Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-12-01

her little brother had been used to row their TAI
ny bark; Of the Chalots, when in their noun.
tain rambles, they had been toasted on rural
danties by the hospitable peasants; OF the bound
ing chamois and of their daring hunters, a.
monpst whom her brother Theodore, and a
Young friend of his, whom she called Horace,
had been foremost in bold enterprise; and then
she told, how once returning from long ana
yenturous chase, the friends had brougnt ne'
home little wounded chamois; ana .ne eni'-
dren, never tired of hearing how she hau ~, ~
ed and reared, and at last, with success
unexampled, brought to perfect -,athe"I ~ M
wild creature of the mountain; ana NV
andreuil-they had learnt 10 SPEAK NO :'aias
and that of Theodore famihar'y 'u -. ~
;,s slender ele,.n, neck with small silver COL
lar ON which was engraven, "J'apparf'sns q
Blanche od ~
Once the little inquisitive creatures had IN
nocen,lv questioned her about her parents; ask.
inc. ;f she had loved them as dearly as they aiu
their papa and mamma, but then, the oniy an
ever thew obtained was, that the mlrthtul voice
ot their cheerful playfelow died away into ire
mulous inar,iculatc sound, and that suddenly
h;dnr her face on the far bosom OF the young
est child. who was seated on her lap, she gave
wav. for the first time before them, to an agony
of fears and sobs that wrung their young hearts
with distresslul sympathy, and soon me'tea
them all TO tears as they chung around ner, win
their sweet, loving, broken consultations. mere
is something more soothing in the caressins
tenderness Of childish sympathy, than IN all the
consolatory efforts of mature reason In the
FIRST agony of bereaved heart, or rather when
the first benumbing shock is passing away, who
would not shrink from rational comtorters,
from persuasive kindness, from the very voice
of friendship itself, to weep unestrainedly In
the clasping arms Of an infant; on its pure in
nocent bosom? 1t is as if commissioned an
gel spoke peace from Heaven, pouring the
balm of heavenly comfort on wound too re-
cent 10 bear touch less gentle, less divine.
From that hour the little girls spoke only OF
Theodore and Horace, when, collected round
Blanche, they pleaded for one of her "pretty
stories about Switzerland" From the secret
indulgence of tender recollections, and dreamy
hopes, Blanche insensbly fell into those habits
of abstraction too common for persons OF ina
ginatiye minds, and deep and repressed sensi-
bility, and not unfrequently she drew upon her.
self the sharp observation Of Miss Crawford, or
the cold surprise Of Mrs. L. by starting In bash
full confusion, al the repetition OF some question
or remark, which had failed in rousing her at
tention when first addressed to her. 1t was an
evil habit, and Blanche was conscious OF its be-
ing so, and she listened with penitent humility
TO Miss Crawford's school lectures on the "ai-
fectation and i.breeding of young persons who
gave way 10 absence Of mind,' and to Mrs LIS
wonder at "what Mademoisele could be think
ing OFF, What could she be thinking of?--Oh
heavens!-In that dull square, pacing those for
NAL walks, under those dusty trees, in that more
dull, more formal drawing-room, when the
prattling tongues other little charges were no
longer at liberty: when she feels herself indeed
a stranger and an alien, what could she think
of, but Of the days that were past, and OF those
that might be in store for her. And then there
swan before her eyes visions OF white low
dwelling all empowered in honey-suckle; OF
little green wicket in a sweet briar hedge; and
of one who leant over it, idling away The pre-
cious moments, long after he had presented the
garland or the nosegay, arranged for her hair
or her bosom; and then the scene changed to a
grass plat and group Of linden trees, and her
own dear parents sat under their shade, with
other elders Of the village, whose children were
mngling with her in the merry dance on that,
fine green sward, to the sweet tones Of Iheo-
dore's flute; and then there were parting tears
and inarliculate words; and the agony Of young
hearts at first separation, and little boat les
sening across the lake, and waving hands; and
the last glimpse, on the opposite shore, Of gilt
tering uniforms and waving plumes; and then
there was darkness, and fear and trouble; and
the shadow Of death fell on the dear white co.,
tage, and a sullen bell tolled; and yet again, *
one funeral, and then another wound away from
lis low entrance, across the grass plat beneath
the linden trees, towards the church But the
fond dreamer shut her eyes to exclude that tor
turing sight-and then-and then the harsh
voice OF some cold observer called her to reali-
ty, and to painfully confused consciousness, of
the surprise and displeasure her inatteDtion had
excited. Poor Blanche! thou hadst been the
beloved of many hearts! the darling Of some!
the object Of almost exclusive affection! How
difficult TO be contented with less! How cold,
by comparison, the after interest we may awak-
en- in other hearts; even in gentle and tender
hearts, whose first affections are yet given to
dearer claimants. How hard to endure the
measured kindness Of mere we'll wishes; the
constrained courtesy of we'll bred indifference;
the unintentiona Sigh, Of the regardless many;
the cutting contumey of the malicious few!
How whitening, contrastsd with former looks
Of love, and its endearing tones, the severe
glance of a cens3rious eye, the harsh in1exion of
areproving voice. How bitter 10 remember all
one has been 10 some dear departed being, and