Literary cadet, and Saturday evening bulletin. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1826-1827, 1826-09-30

FOR THE LITERARY CADET.
THE MYSTERIOUS VISITORS,
LEGENDARY TALE,
By RICHARD NJ. STOCKTON.
CHAPTER


were thrown upon their ores."-1TdueS oJ FahG
hennipen and the Count La Sale
At length the morning broke in all its splendor
and brillancy and reflected over the waters Of the
rolling Atlantic, as they lashed the rugged and
iron bound strand. The feathered songsters, the
martin and the nightingale warhled their choral
laws around the peaceful mansion Of Bishop BERK-
lev that delightful retreat for the muses. and phi
!osophy. "Dorotha," said the Bishop as his faith
full maid entered the apartment, Il know not how IT
is but there is a strangeness Of feeling presiding
over me; and apprehend that the adventure, of
tho last Eight will unfit me for the duties of the
day. get thee good girl to the kitchen, and prepare
me some beverage, for am faint and exceedingly
thirsty" Doratha alarmed, and as she begged
to be informed Of the nature ofthe illness OF her
good patron, an expression ofnquietude and solici-
tude pervaded her countenance, and she seemed
unwilling to perform the duties assigned her, till the
Bishop ,hould make known the nature of his indis
position "Alas," said she, "sood father Bishop, tell
me what may be the cause of thy illness" "ieed
ye not me-" returned the Bishop, IL shall soon get
over i,;-a little refreshment will restore me; get
thee good Doroths, and prepare my simple repast.'
Doroths, as if yet unwilling to obey the nadate of
her patron and protector, slowly merged from his
study an. commenced her morning empoyments,
but not without med,ating on ihe strangeness Of
the conduct Of the Bishop. When she returned,
she found him his knees, at the altar of his God,
Offering up his prayers and praises to the Most
High. There was n forvency in his manner, she
remarked, which she had not always witnessed
when listening to his CALCULATIONS they ascended
" the Throne Of Grace. There was something
unusual in his department. .-Dorotha, fixed with
astonishment, listened, and, amazed, heard him inn
plore the benedctons Of heaven to rest the head
of one whose name she had never before heard
tculated il was for Maria Angelica that his soul
now outpoured itself 40 thou God of Mercies,"
ne exclaimed, "srant that may be the happy in
,rument of relieving and restoring the unfortunate
Maria Angelica to her family, and her home;--
Everlasting King of Kings, preserve her from the
rude winds and the pitess storm;-O thou that re-
gardest the sparrows fall let no harm come to her;
pour upon the helpless maiden thy bountes, and
suve one so young, oyely, and so virtcous, from
the ills that surround her." For moment he
paused; his hands clasped, his eyes upturned;
for moment he gazcd upon a symbol of Religion,
and then, as if bursting from profo und reverie,
rose hastily, and whilst a smile played upon his
countens nce he exclaimed, " God is merciful anc
am blest.' lie turned suddenly, and in the con-
fusion of the moment, cast indignant look on
Dorotha. Child" said he, somewhat harshly,
Swhy interpretation me in those moments. when
devote myself to Religion and my GoR Why
woudst thou pry into the secrets OF my heart'-
Go to, unkind, too curious girl, and learn that
thy protector and thy patron will not submit to thy
intrusions, or to the ndignities too frequently Of
fered by thine Unsuitable curiosity. Get thee
hence, and leave me to my meditaiions." Never
before had the faithful Dorotha witnessed the work
ing, Of an angry spirit on the Bishop, and for
she was alarmed lest he should in his WRATH dis
miss her from his service, and abandon her to the
rude treatment Of the Aboriginals. 80 father
Bishop murmured the unhappy GIRL forgive me,
for indeed knew not that should offend thee, and
twas but TO bring thee these poor refreshments
that entered thy hallowed apartment. Pardon, |
forgive ond spare the innocently offending Doro- |
tha;--do not, in mercy, beseech thee, wreak thy
vengeance on her who is at thy mercy, and who, !
without thy friendship must be indeed forlorn aud
miserable" She wept bitterly as she closed her
supplication and the Bishop too plainly, that
he had unnecessarily wounded the feelings Of his
faithful and afectionate Dorotha. "Good Doro-
thy, wipe thy tears away" he said" spoke hast-
ly, indeed am not ofended-I meant not what |
sad-thiDk no more Of it my child-leave me once
more to my study, and when shall want thee, thou
shalt be summoned to my apartmen',by the ringing |
the bell. The weeping Dorotha retired, but not |
without first having pressed the hand of the Bishop
to her lips, and receiving his benedictions.
II was in vain that the Bishop strove, during the
day, to employ himself in writing his "Minute Phi
iosopher," for his mind was inverted from every |
other subject by the strangene.s of the last nights
adventure, and the mysterious conduct of Maria
Angelica. Often he gazed upon the paequet which
she had intrusted to his care, and was half inclined
to examine its contents, believing that they would
olive tie msntled history Of the Mysterious Vi
sitors; but then he remembered the injunction OF
Maria Angelica, and he reluctantly threw aside the
pacquet, rendered 30 valuable by the uncertainty
of its contents
Nor could he divert his mud from the contem-
plstion ofthe nights transactions; and he esayed