The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-10-26
THE. BIRTH DAY.
BY MRS HEMANs.

| Bt DO nor, MINK TINS c0uStnnf hfnff
Can eper cease. migrate, 10 lore fhee
No--spife Of MI his cold disdain
m bless the hour uhsu first Fnct three,
Ind rdlhsr bear ffhofe ytars Of pam
Tbnn cen for one. short hour fargtf thee.
" foreei thee 9 No
| The bells Of the church at N
were ringing merry peal. and the
whole village was in delightful
hustle on the morning when Arthur
NormanYille completed the twenty
first year. He was the only son
and heir of Sir Robert Norman
vile, and. from his goodness Of
heart and urbanity of manners, was
deservedly a general favorite with
the tenants and peasantry in the
neighbourhood. Great preparations
had been some time making To eel
ebrated his coming of age. mag
nilioent ball was to be given in the
evening, to which the gentry for ma
ny miles round were invited. Nor
were the poorer class forgotten. for
they had an ample share in the
strong ale AMI good cheer abound.
ing on the occasion.
Sir Robert had been widower
for some ears. and all his hopes
and affections conferred in this son.
who. in truth, was in every respect
worthy OF fathers love.
In early youth, Sir Robert had
formed an ardent attachment 10 the
beautiful lady Emily Darrell. lie
had some reason to hope that his
affection was returned aud, as his
lineage and expectations on the score
of fortune were uncxceptioDable.
he apprchended no rejection from the
lady's friends. Things were il this
happy train. when the sudden death
of his father rendered Sir Roberts
presence necessary in the country,
and il was two months before he a.
gain visited the metropolis. In
| that time, what n change had taken
place His beloved Emily no longer
seemed TO rejoice in his presence /;
but all her smiles and attentions
were given to Lord Morton, Who
had. during Normanyillc's absence,
professed unbounded admiration for
the fair coquettc. True, h,s for
tune was morc ample than SIR ilo-
bcrt's--but could he offer her a
heart more true and a!lrctipnateiy
devoted to her service q. NJ Il
is impossible tn describe the dis
of Sir Robert, When he learned thai
Lord Morton had actually made
proposals for his fair cnslaver's
hand, aud that the marriage was
expected Immediately. Sir Robert
resolved 20 set off for the Continent.
but being detained two days at Do
yer. through tcmpcstnous weather
aud adverse winds. the newspapers
announced 10 him the union of Lady
Emily and Lord Morton.
This early disappointment threw
a sombrc shade over the aiter,liIe OF
Sir Robert Norinanyillc. Fi,e-and-
twenty years bad now passed away.
yet Sir Robert still remembered La
dy Emily in all the beauty and fresh
ness of her youth. She died five
years after her marriage. leaving
one child, a daughter. Some years
after her death, Sir Robert met
Lord Morton in London but cool
how OF recognition was all that pass
ed between them and, as the fur
mer never visited the gay world,
he saw no more Of his LordShip, who
had now been dead about two years,
and the guardianship of his dangh-
ter transferred to her maternal aunt.
Report spoke of her as being
beautiful b amiable (; and as she
was an hciress, she had no lack oil
lovers. Within the last year, how
ever, she had most unaccountab y
refused several offers which nad
been made to her by suitors ofrank.
Sir Robert NormanviIle's stately
edifice was this evening blaze ol
light variegated lamps were taste
fully disposed in iticrent parts oil
the grounds. and the decorations Of
the ballroom presented all that could
delight senses. The company was nn-
merous d splendid, 4. Sir Robert APP
peared to have lost his usual melan-
choly, and to share in the general
lestivity. The merry dance began,
and Sir Robert gazed proudly ON
his son, whose polished manners
and hadnsome person gained him
many smile from fair and high
born ladies'. The delighted father
had placed himself near to one OF