To charge of Antoinette?
That she is often light it says
Fickle, mad, & a coquette
And is it so?
Oh yes! but know
So nice the line her fancy draws
Her very slights
Create delights
And Cato’s self would smile applause
Sense, it says, her royal head
Does not over burden much,
Adulation too, tis said
Easily her soul can touch;
And is it so?
Oh yes! but know
So well she manages the matter
The Gods on high
Would leave the sky
And come on earth, her charms to flatter
If for business or for pleasure
The hour, by herself be set
One may wait, tis said, her leisure
Tis a trifle to forget,
And is it so?
Oh yes! but know
That when one next beholds her face
All wrongs, adieu!
Delights renew.
And Time flies on with swifter pace—
That “_I_” & “_me_” fill all discourse
And _self_ runs on supremely
Tis said she finds no other source
She loves herself _extremely_
And is it so?
Oh yes! but know
The case is just you’ll find
What blame to prove
That she should love
What’s lov’d by all mankind?
About 1823
[Illustration:
PL. XXXVII.—SAMPLER OF MARY ANN LEWIS
]
REV. DR. BEECHER’S DESCRIPTION OF NIAGARA FALLS.
Approaching the falls from Buffalo on the Canadian shore, the first
indication of our proximity to them was a hoarse rumbling, which was
scarcely audible at the distance of four or five miles, but which
opened upon the ear as we advanced, with increasing roar, until at the
distance of three miles, it became loud as the voice of many waters, a
column of mist in the mean time descending as smoke from a pit marked
more definitely than sound could do, the exact position of this scene
of wonders, the sublime arising from obscurity was now experienced in
all its power, it did not appear what we should see, but imagination
seized the moment to elevate and fill the mind with expectation and
majestic dread. Within a mile of the falls the river rolls smoothly
along in rapid silence, as if unconscious of its approaching destiny,
till at once across its entire channel it falls the apparent distance
of 10 or 12 feet, when instantly its waters are thrown into
consternation and foam & boil & whirl & run in every direction, as if
filled with instinctive dread, at this place the shore recedes, and
allows the terrific waters to spread out in shallows over an extent
twice as broad as the natural channel of the river—A portion of the
waters as if hoping to escape, rushes between the American shore and
the island, (whose brow forms a part of the continued cliff which on
either side constitutes the fall), and too late to retreat discovering
the mistake hurries down the precipice and is dashed on the rocks
below. This is the highest part of the fall, and broadest, nearly
approaching to the beautiful; the waters being shallow and the sheet
entirely white below.
Another large sheet of contiguous water on the other side of the
island undecoyed by appearances and apparently desperate by an
infallible premonition, attempts no evasion, but with tumult & roar,
rushes on and thunders down the precipice which stretches about half
across to the Canadian shore. The rest and the largest portion of the
river, as if terrified by the fate of its kindred waters, retires a
little but scarcely is the movement made before the deep declivities
of the river’s bed summons the dispersion of waters into one deep dark
flood which rolls its majestic tide upon the destruction below. The
shallow waters, which as yet have escaped, cling terrified to the
Canadian shore, reconnoitering every nook and corner in quest of some
way to escape, but their search is fruitless, and they come round at
length reluctantly, and are dashed upon the death they had so long
struggled to escape.
