Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-05-02

bICndIuS, dil tuiS iOIulCu uu uPo'H"Shs
too tempting TO remain long untenated,
in the bright month of August. Accor-
dinghy, il was almost Immediately en-
gagged, by a gentleman in black, who
walked over, ono fair morning, paid ten
pounds as deposit, sent for his trunk
from the next town, and took possession
on the instant.
Her new inmate, who, without posi-
lively declining giving his name, had yet,
contrived to evade all the questions
which Mrs. Kent's simple cunning
could devise, proved perpetual source
of astonishment, both to herself and her
neighbours. He was well made, lit
tie man, near upon forty; with consider
able sternnes Of nature, forehead Of
great power, whose effect was increas-
ed by slight badness on the top of the
head, and an eye like falcon Such
an eye it seemed to 60 through you
to strike all that it looked upon, like a
coups-de-soleii. Luckily, the stranger
was so mercilul, as generally to wear
speciacles; under cover Of which, those
terrible eyes might see, and be seen with
out danger. His habits were as pecul-
lar as his appearance. He was moder-
ate and rather fanciful in his diet; drank
nothing but water, or strong coffee,
made as Mrs Kent observed, very vast
fully; and had, as she always observed,
great number of heathenish-looking
books scattered about his apartment
Lord Berner's Groissart, for instance
Sir Thomas Browns Urn Burial-Isaac
Watson's complete Angler--a Spanish
Don Quixotc-Gethe' Fauss-Basker-
yille's Ariosto-and an enterleavened
Philoetetes, full Of outline drawings.
The greater part Of his time was spent
out Of doors. He would even ramble
away. for three or four days together,
with no other companion than boy,
hired in the village, to carry what Mrs.
Kent denominated his odds and ends;
which odds and ends consisted, for the
most part, Of an angling rod and
sketching pparatus-our incognlto be-
ing as my readers have by this time
probably, discovered, no other than an
artist, on his summer progress.
Robert speedily understood the stran-
ger and was delighted with the opportun-
ity of approaching so gifted a person, al
though he contemplated, with degree
of generous envy, which kings regal
ia would have failed to excite in his bo-
som, those chef d'Gurres of all nations
which were to him as " sealed-books,"
and the pencils whose power appeared
nothing less than creative. He redoub-
led his industry in the garden, that he
might concenciously, devote hours, to
pointing out the deep ponds and shallow
eddies Of their romantic stream, where
he knew, from experience, for Robert,
amongst his other accomplishments, was
no mean brother of the angle, J" that
fish was likely to be found; and, better
still, he loved to lead to the haunts ofhis
childhood, the wild bosky dells, and the
sunny ends of lanes, where sudden
turn in the track, an overhanging tree,
an old gate, cottage chimney, and
groupe of cattle or children, had, some
times, formed a picture on which his
fancy had fed for hours. 1t was Roberts
chief pleasure to entice his lodger to
scenes such as these; and to see his
own visions growing into reality, under
the glowing pencil Of the artist, and he,
in his turn would admire, and marvel at
the natural feeling Of the beautiful,
which could lead an uninstructed coun-
try youth instinctively to the very ele-
ments of the picturesque. 4 general
agreement of taste had brought about
a degree Of association, unusual between
persons so different in rank:--a particu-
lar instance of this accordance dissolv-
ed the intimacy.
Robert had been, for above a fort
night, more than commonly busy in Mr..
Lescombe's garden and hot houses-so
busy that he even slept at the Hall; the
stranger on the other hand had been
during the same period, shut up painting
in the little parlor AT last they met;
and the artist invited his young friend to
look at the picture which had engaged
him during his absence. On walking in
to the room, he saw on the easel, pic
ture in oils, almost finished. The style
was of that delightful kind which COM
bnes figure with landscape: the subject
was Hay-carrying; and the scene, that
very sloping meadow---crowned by Far
mer Bells tall angular house; its vine
wreathed porch and chimneys, the great
walnut tree before the door, the orchard
and the homestead---which formed the
actual prospect from the windows before
them. In the fore ground was wagon,
niled with hay. surrounded hy the farm