The Newhampshire gazetteer — Exeter, N.H., 1790-01-02 00:00:00, page 1

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INEWHAMPSHIRE GAZETTEE R.
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MISCELLANY.
V' _—=_—~
From the Herald of Faekdom,
/TRUE STORY'.
OP every species of tyranny,
that over the affection is
the most natural-mfr heart
was made for freedom ; and
every attempt to controul it
by any other authority than that of
gentleness and perfuafioa, serves only
io prove the fertility of the measure
by piercing that heart vrith many sor
rows- —Could we place our love where
we pleased, and reftra'in it whenever
prudence fhouldforbid.the indulgence,
er could we govern orir affections our
fetees —reason would not blame a par
ent or friend for govering them for
w, when we either foolishly or will
•fully refufed to pa rfue their advice—
but this is far from being the case —
bow often does the heart mourn in
pfin for feme beloved objed, of its
own accord—how often sigh in soli
tude over its own peculiar misfortunes
—and too plainly evidence that an
guish is already Efficiently keen,with
out the aid of unfeeling admonitions
or correcting authority to increase its
bitterness. —T'he following narrative
is a testimony of the truth of these ob
ferrations..
Ophelia at the age of 15 was left an
orphan—and, placed under the guar
dian(hip of erne of her brothers—tho'
in no signal manner diftinguithed from
others of her sex and Ration, foe was
fill poffeffud of a gentle difpofitiou &
-a -feeling heart—a tender affection for
her guardians other brothers,inclin'd
to at all times to consult their withes,
gather than, contrary to them, to in
dulge her own—She resided with her
friends in Boston—& by the assistance
of a little legacy left her by her father
was engaged in adorning her mind &
person with theufual accomplish meets
•fa lady;— —lt happened as (he was
en a visit in the country among some
family relations, (he fell in company
with a young gentleman by the name
of Alphonso—he was engaged in trade
—Alphonso and Ophelia soon became
acquainted —the sincerity and open
mefs of her language—the decency ofl
air—th^ goodness & pliability of his
difpofinoo, so happily harmonizing
With her own, made a visible impref
fionon Ophelia—,their reciprocal fen
ti men ts of tenderers were soon known
,to each other—and when the time ar
rived for her return to town, Alphonso
with all the emotions of an honest
heart taken priforfyr, hade her adieu,
after obtaining permission to visit her
in the spring.
The Spring arrived and found their
sentiments in .unifan— -after (pending
many happy hours' together at the
refinance of Ophelis, in athe fond
anticipation of their future connec
tion, they-parted a second time, with
mutual promises of constancy & truth,
to meet again in the fall, when their
bands were to.be joined, & their hap
pinefit completed.
,Bat—lhame on the world ! how are
the purposes of virtue defeated ! how
frequently do the mercenary vie,,#|
interest controul the heart—and over-,
tome the working of sensibility—how
often do they embitter human life,
"and pour in poison to the bowl of
joy-"
~ ,Not)ft after the departure of Al.;
phonfo— a gentleman who had former
ly been acquainted with Ophelia,pre,
fated himfelf as her admirer, and ex
erted all his ingenuity and address
to gain her smiles aid approbation—
ph another hearthe might have made|
I Published by H. Ramlet, in the Main Street, EXETER ; # where Subscriptions, Advertisements, and all Favours, are gratefully received.
an impreffion—formed by, nature to
persevere in the pursuit of the object
of his wishes, wherever there was a
probability as attaining it—artful and
confident in his "abilities, and without
that nice feasibility which gives a
Ring to every trifling disappointment
or repulse ; he trusted he Should soon
so far recommend himfelf as to win
the affedions of Ophelia— But address
ing her was fruitlefs— her whole foul
was Alphunfo's, and every tender
feeling revolted at the idea of forget,
ting him and securing the addresses of
Lyfander—for though he was then ef
tablilhed in the practice of the law,
with future profpeas in many re
fpe&s preferable to those ofAlphonfo,
and an education superior—yet the
heart of Ophelia was too fondly at
tached to be influenced by motives of
this nature —(he declin'd his proposals
and retained her love and fidelity for
the man whose gentleness and virtue
had deferred it.——Lyfander how
ever, was far from relinquishing his
design—he knew it was his interest to
gain her—he knew he was indebted
to her for the greater part of he lega
cy, which he had hired of her guar
dian, with her consent, to alhft him
in making his entrance into the World
—and that this mull soon be repaid.—
Prudence de his prefect circumstances
urged him if possible to fo[m such a
connection, and thereby at one exiio
guifh the demand.
