The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1827-04-19
BLANCHE D'ALBI.


Blanche DAlbi, at the time o. her decease,
had been for more than a twelye-month
resident in the family of Mr.. L., one oS
the worthiest merchants in the city OF Lon
don.-She had been engaged as French gov
erncss to his four little daughters, who were
also provided with an English teacher, and
attended by half the masters in the metrop-
oils The young Swsses had been received
on the most unexceptionable recommenda-
tion, as to character, connexions and ele-
CANT requirements, but nothing more OF her
private history was communicated, than that
she was the only daughter OF respectable
Protestant minister. The sudden death of
both her parents, occurring within few
months of each other, had left her, at the
age OF eighteen, destitute orphan, deprlv-
ed of the protection OF an only brother, whos
previous to the death of their parents, had
taken service in the Swiss corps of De Meu-
ron, and had accompanied that regiment to
India. So situated, Blanche D'Albi had re-
course tor her futuremaintenance to the ex
pedient 80 often resorted to- even under hap
pier circumstances, by numbers OF our young
cOuntry-women.
In company with several young persons
from her own canton, embarked on the same
enterprise, and provided with such Iecom-
mendations as could be obtained to mercan-
tile houses in London, or to such OF her own
countrvmen as were already established
there, Blanche bade adieu to her own "ro-
mantle land" and very shortly after her ar
rival in England, it was her good fortune
to be engaged in the family of Mr.. L.
where her situation might with truth have
been called almost enviable, compared WITH
the general lot Of young persons in the same
circumstances. She shared the same school,
roum, and the task of educating four engag-
ing spoilt children, with an elderly English
governess, to whose domineerng, but not
harsh temper, she willingly yielded submis-
sion, and was therefore treated by MISS
Crawford with somewhat OF the lndulgent
consideration she would have bestowed ON
an elder pupil. The little girls soon attach
ed themselves fondly to their young indul-
gent governess, and their affection soon OBJ
tained for all the good will and unbending
kindness it was in the nature OF Mrs. L--
to confer on any human being in dependent
situation. Mr.. L., man OF COOL and
formal manners, fully impressed with the
! sense of his own wealth and consequence,
but on whose better feelings were not all
sacrificed at the shrine of Mammon, treated
her with invariable ard almost attentive po-
liteness, during the stated intervals when, in
attendance OH her young charges, she was
admitted to his society. 1t is true, he ex"
changed but few words with her, and those
appeared constrained, as if by the latent fear
of compromising his dignifed Importance;
but there was gentleness IN the tone OF his
voice when he addressed himself to the TIM
id orphan, and benevolence of his eyes,
which carried with them to the young be-
rcaved heart Of Blanche D'Albi, far kind
lcr signihcaton than was implied by the
mere words of his nnvaried formal sauta.
tion, II hope you are we'll to-day, Ma'm-
selle?''
These were among her happiest moments
when, encirclcd by her young attentive au'
ditory, she spoke to them-for to them she
could speak OF tot her own native land, OF
its high mountains, whose tops were white
with snow in the hottest summer days; OF
the seas oficc, with their hard frozen ridges;
of its beautiful clear lakes, on one of which
a she and her little brother had been used to
row the fairy 6ark-of the Chalots, when in
their mountain rambles, they had been feast
= ed on rural dainties by the hospitable peas
;. ants-of the bounding chamois, and OF their
: daring hunters, amongst whom her brother
r Theodore, and Il young friend OF his. whom
. she called Horace, had been foremost; and
then she told how, once returning from
i long and venturous chase, the frienas hao
brourht home a little wounded chamols-
ard the children, never tired Of hearing how
she nursed and reared. and at last, with sue
: cess almost unexampled. brought to perfect
= tameness. the wild creature OK the noun
: tam and how Horace Vaudreul (they had
learned lear, W to speak his name and that of The
:, odorc familiarity had eacircled its slender
). elegant neck with, small silver collar, or
!, which was engraven, "J'ahhaftiens {
:. Blauche."-[I belong to Bianche.]
= Twice since her residence in the family @
MIR. L., the monotonous existence o
' Blanche had been diversified by occurrence
d OF unspeakable Importance to her. Twice
6 had she received letters from India--volu
= minous letters, penned by more than on
r hand, in answer to plans to seek an honorable
h subsistence as govcrness in some Englis
family. 1t is easy to conceive the deepl
" affecting purport of that fraternal answer
,e Even from that fearful distance, the heart
OF the orphans met and mingled. The tear
, of Theodore had blotted the lines, on whic
" those of Blanche fell, as she read, like sum
). NOR ran-Grnps--as free, as fast, and @