It is at the junction of these two sides of the cataract, nearly in
the form of two sides of a triangle, rounded at the point, that the
most powerful sheet of water falls. The depth of the water in the
channel above & as it bends over the precipice cannot from the nature
of the case be ascertained. I should judge from the appearance that it
might be from 15 to 20 feet—The color of the part of the stream is
black, as it bends over the cliff and descends, at the intersection of
the two sides and for several rods on either hand it becomes a deep
and beautiful green which continues till the column is lost in the
cloud of mist that ascends before it. With respect to the impression
made by the view of the falls, it may be observed that whoever
approaches them anticipating amazement at the descent of the water
from a giddy height will be disappointed. It is the multitude of
waters and their power as they roll & foam & thunder which arrests the
step, suspends the breath, dilates the eye, lifts the hand and fills
the soul with wonder. It seems to be the good pleasure of God that men
shall learn his omnipotence by evidence addressed to the senses as
well as the understanding & that there shall be on earth continued
illustrations of his mighty power, of creation, we ascertain by faith
& not by sight; the heavenly bodies though vast and distant roll
silently in their courses. But the earth by its quakings, the volcano
by its fires, the ocean by its mountain waves and the floods of
Niagara by the majesty of their power and ceaseless thunderings
proclaim to the eye & to the ear & to the heart the omnipotence of
God. From their far distant sources & multitudinous dispersions He
called them into the reservoirs of the North & bid them hasten their
accumulating tide to this scene of wonders, & for ages the obedient
waters have rolled and thundered his praise. It is as has been stated,
where the two lines of the precipice meet, that the deepest and most
powerful sheet of water falls, but it is here also, just where the
hand of Omnipotence is performing its greatest wonders that the
consummation of the work is hid. What the phenomena are when the
stupendous torrent strikes at the foot of the falls, no mortal eye
hath seen, a mist rising to nearly half the height of the fall, is the
veil beneath which the Almighty performs his wonders alone, and there
is the hiding of his power. This is the spot upon which the eye
wishfully fixes and tries in vain to penetrate, over which the
imagination hovers, but cannot catch even a glympse to sketch with her
pencil. This deep recess is the most sublime and awful scene upon
which my eye was ever fixed. There amid the thunderings & in solitude
& darkness, from age to age Jehovah has proclaimed, I am the Almighty
God.
In beholding this deluge of created Omnipotence the thought, how
irresistible is the displeasure of God, rushes upon the soul. It
requires but a little aid of the imagination to behold in this
ceaseless flow of waters, the stream of his indignation which shall
beat upon the wicked in the gulf below the eternal pit, & in the cloud
of exhalations, the smoke of their torments which ascendeth up forever
& ever. And nothing but the warbling of unearthly voices seems
necessary to make one feel that hell and destruction is uncovered
before him.
[Illustration:
PL. XXXVIII.—LOUISA C. LEWIS
From pencil sketch
]
With these associations, all is dark and terrific & dreadful, till
from the midst of this darkness and these mighty thunderings the bow,
brilliant type of mercy, arises, and spreads its broad arch over the
agitated waters, proclaiming that the Omnipotence which rules the
stream, is associated with mercy as well as with justice.
LOUISA C. LEWIS—EXTRACTS FROM HER COMMONPLACE BOOK.
IN IMITATION OF THE SONG “WHEN SHALL WE THREE MEET AGAIN.”
O when shall we two meet again?
With cheerful heart, with welcome smile,
And all the past
With woe o’ercast
Forget to taste of bliss the while
O when shall we two meet again?
And all the promised pleasure know
Which hope to cheer
My pathway drear
Afford, this heart where’re I go
O when shall we two meet again?
The look the well known voice to greet
And free from care
Together share
Our walks, again, by moonlight sweet.
Shall cruel fortune prove our foe
And time with lingering steps detain
Shall years go by
Nor hasten nigh
The hour when we shall meet again.
Shall sorrow spread her gloomy cloud
And hope deferred, my bosom pain
Shall absence prove
A chill to love
E’er you and I shall meet again
But if stern fate, this joy deny
And our fond wish should prove but vain.
Beyond the sky
May you and I,
In bliss immortal meet again.
THE BANTAM.
I’ve seen old Hudson’s swelling pride,
As on he rush’d to meet the ocean.
No Storms then lash’d his solemn tide,
No dashing waves made wild commotion
But pine crown’d cliffs & tall trees waving green,
Frown’d o’er the flood, the guardians of the scene.
I’ve seen Connecticut’s fair wave,
Still as it went forever smiling;
While the tall corn its bright green gave,
The river’s darker hue beguiling:
Rich are thy fields thy skies forever shine;
“Nor drinks the sea, a lovelier wave than thine.”
But still there is a dearer stream,
Tho’ on its breast no white sails bearing;
Tho’ rough its rock, and cold its beam,
And brown the leaves its trees are wearing
For in that stream’s white foam when life was young
I thoughtless play’d, nor dreamt of future wrong
J. P. BRACE
1820.
ALTERATIONS FROM COPY OF RULES OF JULIA SEYMOUR—1820.
17th. Every person is forbidden to tell or be told in lesson.
QUESTIONS.
Been neat in your chambers?
Combed your hair?
Cleaned your teeth?
