O, time! roll on thy wheels, and bring around the period, when
social joy shall smile before me; when in the vernal day of life,
or evening serene, I grow of one dear object more and more
enamoured; while my remembrance swells with many a proof of
interested friendship.
[Thomson: _Seasons_: Spring, last 10 lines:
As ceaseless round a jarring world they roll,
Still find them happy; and consenting Spring
Sheds her own rosy garland on their heads:
Till evening comes at last, serene and mild;
When after the long vernal day of life,
Enamour'd more, as more remembrance swells
With many a proof of recollected love,
Together down they sink in social sleep;
Together freed, their gentle spirits fly
To scenes where love and bliss immortal reign.]
The present situation of Albert was happily independent. The prolific
soil of the estate, on which he lived, furnished him with an ample
abundance. The prospect that surrounded him was inimitably beautiful,
and the peculiar advantages of his eligible situation, was the
admiration of the stranger who frequented the vicinity, or resorted in
the summer season to the neighbouring village.
Albert had descended from an ancient family, he had an estate to
preserve, but not an entailed one, as was the case with many of his
family, at this time in England.
He was a gentleman, placid, humane and generous; altogether
unacquainted with that ambition which sacrifices every thing to the
desire of fortune, and the superfluous splendour that follows in her
train. He was unacquainted with love too, the supreme power of which
absorbs and concentrates all our faculties upon one sole object. That
age of innocent pleasure, and of confident credulity, when the heart is
yet a novice and follows the impulse of youthful sensibility, and
bestows itself unreservedly upon the object of disinterested affection;
then, surely, friendship is not a name.
[_NY Weekly_: Baron de Lovzinski:
How happy, but how fleeting is that time of life, when one is
unacquainted with ambition, which sacrifices every thing to the
desire of fortune and the glory that follows in her train, and with
love, the supreme power of which absorbs and concentres all our
faculties upon one sole object! that age of innocent pleasures, and
of confident credulity, when the heart, as yet a novice, follows the
impulse of youthful sensibility, and bestows itself unreservedly
upon the object of disinterested affection! Then, surely, friendship
is not a vain name!]
Albert, during his abode in the city, had associated with ladies of
rank, beauty and accomplishments. He was a general favourite among them;
he had been flattered, courted and caressed, but none had the power to
fix his attention. Since his return to the country, he had been
frequently invited to assemble among the artless villagers, decorated in
their own native beauty, assisted sometimes for ornament with the spoils
of Flora. Health, pleasure and naivette, was in the air of these
charmers, and all that was pleasing to win his regard and esteem. These
scenes of rural pleasure, these social parties, were adapted to his
taste. In comparison of which the gay assemblages of the city had been
formerly uninteresting; and he had been heard to say, that whenever his
mind should become fixed, his choice would be some lady who resided in
the country.
[_NY Weekly_: A Rural Picture:
.... led up their artless charmers, in straw hats adorned with the
spoils of Flora....]
Although Albert experienced a degree of happiness and contentment
unknown to many, in his present situation, yet he sometimes felt himself
very lonely.
Alida was anxious that her brother should look out for a suitable
companion; if he could be fortunate enough to find one that was amiable
and sensible, and whose actions should be under the influence of genuine
piety; one who would be ambitious to preserve domestic sunshine, by the
goodness and equanimity of her disposition; who would have a tear for
distress, a heart for friendship and love, exerted in benevolence and
charity, and in the mean time have a care to the good order and
arrangement of domestic duties and economy.
Albert often descanted in conversation with his friends, on the general
neglect of female education, which consisted of a few trifling
embellishments, while those of the more substantial order were left out
of the question. He thought that young ladies generally were not
sufficiently learned in the solid branches, to exercise their mental
powers to advantage, or to be agreeable, intelligent companions.
"If it be true," said he, "that our pleasures are chiefly of a
comparative or reflected kind, how supreme must be theirs, who
continually reflect on each other the portraitures of happiness,
whose amusements
"Though varied still, are still the same
In infinite progression."
[_NY Weekly_: Panegyric on Marriage:
If it be true, that our pleasures are chiefly of a comparative or
reflected kind--How supreme must be theirs, who continually reflect
on each other, the portraitures of happiness--whose amusements--
"Tho' varied still--are still the same--in infinite progression."]
"How tranquil must be the state of that bosom, which has, as it were,
a door perpetually open to the reception of joy or departure of pain, by
uninterrupted confidence in, and sympathy with, the object of its
affection!" "I know of no part of the single life," said Albert, "more
irksome than the privation we feel by it, of any friendly breast wherein
to pour our delights, or from whence to extract an antidote for whatever
may chance to distress us."
