Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-05-14

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fair morning, paid ten pounds as a deposit, sent
for his trunk from the next town, and took pos
session on the instant.
Her new inmate, who, without positively de.
Ginning giving his name, had yet, contrived
TO evade all the questions which Mrs. kents
simple cunning could devise, proved a per.
petuai source Of astonishment, both 10 herselI
and her neighbours. He was a well made, 1T
tie man, near upon forty; with considerable
sternness of nature, a forehead of great power,
whose effect was increasedb by a slight badness
on the top Of the head, and an eye like a falcon.
Such an eye it seemed to go through you
to'strike all that il looked upon, like a eouPe-de-
soIsI. Luckily, the stranger was so merciiui,
as generally to wear spectacles; under cover oil
which, those terrible eyes might see, and be
seen without danger. His habits were as pecu-
liar as his appearance. He was moderate and
rather fanciiul in his diet; drank nothing but
water, or strong coffee, made as Mrs kent OBJ
served, verv wastefulIy, and had, as she always
observed, a great number Of heathenish looking
books scattered about his apartment-Lord Der
ner's Groissart, for instance-Sir Thos. Browns
Urn Burial-Isaac Watson's complete Angler
"a Spanish Don Quixote-GGthe's Fauss-
Baskerville's Arioslo-and an enterleaven-
ed PhiIuetetes, full Of outline drawings. The
greater part Of his time was spent out oil doors
He would even ramble away, for three or Tour
DAYS together, with no other companion than a
boy, hired in the village, TO carry what Mrs. Kent
denominated his odds and ends; which odds and
ends consisted, for the most part, oil an angling
rod and a sketching apparatus-our incognllo
being as my readers have by his time probably,
discovered, no other than an artist, on his sum-
mer progress.
Robert speedily understood the stranger and
was delighted with the opportunity OF approach
ing so gifted a person, although he contemplate
ed, with a degree of generous envy, which a
kings regalia would have failed 10 excite in his
bosom, those chef d'ourres of all nations which
were 10 him as 'seaIed-books,," and the pencils
whose power appeared nothing less than crea-
tive. He redoubleG his industry in the garden,
tina, he might conscicnciously 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 ac-
complishments, was no mean "brother OF the
anple,") that fish was likely 10 be found; and,
better still, he loved to lead TO the haunlsof his
childhood, the wild bosky dells, and the sunny
ends of lanes, where a sudden turn in The track,
an overhanging tree, an old gate, a cottage
chimney, and a groupe Of cattle or children,
had, sometimes, formed a picture on which his
fancy had fed for hours IL was Roberts CHIEF
pleasure to ent:ce his lodger 10 scenes such as
these; and 10 see his own visions growing into
reality, under the glowing pencil Of The artist,
and he. in his turn would admire, and marvel
al the natural feeling Of the beautiful, which
could lead an uninstructed country youth IN
slinctively to the very elements OF the plctur-
esque. A general agreement Of taste had
brought abon, a degree OF association, unusu al
between persons so different in rank:-a parti-
cular instance of this accordance dissolved the
intimacy.
Robert had been, for above q fortnight, 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 bad
been during the same period, shut up painting
in the little parlor. Al last they met; and the
artist invited his young friend to look at the
picture which had engaged him during his alb
scnce. On walking into the room, he saw on
the easel, a picture in oils, almost finished
The style was Of that delightful kind which
combines figure with landscape: the subJec. was
Hay.carrying; and the scene, that very sloping
meadow-crowned by Farmer Bells tall angu-
lar house; lis vine-wreathed porch and Chin
MES. 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 a wagon, piled with hay.
surrounded by the farmer, and his hne family,
some pitching, some loading some raking after,
all intent on their p~leasan, business. The only
diseDgaged persons in the field were young
Mary Kent and Harry Bell, an urchln OF four
Years old, who rode on her knee on the top Of
the wagon, crowned and wreaihed with gariands
o. vine leaves and bindweed, and peoples and
corn-lowers In the front, looking up at Mary
Kent and her little brother, and p~layiuliy toss
ing them the lock Of hay, which she had gath
cred On her rake, stood Susan Bell, her head
thrown back, her bonnet half of, her light and
lovely figure shown in all its grace, by the pref
,y attitude. and the short cool dress; while her
sweet face, glowing with youth and beauty, had
a smile playing over it like a sunbeam. The
boy was n~odding, and laughing to her, and
seemed longing-as well he might-te escape
from his lowery bondage, and Jump into her
arms. Never had poet Fl FAMED a Iovelier image
Of rural beauty! Never had painter more felicit-
ously realized his conception.
"Well, Robert" exclaimed our artist, a lit