Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-06-02

exquisite essence IN IT'S ttdc0n OF gilded
glass. The delight it was to the in
quisitive children to pry over and over
again, into every drawer and compart-
meat in this beautiful box And
Blanche was too sweet-tempered 10
refuse the often asked indulgence, On
ly she watched with jealous care, lest
their little busy fingers should unwil-
,ingly injure any part Of the delicate
workmanship; and if Miss Crawford
was present. she resisted with evident
annoyance their opportunities to be
allowed to take out Of cunning
srcret drawer (Which had not long re-
mained secret from them,) two beauti-
fuI little pictures" so beautiful ~
they said, and Zone so like Ma'am-
selle !'-That one was her brothers
miniature and when they asked her
if she did not love him dearly for send
ing her such fine present, she smiled
and blushed, and simply answered,
that she did indeed dearly love him.
The little girls were not long in dis
co, er,ng, moreover, that the return of
this dear brother had been announced
in his last letter. The regiment was
recalled to Europe, and he wrote on
the eve of embarkation.
Ii so happened, that on the very
evening when the heart of Blanche
vas Overfowing with its secret hoard
Of gladness, oh! how long had that
poor heart been stranger to such
b!issfnl feelings Mrs. LIS cir
'!e was large and gay one, and a
proposal to form quadrilles being sud-
denly made, and as promptly acceded
to, Mademo;selle was detained to take
her patient sitting at the piano-forte.
She had always acceded with willing
sweetness to similar acquisitions, but
this evening she sat down 10 the in
slrument with even joyous readiness,
and the exnberance of her happiness,
found expression in such sprightly
measures, that her flying fingers soon
ou'stri pit the common time Of the dan
GERS, and many breathless calls for
moderation were sent towards her
from the scamprring and despairing
performers. Then would she laugh
and blush, and shake her bead in
playful self reproach at her own law
less performance. and for whie-a
very Little while-the restless fling ers
were restrained to slower movements:
once or twice she looked towards the
dancers, as if with vehement longing
to spring up and mingle N their gay
volutions ; bu. those glances were
momentary, and her eyes dropped
again upon the ivory keys but such
a smiling and half cAuIting play fulness
!urked about her mouth, as if she we're
anticipating some hour of future glad
ness, when she should join hands once
more in the merry dance with the
companions of her youth, on the earth
the lovely green sward, of her own
dear country. Whatever were the
fond reveres Of poor Blanche, it is
certain that her musical task was so
unequaIly performed that evening, as
to cause much discontinue among the
dancers, at length dcspairngly mani
tested in their relaxing exertions, and
in the tedious, lounging pauses between
the sets.
During one Of these, small knot
Of gentlemen stood conversing Will,
Mrs. l., close to the piano forte,
on which, mingled with music, book;
and manuscripts, lay several PAM
phlets and newspapers. One of the
gentlemen, carelessIy giancing his
eye over the miscellaneous heap,
caught up paper with suddenly ex-
cited interest, exclaiming, "Ah! here
is already public account of the
melancholy occurrence, of which my
letters from Madras make mention. y
Then rapidly he read aloud the para
graph which stated that, "The Regi-
ment de Meuron being under orders
for Europe, had been safely embarked
on board the transports provided for
its reception, all but the last boat
consisting of the Lieut.. Colonel, his
lady, and their family, and two young
officers of the regiment, when by some
mismanagement the boat was sudden
y upset in that tremendous surf, and
Notwithstanding the exertions of the
natives or their attending cotamarans