[_NY Weekly_: Panegyric on Marriage:
How tranquil is the state of that bosom, which has, as it were, a
door perpetually open to the reception of joy, or departure of pain,
by uninterrupted confidence in, and sympathy with, the object of its
affection! I know of no part of the single or bachelor's estate,
more irksome than the privation we feel by it, of any friendly
breast in which to pour our delights, or from whence to extract an
antidote for whatever may chance to give us pain--]
"The mind of a good man is rather communicative than torpid. If so, how
often may a person of even the best principles, expose himself to very
disagreeable sensations, from sentiments inadvertently dropped, or a
confidence improperly reposed. What but silence can be recommended,
since, in breaking it, so much danger is incurred among those who are
little interested in our welfare? A good heart, it is true, need not
fear the exposition of its amiable contents. But, is it always a
security for us, that we mean well, when our expressions are liable to
be misconstrued by such as appear to lay in wait only to pervert them to
some ungenerous purpose?"
[_NY Weekly_: Panegyric on Marriage:
The mind of a good man, I believe to be rather communicative than
torpid:--If so, how often may a youth, of even the best principles,
expose himself to very disagreeable sensations, from sentiments
inadvertently dropped, or a confidence improperly reposed!--What,
but silence, can be recommended to them; since, in breaking it: so
much danger is incurred, among those little interested in our
welfare? A good heart, it is true, need not fear the exposition of
its amiable contents:--But, alas, is it always a security for us,
that we mean well, when our expressions are liable to be
misconstrued by such as appear to lie in wait only to pervert them
to some ungenerous purpose?]
"The charms, then, of social life, and the sweets of domestic
conversation, are pre-eminent. What more agreeable than the converse of
an intelligent, amiable, interesting friend; and who more intelligent
than a well educated female? What more engaging than gentleness and
sensibility itself? Or what friend more interesting, than one we have
selected from the whole world, as a companion in every vicissitude of
life?"
[_NY Weekly_: Panegyric on Marriage:
The charms, then, of social life, and the sweets of domestic
conversation, are no small incitements to the marriage state.--What
more agreeable than the conversation of an intelligent, amiable, and
interesting friend? But who more intelligent than a well-educated
female? What more amiable than gentleness and sensibility itself? Or
what friend more interesting than such a one as we have selected
from the whole world, to be our steady companion, in every
vicissitude of seasons or of life?]
"If either party be versed in music, what a tide of innocent pleasure
must it prove, to be able to soothe in adversity, to humanize in
prosperity, to compose in jargon, and to command serenity in every
situation? How charming a relaxation from the necessary avocations of
business on the one hand, and the employments at home, in domestic
affairs, on the other! And as a finale, to chant the praises of the
Almighty in hymns of praise and thanksgiving."
[_NY Weekly_: Panegyric on Marriage:
If either of these parties be versed in music, what a tide of
innocent delight must it prove,--to soothe in adversity, to humanize
in prosperity, to compose in noise, and to command serenity in every
situation.... How charming a relaxation from the necessary
avocations of business!----"Of business do you say?"--Yes; for I
number this too, among the pleasures of the happily married. Let the
lady find agreeable employment at home, in the domestic oeconomy of
her household, but let the gentleman be pursuing by unremitted and
honest industry, new comforts for her, for his children, and for
himself.]
Albert had lately made several visits at some distance from home, where
he had told his sister, were several young ladies, who were very
agreeable. Alida did not think this of any importance, as she knew her
brother heretofore had been difficult to please. She was one day rather
surprised, when he wished her to accompany him thither. She declined the
invitation, however, not thinking he wished it for any particular
reason.
In the course of a few days he pressed her again to go with him. Alida
now thought she would accompany him, if it was only out of curiosity.
When they arrived at the house of Albert's new acquaintance, several
ladies were introduced one after the other, and Alida soon found, that
one of them had arrested the attention of her brother particularly. She,
however, thought him rather premature, as he had so recently become
acquainted with the family. On their return home, he gave her to
understand, that his affections were engaged, and in the course of a few
months, she was called on to attend their nuptials.
The appearance of Eliza was interesting; she was tall and graceful. Her
large dark hazel eyes sparkled beneath a beautiful arched eyebrow, and
her transparent complexion was shaded and adorned by profuse locks of
dark brown hair.
In the meantime Albert appeared perfectly happy, that he had at length
found a fair one to please him, and shortly after he returned home with
his bride, with sanguine expectations before him, anticipating much
future happiness.