The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-06-20
L ROM TIE Album.

! t''0 "tSH OJolt MS execution.
You viii start at sight OF this wri
tlhS with 4 sensation OF pain: vet
you viii not at first rec0lIeCt Ia
whom it belongs. The characters
resemble some which You once trac-
ed With delight, but they have lost
their former freedom and strength.
| know exactly the hour at which
THIS will reach you-seycn in the e.
Venlng.-uow often at that hour have
We together inquired for letters. at
the litlle shop near the church. Yeu
are sitting at your tea-table. encom-
passed by your two rosy boys, your
smiling fairy girl, and your excel
lent husband. How we'll know the
room in the Parsonage. see the
green curtains. the blazing hearth,
and the print of the TRANSPORTATION
over the thimney-piece. You per-
ceive | am acquainted With all your
habits t; but yon have long lost sight
Of me you do not even know the
name | now bear, and which YOU
would tomorrow read in the papers
with Indifference. but for the sheet
which nov trembles in your hand.
A glance at the end will explain
all, and awaken some scorching
sparks of flame, which, ten years
ago. was light to your path, and
warmth to your heart. Oh Mary,
during those years, on what waves
have / been tossed ! Bat can accuse
no one the tempest was raised by
myself. Yet when about to plunge
into the abyss Of death it is indeed
a consolation To reflect. that no pa
rents survive TO shuddcr at my inta-
my, and that yoa bave.gllded calmly
along on gentle and sunny streams,
far from the lightning and the hurri-
cane.
II would be wild selfishncss to
wiring your kind heart nth my hate
tul tale, if were not anxious to be.
queath an indelble lesson to YOU
children. Tour children ! How these
simple words make my hand shake
what vain regrets. what delicious
ness ofonce we'll founded hope do
they not coniure forth before my "a
ching sight Your children! Is it
possible that | am lislng-such as
now | am, WHO might once have
been their father
Do YOU remember the night when
We parted ! We walked from your
fathers house along the path that
winds by the lake the moon was at
her iuIl-that moon, which CLEANED
so sadly on me thcn--on which
have never had the heart since to
gaze.
Two days brought me to London ;
to an inn near the prison, where !
am now immured How rapturous
was my first glimpse of the capitol ;
il seemed the very atmosphere | was
born to breathe. My enjoyment OF
its spIendors was heightened, too. by
the sweet expectation of soon shar-
ing it in your society. For the first
seven months | Sent you a regular q
faithful detail Of ali NY feelings and
actions; he tenth was 10 have return
ed me to Westmorcland; how eagerly
used to lock forward to it but 1t
came to you Without me.
You cannot | paintedmcmbcr one
person. HON fail to re 10 You in CO.
lours the most glowing. ! early re-
garded him with sort Of instructive
admiration for he was one of those
remark able men utWhom we encoun-
ter only two or three IN the course
of lie. His figure was elegant
and noble but his leatnres---it is
difficult to express the UNION which
they comprised of Intelligence, sen
sibIiity, candour, irmness---embel-
lished by peculiar versatility, free.
dom, and Complacency OF address
which the oldest pupils OF refinement
rarely possess, and irrcslstlbIy las
cinatlng to AN unpractlSed eye
Great attention was paid to him by
all, for he was particularly active
and skiliul in all the minute OF Oh
fee. Gradual. he observed me
apologising very eilectually for some
Of my inat curacics, and SAID should
CRAFTY him by an application on a
ny difficulty. One day. he mentioned
in a casual manner. that he was go
ing to support the new play Of a
friend, and asked me to take one OF
his orders and accompany him. We
dined at his chamber here he led
me to speak OF my affairs, my wish