In pursuance of this intention—he
insinuated himfelf into the good graces
of her brothers and by painting his
liquation and profpe&? of prose ffional
business in the faireft colours, (as the
dißance of the town which he resided
in would admit of) he soon acquired
the confidence & esteem of the broth
ers, and was evidently considered by
them in 'a partial point of view, in
fact he engaged the brothers in his
interest, and thereby felt himfelf af
fared of accomplishing his wishes —
Their sentiments were soon known to
Ophelia, a feeling heart may better
imagine her painful sensations, than
language can describe them, ihe loved
her brothers—(he was anxious to please
them and obey their admonitions—
:but what could Rie do?—They re
presented the situation of Alphonfo—
then that of Lyfander, in all the co
lours of partiality, and urged her to
forget the fond ideas (he entertained
of the former, and make them & her
felf happy by a union with the latter,
they used every unfeeling argument
which prudence could suggest, to
conquer those feelings, which it is
our glory to possess, their entreaties
and admonitions carried with them the
force of commands, and gratify the
fhameful wilhes of those who should
have watched over her happinefs—
fhe consented to facrifice it at the al
tar, though she had told them with
sighs and tears that her affections
never could be recalled from Alphen
fo, or placed upon Lyfander.
In the anguish of her heart she wrote
to Alphonso, told him her forrows—
told him the cruel cause of them—
begged him to repair to the town—
to witness her Ready attachment—
and'try some method to prevent this
murder of their loves—the letter
reached him—he flew on the wings
of the wind to feeare if possible, his
loved Ophelia from the arms of the
mercenary Lyfander, and the fatal
disposition of her brothers.
He arrived at the house of the guar
dian where Ophelia resided, on the
day appointed for her nuptials with
Lyfander, but admittance was refufed
Ihim, Lyfander was the happy vifiraut
e - — -e—!^
THE
and Alphonso a defponding outcast,
not only torn from Ophelia, but even
debarred the privilege of bidding her
adieu, & receiving her parting bene
didion, though he was not permitted
to speak with her, he, however pro
cured a servant to carry a line to her,
and in the dufc of the evening she re
ceived him in at a window, that they
might when thus retired from the
^Pledge of the family, indulge
their ^tender sorrow & theft part for.
ever ; the reader may image to him
felf the meeting, the expressive laguage
of two.hearts, on the eve of so cruel
a federation, and the manner of their
parting —words were not made for
this purpose —they parted
and at the hour appointed the weep
ing Ophelia appeared in the simple
robes of decent carleffnefs to give her
hand to the man ihe— — did not love!
Lyfander was happy and at ease,
though just on the brink of committ
ing one of the most cruel thefts.—
Before the Priest proceeded to unite
them, ''l (hall soon," said Ophelia
to Lyfander, •' be yours, 6ut let me
now assure you, that my heart does
not accompany my hand, if you chafe
to receive me without it I will drive
to make you happy, but my love is
fixed and Alphonso has it."
Lyfander's sensibility and nicety of
sentiment were no bar to his wilhes
~ —they were married—& soon removed
far into the country, to the place of
his residence—Ophelia performs her
promise—and excites all the gentle
virtues which (he posses, to render
^ertelf amiable in the eyes of her huf-
Dand, and to smooth their common
journey through life, but her heart is
ill at ease, the image of her Alphonso
will never be wore out of her mind,
and though she may smile—" the end
of her mirth is heavinefs"—a friend
of Lyfander's was on a visit in his own
family —and ace dently mentioned the
name of Alphonso Ophelia in
stantly burst into tears—ihe said she
couid not help it.
