Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-04-21

! man ndu, however, the prudence II
make some attempts to conceal this ex
pectation; and Lena was too modest I,
confess how fully she relied on the pro
misses, made by boy OF fourteen to ;
girl of ten years old. When sustaining
bitter disappointment in the neglect 0
the young merchunt, who returned tt
his native place without making any in
quiry concerning his old friends, she
still remained silent, and would gladl,
have avoided the subject altogether.-
But she was not suffered to grieve ovel
her bhghted hopes in secrets the vexa.
ton OF her inJudicious parent was un.
governable; she scoldcd ana fretted her.
sell into lever: and the agitation ol
her spirits, when beginning TO subslde
was revived again by an unfortunate Cir
cumstance. Maurice Kettler, unaware
of the place of Mrs. Bruggemann's re-
treat, had become the purchaser Of the
adjoining house and land. Lena now
felt much difficulty in tranquilizing the
emotions which disturbed her bosom's
peace. She could not approach the lat
tice without catching glimpse OF Mau-
rice. Tall, graceful, and finely propor-
toned, he still retained the beautiful lin
eaments which she had so well remem-
bered. His thoughtless good humor,
and unbounded liberality, were likewise
unaltered; and he seemed changed on
ly in his forgetfulness of her. She was
also much distressed by the incessant
complaints of her mother Seldom
lifting her thoughts above this world,
Mrs. Bruggemann never ceased to be-
wall the change in her circumstances;
and totally unconscious Of her own un-
worthncss, presumed to charge heaven
with injustice in permitting the visitation
of so many heavy Affections. Lena's
pious feelings were continually shocked
by the utterance Of the revolving senti-
ments Of an unregenerate mind, and she
vainly tried to incuIcate the holy pre-
cepts Of the gospel, and to bring her
nearest and dearest relative to a sense
Of the divine goodness. Sometimes, in
order 20 soothe her mothers irritabilty,
she would throw up her fine eyes to heav-
en-, pronounce her conviction that bet
ter days would ensue; and though in COM
mon with all true Christians, looked en-
ly to future state for the enjoyment of
pure felicity, yet, depending upon an
omnipotent power, she did not despair of
attaining happiness on earth.
In addition to her other disquietudes,
poor Lcna's ideas of propriety were cru
ely outraged by the vulgar pleasure
which Mrs. Bruggemann derived in
and commenting upon every
thing that passed at her neighbor's; but,
too dutiful to reproye the mere follies
and mistakes Of parent, she endured
the annoyance in silence, striving to sub
due her own vexation at the incorrigible
disposition which forbade all hope OF do
nestle peace.
The wassail and banqueting at the
great house were without end, every
night a brilliant illumination shone from
the windows, and the sound Of revelry
and merriment penetrated Lena's distant
apartment. Often, too, when the bright
moon tipped the trees with silver, II joy
ousparty feasted in the stately garden.
Lovers hight be seen stealing away
through the bleached alleys, chequered
only by the rays which came dancing
through the waving branches of Towering
shrubs; and Maurice Kettler, the life and
soul ofthe entertainment, doing The hon
ors to all his guests, while he lavished the
most flattering attentions upon one. Le-
na, tired of contention, sometimes suffer-
ed herself to be dragged to the window
on these OCCASIONS; and she struggled
hard with her feelings when surveying
The naughty airs and disdainfuI manners
Of the beautiful Cunegonde. - Might she
not feel glad, to see how small a chance Of
there was for Maurice in his
choice NO, no: she was too
gentle, too kind, too forgiving, to indulge
a sentiment so inimical to her angelic
and she grieved at the indica-
lions of an imperious temper which the
bride continually diplay
Mrs. Bruggemann, vexed that she could
find very few faults in the personal ap-
pearance ofthe lady, aud somewhat awed
by her proud looks and scornful gestures,
openly rejoiced at the prospect of we'd
led infelicity which awaited the mer-
chant. The gossiping DANES attention
was, however, soon called off from the
affairs Of others by the pressure of pow
,rty at home. She could not find any
sale for her yarn; and there was far less
demand than heretofore for her daugh-
er's embroidery. Lena bore the priva-
ions which their lessened profits entailed
lpon them, with all her usual patient
sweetness. She toiled from morning un-
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