Left anything out of place?
Been present at table?
At family prayers?
Been to bed at the proper time?
Rose in season?
Studied two hours without speaking?
Disturbed others? Been angry?
Been impolite? Told an untruth?
Wasted time in school?
Mis-spent the Sabbath?
Read in the Scriptures?
Borrowed or lent?
Hurt the feelings of anyone?
Studied your lesson at the proper time?
Known any fault which you should have informed of?
Taken or read any book without permission?
[Illustration:
PL. XXXIX.—EMBROIDERY OF LOUISA C. LEWIS
]
Speaking or moving once without permission, or with, will take off the
extra—and more than once will give ¼ of a miss. Two hours holy day
lost for noise. 30 credit marks lost for homesickness.
MISS SARAH PIERCE, Principal.
MR. JOHN P. BRACE, Assistant.
(A definition of politeness). Persons truly polite will treat their
superiors with respect and deference; their equals with affability and
complaisance. They will never smile at the mistakes of those who may
be more ignorant than themselves; will never make sport of the faults
or follies of their companions, much more at their misfortunes, but
will on all occasions treat others as they would be themselves. They
will never be boistrous or rude in their manners, will never talk or
laugh loud, will avoid all vulgar and profane words as mean and
sinful. They will never consider loud laughter as a mark of wit; or
romping as indicative of sprightliness.
1821.
SARAH KINGSBURY’S COPY OF RULES OF THE LITCHFIELD ACADEMY.
(1) You are expected to rise early and be drest neatly, to exercise
before breakfast and to retire to rest when the family in which you
reside desire you to and you must consider it a breach of politeness
if you are requested a second time to rise in the morning or retire in
the evening.
(2) You are requested not only to exercise in the morning but also in
the evening sufficiently for the preservation of health.
(3) It is expected that you never detain the family by unnecessary
delay either at meals or family prayers; to be absent when grace is
asked at table or when the family have assembled to read the word of
God and to solicit His favour discovers a want of reverence to His
holy name a cold and insensible heart which feels no gratitude for the
innumerable benefits received daily from his hand.
(4) It is expected as rational and immortal beings that you read a
portion of the scripture both morning and evening with meditation and
prayer, that you never read the word of God lightly or make use of any
scriptural phrase in a light manner.
(5) It is expected that you attend public worship every Sabbath unless
some unavoidable circumstance prevent which you will dare to offer as
a sufficient apology at the day of Judgment.
(6) Your deportment must be grave and decent while in the house of God
and you must remember that all light conduct in a place of worship is
offensive to well bred people and highly displeasing to your Maker and
Preserver.
(7) The Sabbath must be kept holy no part of it wasted in sloth
frivolous conversation or light reading. Remember dear youth that for
every hour, but particularly for the hours of the Sabbath you must
give an account to God.
(8) Every hour during the week must be fully occupied either in useful
employment or rational amusement while out of school: two hours must
be employed each day in close study and every hour during the week
must be fully occupied.
(9) No person must interrupt their companions either in school or the
hours devoted to study by talking, laughing, or any unnecessary noise.
(10) Those hours devoted to any particular occupation must not be
devoted to any other employment. Nothing great can be accomplished
without attention to order and regularity.
(11) The truth must be spoken at all times, on all occasions though it
might appear advantageous to tell a falsehood.
(12) You must suppress all emotion of anger and discontent.
Remembering how many blessings God is continually bestowing upon you
for which he requires not only contentment, but a cheerful temper.
(13) You are expected to be polite in your manners, neat in your
person and room, careful of your books and cloths, attentive to
economy in all your expenses.
A DEFINITION OF POLITENESS.
Persons truly polite will treat their superiors with respect and
deference and their equals with affability and complaisance. They will
never be boistrous or rude in their manners will never talk or laugh
loud will avoid all vulgar and profane words as both mean and sinful.
They will never consider loud laughing a mark of wit or romping
indicative of sprightliness. They will never smile at the mistakes of
those who may happen to be more ignorant than themselves, will never
make reports of the fault and failures of their misfortunes, but will
on all occasions treat others as they would have others behave to
them.
(14) Talebearing and scandal are odious vices, and must be avoided:
neither must you flatter your companions by remarks on their beauty,
dress or any slight accomplishment in order to increase their vanity.
