined entering into the constant routine of engagements, to which the most part of the fashionable world, more or less, subject themselves. He avoided all excess and extravagance, in every respect, in which people of this description lose the greater part of their time. He was extremely fond of walking, as he considered gentle exercise the best medicine of life, and he pa.s.sed much of his time in strolling over the fields or in the forest glen, amid the green wood shade, wrapped up in solitary reflection.

[_NY Weekly_: Extraordinary Adventure of a Spanish n.o.bleman:

.... but his grace, who was of a domestic turn, and averse from the vanities of high life, declined entering into any engagement which might subject him to the impertinence, folly, and etiquette, to which the major part of the fashionable world seem to abound, either as servile imitators, or involuntary slaves....]

When the sun was gilding the western hemisphere, and the day shone in all the mildness of the season, enveloped in serious thought and reverie, Albert walked forth among the surrounding shades. "Happy, ye freeborn sons of Columbia," said he, "liberty and plenty now bless your domestic retirements,--War, devastation and wide-wasting rapine have fled your peaceful sh.o.r.es. No dread of destruction to disturb your uninterrupted tranquillity; the exercise of laudable industry can again bring home to each family competency and repose." The clear cerulean sky added a soft beauty to the adjacent landscapes, as he listlessly wandered along the beach. The idle murmuring of the waves upon the sandy sh.o.r.e, the confused gabbling of the waterfowl, and the near view of the full-spread vessel majestically advancing over the white-capped billows, that advanced and receded in gentle monotony, tended to soothe the lone bosom to calmness and quietude.

[_NY Weekly_: The African's Complaint:

Phoebus had immersed his flaming forehead in the Western main--smoothly glided the wild zephyrs.... enveloped in a pleasing reverie, I walked forth amongst the surrounding shades. ----"Happy, ye freeborn sons of Columbia," exclaimed I, "liberty and plenty bless your domestic retirements; war, devastation, and wide-wasting rapine have fled from your peaceful sh.o.r.es--no murderous a.s.sa.s.sin, or night prowling incendiary, carries the hidden dagger of slaughter, or dread torch of destruction to disturb your uninterrupted tranquility....]

[_NY Weekly_: Extract from a Letter to Miss ****:

.... When we sailed gently down the harbour, the clear cerulean of the sky added a softer beauty to the adjacent landscapes.... when listlessly wandering on the rocky beach, the idle murmuring of the waves upon the sandy sh.o.r.e, the confused gabbling of the sea fowl, and the distant view of the "full spread vessel majestically advancing over the white cap'd billows," tended to sooth the sorrows of humanity, and lull the mind to quietude.]

The day ended, and calm evening drew on. The silver rays of the full-orbed moon shed a majesty on each surrounding object. The scene appeared in solemn grandeur; the dusky forest reflected a yellow radiance; and the rolling wonders of the heavens glittered over the head, while awful stillness reigned, interrupted only by the strains of the night-bird, whose melodious notes served to soothe the heart to harmony.

[_NY Weekly_: Extract from a Letter to Miss ****:

The day ended, and still evening drew on. Then did nature appear in silent magnificence; while the silver rays of the full orbed moon shed a majesty on each surrounding object. The lofty summit of the cloud-topt mountain appeared in solemn grandeur; the dusky forest reflected a yellow radiance; and the rolling wonders of the skies glittered over our heads: while the awful stillness that reigned, interrupted only by the lonely strains of the whip-poor-will, served to exalt the soul, and distend the heart.]

Albert returned home with a leisurely step, his feelings were raised in devotional grat.i.tude to that beneficent Being, on whom we depend for every present and future felicity, and who had surrounded us with so many blessings, that conspire to compose the mind to calmness and serenity.

[_NY Weekly_: Chearfulness:

Indeed, true piety is an invaluable treasure; and happy are they who esteem its salutary tendency. It meliorates the morals and disposition, and promotes present and future felicity.]

CHAPTER x.x.x.

Ceux qui ne sont gens de bien qu'en apparence--sont obliges de se contraindre, beaucoup, et de garder de grandes mesures, afin de pa.s.ser pour se qu'ils ne sont pas.

[Abbe Claude Le Ragois: _Instruction sur l'histoire de France et romaine_ (1737): Proverbes ou Sentences:

Ceux qui ne sont gens de bien qu'en aparence, sont obligez de se contraindre beaucoup, & de garder de grandes mesures, afin de pa.s.ser pour ce qu'ils ne sont pas....]

Alida ruminated on her lonely situation. She reflected on former days, and the many happy hours that had gone by for ever, when the roses of health had arrayed her cheeks, and gay thought had filled her fancy, and every object was decked with the charms of fascination, when her heart was unacquainted with sorrow, and experienced serenity and happiness without alloy. She deplored the loss of a kind father; in him she was deprived of a friend, who could never be again supplied to her, and in whose society her mind was in a constant progressive state of improvement. His filial affection, his kindness, his watchful endeavours for her welfare, were evinced by a careful anxiety and pains to enlighten her mind with those qualities and acquirements, that would be most conducive to enlarge her sphere of usefulness in life, and furnish her with the means of rational pleasure, and to blend with her personal appearance the more fascinating charms of a well-improved understanding.

