The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1824-08-19

was awakened, and lie would have made any |
personal sacrifice to perform, as he imagin-
ed so impcrious a duty. He knew she
would dbe unhappy without him, andperhapsc |
pine away and die if he left her.
"And can l." he asked himself, " thus a
bandon a helpless woman, whose happiness I
is in my power >-ncveri" And with his
feelings much softened towards his love, he
took every opportunity to address her upon
the subject.
1t was one bright moonlight, as he walk
ed with her in a shadowy and vcrdant park,
and wooed with all the poetry Of his ardent
nature-shc talked of stars and silver moon. |
The soft and pensivc light which strcamcd
across the sky, he said, was like the magic
love throws around the beings of his choice,
and every silvcry cloud that floated thro' the
starry vault, yielded some sweet idcaby which
| TO lure from her willing heart the music OF
its love. 1t was not in the power OF the love
| " being at his side to command he tel! tile
| eyes from revealing her sentiments. The
bashful girl bushcd as she confessed, and cast
her blue eyes on the ground tut when the
manly arm of Herman encirc!ed her waist,
and he kissed her white forehead, from the
very excess of happiness, she leaned her
head upon his bosom, and wept.
In weeks time they were married, and
The stream Of their life flowed Oh in smooth
and unruiHcd tranquility, although devoid OF
those exquisite pleasures which mark the
union of hearts more closely joined. All
that friendship could feel he entertained for
Harriet, but no morc-Sometimes indeed, as
he gazed cn her lovely face, over which the
success of her fond hopes had thrown CLEAN
Of chccrfuncss, which increased the charms
of her appearance, he could almost fancy he
loved her-but his heart lost the emotion in
absence, as the summer cloud looses its tingc
Of gold upon the setting of tho sun by which
it had been illumincd, and he was still con-
vinccd that his was a marriage of the hands,
not the heart.
Thus passed their days i'll calm content
mcnt, if not in the continual excitement OF
jov, and it was with feeling ofintcnsc sorrow
that Herman bcheld his wife few months
fading away with consumption Every aid
was tried to prolong her life, but in vain.
Her last words spoke unabated affection for
the man who had acted towards her SO nobly,
and he bchcld her gradually yield to tho
great tyr:tnt of murttis-hcr check grew
palc-her bosom heaved with more sudden
and convulsive gasps-her eyes assumed a
glare Of tcrrblc import, and her still bcauti-
tal lip, was put forth affectionately for one
kiss from the being she loved. He bent
!
the motionlcss form brcathcd not back his
: carcss, and the heart beat not responsive to
the throbbings Of his own. Although some
times he regretted the matrimonial chains in
which ne was bound, he wept as they were
brokcn-and when night flung its shadows
over the world, it found him still mourning
) ovcrthc fond partner ct his heart. Ihe nc'N
evening saw the procession which attended
.he remains Of this once lovely being to the
tomb, move sadly and slowly along the Will
age bell rang its nournful peal, and the con
, vulsvc sighs of her numerous friends tcl
heavY upon my ear. The pastors prayer
brcathctl the deep sorrow Of his bosom, and
was delivered in SO affecting a manner, that
: his ewes bore testimony to the sincerity ot ms
heart.
When they arrived at the narrow house,
| saw Herman standing with his arms toldcd
over his breast at the head OF the grave
The coffin was placed in the carth-thc
apostles bene,liction pronounced, and the
:. clcds OF the valley" were heapcd upon the
wasted form of her who had ever been 50
fond-so amiable-so true.
Herman did not wccp--yct language could
not utter what he felt /; his pale and sunken
check his quvering purple lip-his ini!a.n-
cd and hollow evc-his trembling limbs,
all bore witness to the agony Of his heart.
When / approached him, he seemed absorb
cd in painful meditation, and hisyacant glare
convinced me OF the horrible working of his
soul.
Herman" said I, I,"we have our attic
tions in this transitory life but we must not
yield to thcni-Rousc thee, my friend, and
bear your sorrows like man."
Never shall forget the look he gave me
it was so full of pensvc tenderness, and
seemed to say so audil,ly, "thou canst not
spcal, of what thou dost not feel that
: became t;.mb, and we in silence pursued cur
| journey home.
BY slow degrees, as time wore away, he
resumed his wontcn checrfulness, and he has
often since declared to me i'll confidence,
when we mentioned Harriet, +" that it always
was the most ardent desire of his heart, to
. have returned an affection SO pure and disin-
tercstcd but as he found it impossible, he
ravc her his youthful days, and thought It
I his duty to shelter and protect her. knew
he spoke the truth--and could not, on such
occasions, avoid toking his hand, and inward
ly pronouncing him truly noble character
A SINGULAR EXAMPLE OF INTEGRITY.
+ From President Dwights "Travcls in New
England ard New York" Vol. iii. p. 213,
, 214. Note.
Among the prisoners taken by the Ameri-
l. cans at the battle Of Hoosac was an lniaoi-
B, tant of Hancock, in the county OF Berksnire'
4 fafl .