(15) While you are forbidden to report things to the disadvantage of
your companions, you are at the same time requested to inform one of
your teachers if you know of any conduct deserving of reproof not from
malice but a true friend lest the fault should become a habit too
strong to eradicate in future.
(16) Every person is bound to conform to the rules of the family where
she resides. She must never go out of an evening without the
permission of the heads of the family where she resides, read no
books, engage in no amusements without their knowledge and
approbation.
(17) Speaking or moving once whether with or without liberty will take
off the extra and more than once will give ¼ of a miss. Two hours
holiday lost for noise in the same week will take off 30 credit marks.
(18) Every person is forbidden to tell or be told in their lessons.
The course of study prescribed for those who wish to take degrees will
consist of the following branches—
Morse’s Geography, Webster’s Elements English Grammer, Miss Pierce’s
History, Arithmetic through Interest, Blair’s Lectures, Modern Europe,
Ramsey’s American Revolution, Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, Paley’s
Moral Philosophy, Hedge’s Logic and Addision on Taste.
If any person wishes to obtain the last honors of the school it will
be necessary for them to have finished this course, and to have
accomplished it in order. Should any person wish to study any of these
branches to the exclusion of the rest they are at liberty to do it but
they will be considered as having declined being candidates for the
degree.
The candidates must answer 8/9 of their questions in all branches in
General Examination. They must at no time have lost their whole
holiday and in order to ascertain this they must have credit mark.
They must never have lost more than one hour of their holiday for the
same result in their certificate, must never have lost 3 hours holiday
for noise and must have to be shown at the close of the school three
months journal or eight dissertations.
1822.
MARY L. WILBOR (MRS. STONE)—EXTRACTS FROM HER DIARY.
_Litchfield May 28^{th} 1822_
Went this morning to visit the remains of the once lovely and
interesting Miss Helen Peck who died yesterday after a severe illness
of five weeks. Went to her father’s house this P. M. but as I could
not get a seat returned home quite disappointed—do not feel in very
good spirits. Went down to the Bantam last evening. Misses Austin,
Perkins, and myself fell into the water. going to B. met a poor little
boy who was an idiot, who was very interesting. I ought to be very
thankful my life and reason are spared me! and may I make a good use
of these great blessings! ... Mr. Brace read dissertations today, and
Miss Austin’s was pronounced the best. I am very glad, for I think she
deserves all the praise that is bestowed upon her. She possesses quite
a talent for writing; and expresses herself very handsomely. Mr. B.
read one of his own compositions, which was elegantly written. Shall
be almost ashamed to present mine to him but my turn will not come
until week after next, and I will not anticipate evil.... It thunders
& lightens very vividly & loudly, but the bell rings and I must go to
church, for I expect Dr. Beecher will be very eloquent, for he is very
much interested. Half past 8. Was just ready for church when Miss
Shelton brought me my letters but was so much overjoyed I could not
go.
_Wednesday._
Miss Pierce is expected this afternoon and I hope she will come, for
the whole household will be very glad to see her. ½ past 6. P. M. An
old man is now here with pictures at which we look with a perspective
glass, which improves them very much and renders them very interesting
but they would be much more so if some of the scenes were from our own
country, for he had none of American scenery, but as he is an
_Englishman_ it is perfectly natural that he should be fond of showing
his country in as favorable a light as possible. I had twelve credit
marks for doing one sum in Reduction.... Went upon prospect hill with
Misses Averill, Brace, Buell, & Clarke and had a very pleasant walk.
There is a most delightful prospect from prospect hill. We went upon
echoing rock, it is astonishing how long we can hear the echo—I like
Miss Buell very much. She is very polite and obliging. She is from
Burlington Vermont, a niece of Mrs. Lynde Catline of New York. I hope
I shall have the pleasure of seeing her at our house when she comes to
New York to visit her aunt.
[Illustration:
PL. XL.—FROM A WATER-COLOR BY AMELIA LEWIS
]
On our return home we found Miss Pierce had arrived from Boston. Miss
Brace received good news from her friends. I am very glad for she is
quite homesick, and I hope the letter will serve to dispel it a
little. I went to the Post Office with Miss Averill but we did not go
in, for it was very much crowded with gentlemen. I do not think it is
quite proper for us to go to the postoffice so often but still
continue going! May 30^{th}, arose at a quarter past six and exercised
before breakfast which will entitle me to an extra.
