Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-01-26
From the Charleston City Ga=etie.
DOMESTIC BLISS,

When two that are linked in one heavenly tie,
With heart never changing, and brow never cold, :
Love through all ills. and love on till they die
One hour of passion sacred, is worth
Whole ages OF heartless and wandering bliss;
And Tiff there be an Elysium earth,
II is there, it is there. Moore.
One window opening down to the ground,
showed the interior of very small parlour
plainly and modes,ly furnished, but 2aneled
all round with ll.hlled book cases. A lady's
harp stood in one corner, and in another two
fine globes and an orrery. Some small flower
baskets, filed with roses, we're dispersed about
the room; and at a table, near the window, sat
a gentleman writing, or rather leaning over a
writing desk; with pen in his hand, for his
ewes were directed towards the gravel walk be-
fore the window, where lady an elegant look
ing woman, whose plain white robe and dark
uncovered hair well became the sweet; ma
,ronly expression of her face and fgure) was
anxiously stretching out her encoura ging arms
10 her little daughter, who came laughing and
tottering towards her en- the soft green turf; her
tiny teet, as they essayed their first Independent,
steps, in the eSenuul walks oEliie, twisting and
twining with graceful awkwardness, and un-
steady pressure, under the fisproportionate
weight Of her chubby person II was sweet,
heart thrilling SOUND, the joyous, growing
laugh Of that creature, when with one last
bold, mighty effort, she reached the maternal
arms, aud was caught up 10 the maternal
bosom, and half devourcd with kisses, in
an ecstacy of unspeakable love AS if pro-
voked to emulous loudness by that mirthful
outcry, and impatient to mingle its clear notes
with that young innocent voice, blackbird,
cmbowered in tall neighboring bay-tree, pour
ed out forthwith such food oil full, rich melo-
DIV, as .,illed the ba5y's laugh, and, for mo-
ment, arrested its observant ear. But for a
moment The kindred nature burst out into
full chorus. The baby clasped her hands, and
laughed aloud: and, after he: fashion, Knocked
the unseen songs,ress The bird redoubled hcr
tuneful efforts, and still the baby laughed. and
still the bira rcjoiued; and both together rats
ed such melodious din, that the echoes oil the
old church rang again; and never since the con-
test of the nightingale with her human rival,
wa. heard such an emulous conflict oil human
skill. could have laughed, Tor company, from
my unseen lurking place within the dark sha>
dow OF the church buttresses. 1t was altogeth-
er such a scene as shall never forget one
from which could hardly tear myself away
Nay, / did not; stood mo,ionless as statue
in my dark grey niche, till the objects before
me became indistinct 10 twilight, TIL the last
slan,inv sunbeams had Withdrawn from the
highest panes Of the church window, till the
blackbird's song was hashed, and the oabys
voice was still, and the mother and her nursing
had retreated into their quiet dwelling, and the
evening taper cleaned through the fallen white
curtain and still open window.
But vet before that curtain fell, another act
Of The beautiful pantomime had passed IN re-
view before me. The mother with her infant
in her arms had seated herself IN low choir,
within the little parlour. She united the ireck
strings, drew off that, and the second upper
garments, dexterously and at intervals, as the
restless frolics of the still unwsaried baby al
forded opportunity; and then 1t was IN Its niue
coat and stays, The plump white shoulders
shrugged up in antic merriment, Tar above the
slac kened shoulder straps. Thus the mothers
hand slipped off one red>shoe, and having done
so, her lips were pressed, almost as It seemed
inyoluntarily, to The little naked foot she still
held. The other, as il in proud love OF lber-
~. had spurned off to distance the fellow
shoe: aud now the darling, disarrayed Tor its
innocent SAUNDERS, was hushed and Quoted, but
not vet 10 rest; the night dress was still to be
nut on. and the little crib was not there; not yet
70 rest, but to the mighty duty already requi:-
ed Of Young Christians. And In moment II
was hushed, and in moment the small hands
were pressed together between the mothers
hands. and the sweet serious eye was raised
and fixed upon the mothers eye lthere beam
ed rs vet, the infants heasen;) and one saw
,ha, il was lispiug out its unconscious prayers
unconscious, surely net unaceep,ed. a KISS
from maternal lips was the token Of Gods ap'
proval; aud then she rose, and ga'nenns UP
The scattered garments in the same clasp WIN
her half naked babe, she.held 1t smiling 70 i.s
father: and one saw in the expression oil MS
face, as he appraised i. after having imprinted
a kiss on that Of his child, one saw IN II all 'ns
holy fsryor Of fathers blessing.
Then the mother Withdrew her little one,
and then the curtain !ell, and still fingered,
for after the interval Of few minutes, sweet
sounds arrested my departing footsteps: few
notes of the harp, a low prelude stole sweetIy
our. voice still sweeter, mingling its tones with
a soft quiet accompaniment, sweiled out gradu-
CIV into a strain Of sacred harmony, and the
words of the evening hymn came waited TO-.
yards the house Of prayer. Then an was suh
IN The cottage and around il; and the perfect
silence. and the deepening shadows, brought