[_NY Weekly_: Essayist No. II:

To review the transactions of former days, the many sportive hours which have long been past.... 'Twas then health and beauty bloomed upon the cheek, and every object was decked with the charms of fascination. 'Twas then the heart ignorant of vice and unacquainted with sorrow or misfortune, enjoyed every pleasure without alloy.]

[Hannah More: On Dissipation:

.... She who dedicates a portion of her leisure to useful reading, feels her mind in a constant progressive state of improvement....]

[[This is the only identified pa.s.sage from Hannah More. The text may have been reprinted in a periodical such as the New-York Weekly.]]

[_NY Weekly_: Domestic Felicity:

.... Maria, who has only completed fourteen, to a beautiful countenance, joins the more fascinating charms of a well-improved understanding....]

She mourned his loss at a residence where every object recalled him continually to her remembrance. She was wholly absorbed in melancholy, and amid these sad ideas that agitated her bosom alternately, Bonville arrived from the neighbouring village, and her attention was for a time diverted, and she was relieved from a train of painful reflections. Her brother had a long conversation with him respecting Theodore, and wondered how it happened that his friend Raymond had never received any intelligence from him.

Bonville seemed much embarra.s.sed at these observations of Albert, and it was some length of time before he made any reply. Then biting his lips, and putting on an air of displeasure, he said that he had actually thought of going to England himself, to trace him out, and ascertain the cause of his strange conduct. Then a.s.suming a look of insignificance, accompanied with several speeches in double entendre, he remained in sullen silence.

The conduct of Theodore certainly, thought Alida, is mysterious and singular, and his long silence is truly unaccountable, and the idea of ever meeting him again with these different impressions, that at present bore sway over her mind, agitated her greatly. In happier days, when her hopes had rested on him in full confidence, she thought herself sufficiently strong to bear every other evil; but to be a.s.sured of his inconstancy, was an idea she could scarcely endure.

Although Albert might decidedly be called a person of discernment, still he had not yet fully discovered the deceptive powers of Bonville, whose many evil propensities were in a manner concealed, by a condescending courtesy and affability; though his mind inherited ill-nature and sarcasm in the extreme.

The sprightliness of his manners, mingled with a certain degree of humour and generous sentiments, occasionally mingling with his discourse, threw a veil over his imperfections, and excited one's admiration.

Albert thought him ungenerous for many scandalous a.s.sertions concerning Theodore, and he still hoped he might again arrive on his native sh.o.r.es, and be able to answer all suggestions to his disadvantage.

Alida had never discerned his real character, therefore she reposed full confidence in all he said. His behaviour to her was respectful, and his exterior extremely prepossessing. He appeared all goodness and benevolence, and ever expressed the most generous sentiments towards those he pretended to censure.

These deceitful appearances were joined with a semblance of piety; and he could at any time make himself appear to advantage, by the display of a variety of superficial knowledge. He was proud to excess, as if he really possessed qualities to be proud of. One would scarcely suppose that such a person could be capable of true attachment, but so it certainly was; that knowing the many imperfections of his own nature, caused him more deeply to revere the opposite qualities in Alida, and the idea of shortly gaining her hand, carried his senses to such a pitch of enthusiasm, that it would not be thought strange to suppose, that the disappointment of his pride would overwhelm him with lasting dismay.

The superior excellence of Theodore furnished a mark for the calumny of Bonville, supposing his own success depended on the disparagement of the other. Thus envy is usually led to asperse what it cannot imitate; and the little mind scandalizes the pre-eminence of its neighbour, and endeavours to depreciate the good qualities that it cannot attain to.

Thus the distempered eye is impatient of prevailing brightness, and by attempting to observe the lucid object, inadvertently betrays its own weakness; and persons of their unhappy complexion, regard all praises conferred upon another, as derogatory from their own value. And a person without merit may live without envy; but who would wish to escape it on these terms!

[_NY Weekly_: Detraction:

Superior excellence is the general mark for calumny; and envy is usually led to asperse what it cannot imitate. A little mind is scandalized at the pre-eminence of its neighbour, and endeavours to depreciate the virtues which it cannot attain to. Thus the distempered eye is impatient of prevailing brightness; and, by attempting to observe the lucid object, inadvertently betrays its own weakness. Pride is the fruitful parent of Detraction; and it is the unjust estimate which men set upon themselves, that generates in their minds this ridiculous contempt of greater worth. Persons of this unhappy complexion regard all praises conferred upon another as derogatory from their own value.]