"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 assail.
[[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 hoarse murmuring
gales of winter. No sound scarcely was heard except blustering 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 lustre 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 masses.
[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 associates 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
associates.... 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 principal 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".]]
Her oldest nephew was about twenty-five years of age. The personal
appearance of Mr. Bolton was highly prepossessing. He was particularly
distinguished for his genuine politeness, affability, and witticism.
He inherited a considerable patrimony from his grandfather, which proved
to be a disadvantage, as it prevented him from applying himself to any
particular occupation. Since his aunt's marriage, and his acquaintance
with Alida, his visits had become frequent, accompanied with partial
attention; though on her part, indifference was visible, as his earnest
assiduities, were altogether unexpected, and implied a thing she had not
thought of.
No one had as yet observed his growing fondness and predilection for
Alida, except her father, to whom it was by no means pleasing. The
habitual idleness of this young gentleman, caused him in a great measure
to pass over the consideration of his many excellent qualities.
Among those, with whom Alida had become acquainted during her residence
in the city, was the son of an old friend of her father's. This
gentleman had place among the merchants in Broadway, and who, by a long
course of industrious trading had amassed a handsome competency. There
was something peculiar in his air and manner, which distinguished him
among the men of business.
Speak of a person of commanding aspect, tall, slender, and majestic;
quick in step, fluent in speech, with large light blue eyes, and light
hair, approaching a little to the yellow. That was Mr. More. There was a
neatness and uniformity in his appearance and dress. He might have been
known by his blue suit, white vest, and cambric handkerchief. He was
polite and agreeable, and by his associates, he was much esteemed as an
acquaintance. His judgment was mature in regard to his business. He
managed his affairs with prudence and economy, and still stood firm amid
the shock of failures around him.
[The Merchant's Daughter (describing the young lover):
George Gilmore was the son of an old friend of the family....]
[The Merchant's Daughter (describing the merchant):
Mr. Alstyne was a merchant in New York, who, by a long course of
industrious trading had amassed a handsome competency. There was
a something in his air and manner which distinguished him in Wall
street--speak of a man about fifty years of age, stout, not
corpulent; quick in step, fluent in speech, with a lively black
eye, and dark hair slightly silvered on the temples,--that was Mr.
Alstyne. There was a neatness and uniformity too, in his dress--he
might have been known by his blue coat, white marseilles vest, black
pantaloons, and linen cambric napkin....]
Though his means were ample, his expenditures were not extravagant;
every thing about him partook of the convenient and useful. Suitably
free from the fashion mania which sometimes attack young people like an
epidemic, he preferred rational pleasures, and the company of a few
young men of liberal views and sentiments, to the empty display and
unsubstantial show, which wins the smile of moneyed plebians.
[The Merchant's Daughter:
Though his means were ample, his expenditures were moderate: every
thing around him was neat and plain, and intended only for use. Free
from the fashion-mania which at that time attacked certain people
like an epidemic, he preferred comfort and ease at his own fireside,
and the company of a few friends to the empty display, and
unsubstantial show which win the smile of moneyed plebeians.
His general deportment, his countenance and manner, discovered a mind
and disposition, that had always been accustomed to unremitting
indulgence. He was ardent in friendship; possessing a heart of the
keenest sensibility, with a scrupulous regard for the feelings of
others. He had been much in female society--in company with the amiable
and intelligent. Still he had never seen any one that he thought was
possessed of congenial feelings, or whose mind would assimilate with his
own.
[The Merchant's Daughter:
He married, when young, a lady of congenial feelings....]
When he became acquainted with Alida, his sensations were awakened to a
new influence;--that he did not attempt to banish from his mind. He
never before had seen any one he thought so worthy of esteem, or so
calculated to inspire him with lasting friendship. "The kindness, and
sincerity of her heart, speaks in her artless manner," said he, (as he
was one evening returning home from her father's.) "She delights the old
and captivates the young. Yet her beauty is not so dazzling at first
glance, but every day that she is seen, the more her features charm, the
more her manners please. Innocence dwells in the silvery curls of her
light auburn hair, that waves over her shoulders in simple elegance. She
has been reared with proper care and attention, and educated not to
shine in a ball-room, but with a soft soothing friendship, to dissipate
ennui and gloom, and make the happiness of the domestic circle."
[The Merchant's Daughter:
the sincerity of her artless smile delighted the old and captivated
the young. Her face was of the grecian mould, -- beautiful, yet her
beauty was not so dazzling as at a first glance to hold the gazer in
thrall -- but every day that she was seen, the more her features
charmed, the more her manners pleased. The fresh bloom of health
sported on her cheek, and innocence dwelt in the rich curls of her
dark hair, that waved over a pure and stainless neck. In every
motion of her sylph-like form was gayety and unaffected grace. She
was reared with tender care, and educated not to shine in a
ball-room, or flirt at a "rout," but to make a frugal housewife....]