Miss Pierce entertained us at breakfast with an account of Cambridge
college also a singular gothic chair which was presented by some one
in England to the college. I _know_ I shall be happy this summer I
like Miss Pierce very much and I am sure she will do everything in her
power to render me so. Spent the afternoon in Martha Denison’s room
with Miss Perkins. Martha read aloud in “The Son of a Genius” by Mrs.
Holland a very interesting book which is written in a pure and concise
style.... We do not recite rhetoric for it is the day set apart for
parsing. Miss B. has left our house for that of Dr. Sheldon, probably
because her friend Miss A boards there and she always appeared
dissatisfied but that probably proceeded from her never having been
from home much. It certainly could not be that she did not receive
sufficient attention for Miss Mary was very kind and did everything in
her power to amuse her—
...On my return from the post office, took a long walk with Miss
Austin. I think I like her better than any young lady that boards at
Miss Pierce’s. She is possessed of a superior mind and I think has
paid some considerable attention to the cultivation of it.... We met
no other person that we knew except D. B. who is the most unpleasant
creature I ever knew....
Do not expect any letters to-night for the mail does not come from
_dear_ New York on Fridays. 25^{th} Miss Pierce wishes us to speak
dialogues or short pieces but I do not wish to and hope she will not
insist upon it.... We have just received the heart rending account of
the loss of the packet-ship Albion Capt. Williams, of New York, bound
for Liverpool. Among those that perished was Mr. Fisher professor of
Mathematics in Yale College. Mr. F. was engaged to Miss Catherine
Beecher, and his untimely end is severely felt and greatly deplored.
After having undergone all terrors, and supposing themselves out of
danger, and even in sight of land, it was indeed awful, not only to
have all _hope_ dashed to pieces at a blow, but the “boon of life”
taken suddenly away.
_June 2^{nd} 6. P. M._
Attended church all day. The weather was very unpleasant. Dr. Beecher
prayed very affectionately for Mr. Fisher and all on board the Albion
who found a watery grave.... Missed only ¼. ½. in all my morning
lessons. Wrote a dissertation this forenoon On the uses of history, a
subject on which I have had but a few ideas. Misses Reeve, Tufts, Mrs.
& Miss Lord took tea with us—H. Buell & myself went home with Miss
Lord. We had great sport.... Mr. Brace had all his bugs to school this
P. M. he has a great variety, two were from China, which were very
handsome, almost all the rest were of Litchfield descent, and he can
trace their pedigree as far back as when Noah entered the ark. Spoke
to Mr. B. of Aunt Julia. He recollected her perfectly, said he thought
her very beautiful.... Miss Austin has a great deal of humour but her
spirits are easily depressed. I should like to fathom the character of
my bedfellow Miss Buell for I think her a singular girl, she has a
singular peevishness of temper which is very unpleasant; I do not know
but that is her only fault, for she is a very pleasant companion, and
that excepted she is a very agreeable girl.
Miss Austin has just come in and being in very high spirits she makes
so much noise it is impossible to write.
Wrote to aunt J. the dearest aunt I have, also the dearest friend.
Anna Maria Perkins of Ohio also sleeps in the room with us, she is a
very good companion and peculiarly amiable.
6^{th} June—Arose before six o’clock, made my bed, swept my room,
which will entitle me to an extra.
_Thursday._
Have this day commenced learning “Robin Adair,” hope I shall be able
to play it soon. This is examination day and I have many long and hard
lessons to recite. We think of going to Canaan tomorrow. If it is
pleasant we shall go at six o’clock in the morning. I do not know who
will accompany me, but I think Miss Austin and two Misses Tufts, we
had expected the pleasure of the company of Miss B. and Miss P. but
Miss B. will go when her friends come, and Miss P. will not go for
reasons unknown. I do not think it quite polite in her to refuse to go
when she knows that the pleasure of the party depends in a great
measure on her accompanying us, but mum! I fear I am often, too often
guilty of more impolite conduct but
[Illustration:
PL. XLI.—FROM A PAINTING BY AMELIA LEWIS
]
“The faults of our neighbors with freedom we blame
We tax not ourselves, though we practise the same.”