And may each day returning, with it bring
That peace that o'er the weary senses fling
A calm content; where no alloy attends
The pleasing intercourse of happy friends.
Albert, the brother of Alida, during his residence in New-York, had
formed an indissoluble friendship with a young gentleman who had lately
graduated at Columbia College. His name was Theodore. He was about
twenty years of age: he had been esteemed an excellent student. His
appearance was manly, open, and free. His eye indicated a nobleness of
mind; he was naturally cheerful, although his aspect was tinged with
melancholy, and his disposition was rather of the romantic cast. His
father was an eminent merchant in the city, and had long been engaged in
the various scenes of commerce. His son was designed for the law; but as
the students were allowed some vacant time after their graduation before
they entered upon their professional studies, he thought to improve this
interim in mutual friendly visits, mingling sometimes with select
parties in the amusements of the day, and in travelling through some
parts of the United States.
[_A&M_ (opening paragraph):
In the time of the late revolution, two young gentlemen of
Connecticut, who had formed an indissoluble friendship, graduated
at Yale college in New Haven; their names were Edgar and Alonzo;
Edgar was the son of a respectable farmer, Alonzo's father was an
eminent merchant--Edgar was designed for the desk, Alonzo for the
bar; but as they were allowed some vacant time after their
graduation before they entered upon their professional studies,
they improved this interim in mutual, friendly visits, mingling
with select parties in the amusement of the day, and in travelling
through some parts of the United States.]
[_A&M_:
Alonzo was about twenty one years old; he had been esteemed an
excellent student. His appearance was manly, open and free--His eye
indicated a nobleness of soul; although his aspect was tinged with
melancholy, yet he was naturally cheerful. His disposition was of
the romantic cast....]
The spring was advancing, and already began to shed its cheering
influences over the face of nature, when, after a long period of clouds
and darkness, the sun, with his illuminating beams, was chasing away the
gloomy remains of winter, and recalling again to life and animation the
innumerable beauties of creation.
The day was fixed on when Alida was to return to her native residence.
Albert was to attend her home, and he invited his friend Theodore to
accompany him. It was evening when they arrived at the house of Albert's
father, where they found considerable company collected, as was
customary on the celebration of his birth-day.
[_A&M_ (second paragraph):
Edgar had a sister who, for some time had resided with her cousin
at New-London. She was now about to return, and it was designed
that Edgar should go and attend her home: previous to the day on
which he was to set out, he was unfortunately thrown from his
horse, which so much injured him as to prevent his prosecuting
his intended journey; he therefore invited Alonzo to supply his
place....
...
It was evening when Alonzo arrived at the house of Edgar's cousin.]
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."
[_A&M_:
"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 tasseled 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 amusements 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.