• The luckleh Alphonso is still more
unhappy, from the feene which the
town left presented him, he retired in
sorrow to his home, and from that
hour grew melancholy and defponding
—his poor heart is broken—his bafi
ne's naturally declined—and his only
employment is to bemoan hit misfor
tune s—'tis almost four years since the
ma rr iage of Ophelia—and four years
mo re will Probably lay Alphonso in
the duft-Oid give him peace—his
health is wafting —and a delirium has
taken posse flion of his brain.-—These
are the effeds of prudence and brotherly
low.
Though the real Characters in this
little-dory are placed in the humbler
walks of life, still they are possessed
of the feelings of humanity ; & have
a right to claim their indulgence—and
the preceding narrative, with a thous
and concurring instances, serves but
too faithfully to prove how dangerous
iris that this indulgence should be
denied.
INDUSTRY.
MQST of rhe evils, which are
matters of complaint at the
present day,are such asit is in our own
power to remedy. If we would be
as virtuous as a people may be, we
should be as happy as people need to
be. Virtue would remove many of
our grievances, and enable us to bear
rest. It would be replied, 'Virtue
generally prevailing might do great
things, but chi# it not to be capered J
to— —
Will you then look for happiness some
other way? Yew cannot succeed un,
left the course of nature, & the plan
of the fapreme governor fhoald be rea
versed. 'But will it avail, for me
si n gly to be virtuous, when I cannot
expeft the generality will be fol*
• Make the experiment: Perpaps others
will be as wife as you: lour example
may possibly have some influence ; at
least you may relieve your owo miud fr
and lighten your own burthens. If
general virtue helps society, private
virtue will help the individual: And
then how do you know, but there is
another world where your virtue ,ill
turn to your account, tho' it ihoald
do you but little good here? 6 But
what are the virtues of 'immediate
use to society, and of chief importance
at the present day ?' Induftr, is un
doubtedly one. This is a country
which affodrs all the means not only
of fabfiftence, but of wealth. But
means must be applied or the end is
not attained.. Greater industry ma,
be necessary here, than in some other
climes; but this is no unhappiness.
A people that grow rich fuddeafy and
without much labour, soon become
luxurious and effeminate. They
presently fink again into poverty, or
their wealth is confined to a few.
They lose their strength and vigour
and the spirit of liberty, and fall an
ea 'y P re Y to the firft powerful invader
or ambitious usurper. A h bit of in.
duftry is firft acquired by necessity,
and once acquired may continue for
I a while, after the necelit, abates,un^
!lefs their circumßances al#r too fad
denly. It strengthens the body, b^ces
the mind, aid, other virtues ; it gives
patience in adterfify, courage in dan
ger, and perseverance ip difficulty.
No people ever maintained their lib
erty long, after they eeafed to be in
dustrious, and become dissolute and
luxurious. Agriculture ought to be
one main objed of indufrfin such a
country, and at such a time as this.
Our lands are oar chief source of
wealth; but lands uncultivated are
like gold Sleeping in the mines. It is
culture only that makes them nfeful
Too great attention to commerce will
soon introduce idleness and luxury ;
and though it may enrich a few par
ticular person,, it will impoverish the
country.
Our husbandry ought to be directed
into such a channel, that after {ap
plying our own necessary consumption
the surplus may bring us not merely
luxuries, but foreign articles as will
be really ufeful, and a Efficiency of
fifty and gold for a medium. Grain
of various kinds, flax, sheep, pork,
beef, butter and cheese are commodi
ties that may be turned to much bet
ter advantage, than those cargoes of
horses and lumber, which are (hipped
for the weft Indies, only to bring in
upon us a flood of ardent foiritt, to
drown our vitals and our morals^
To agriculture we malt join the
necessary arts of life, and the more
ufeful & important branches of man
ufacture, We m-y parchafe many
articles cheaper, than we can manu
facture them: but if we purchase
them, they mast be paid for: if we
make them they are our own, Man
ufaftures will promote industry, and
industry contributes to health, virtue,
riches and population. If we pur
chase our eloathing one half of our
Women must be idle, or only trifling:
how then will those young Women
who depend on their labour, procure
the next fait when they have worn out
the present? If we manfaaure, our
men will be employed in procuring
[Vet. IV.—Numi. |„