Literary cadet, and Saturday evening bulletin. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1826-1827, 1827-03-10

quaintance, they informed me, was but
recent, aud yet there appeared to be
warmth Of affection in their manner, more
expressive of the attachment and ferven-
cy of youth than of persons Of their ad-
vanced age. II was congenialis; of
thanght and feeling a mingling Of the
kndest sympathies Of nature, SO seldom
met with at that season when the warmer
emotions Of the hOsom are supposed to
be chilled into listless apathy by the re-
lentIess hand of time.
One Of the grandmothers raised her
spectacles upon her venerable brow, and
pointing to her children, who had now
retired to an opposite corner ofthe room
TO be alone in their infant sports, remark
ed to me in a tone of cheerful gralifca-
ton, that their little grandchildren we're
the pride of their hopes, and one ofthose
blessings which Providence in kindness,
so often rears up, to give sweetness 10
the close of long life. turned my
attention with some emotion from The
aged couple to their little charge, and
with an anxiety more instructive than
voluntary, placed the miniatures in her
hands, simply observing, they were fam
lily relicts fifty years ago. She cast her
eyes upon that which resembled the
grandchild of her companion, and care
fully perused the features Ofeach and the
antique casing of the picture, when a
CLEAN of recollection passed wildly over
her mind, and her agitated frame mani
tested an effect, which to me was as pain
ful as it was mysterious. Her eyes were
fixed upon the miniatures as upon
charm, and perceived, at last, the tears
to trickle from fount which, thought,
age must long since have dried up. The
only words she uttered, in tremulous
voice, were 3" My dear, dear Mary"
and placing the picture upon the table,
she buried her face in her handkerchief
Her friend, who was scarcely less affect
ed than lost in wonder at this unexpect-
ed excitement. took up the sketches at
the moment, and similar effect was vs-
ible her countenance became alternately
bright and gloomy, and all recollection
or consciousness seemed to fade Itrem-
bled with astonishment, and feared that
| had awaked some hidden misfortunes
which might now embitter their existence,
and bring wretchedness upon an age
when every care was hushed and passed
away in the years that were gone. She
soon however recovered, and again view
ing the miniatures, with a calm and
strengthened voice, she exclaimed -
Z" The face of my dear little Elem" A
pause ensued--they glanced alternately
at each other, then the pictures, and then
the already excited children, when re-
cogni,ion took place which was not
prepared to expect. With scarcely
strength to support themselves, they en-
braced each other, and presented before
my astonished sight fact, too manifest
to be m,staken:-Ihey were the tss'n
fovers" of Brier Bush Their little
grandchildren, the exact likeness ofthem-
selves in childhood, now, for the first
time, brought the reality to view. Words
on such an occasion, would convey but
a faint representation of their feelings.
Time would be required TO open each
others hearts in the calm narration Of
its sentiments. All was now as the pass
ing of some great natural phenomenon
that only left time to wonder and inquire.
A mutual explanation followed, as the
embarrassments and interruption of feel
ing would permit. The thousand little
incidents in the chain of events, from
their infant sports on the green of Brier-
Bush, to the presen, time, were recalled
and dismissed without regard TO order or
precision, and they now looked upon
each other with feeling warmer than
he first throbbings Of their youthful
hearts.
1t might seem strange that the mere
representation of themselves in early life,
however well executed, should awaken a
recollection which the living pictures be-
fore them had never done; but when We
reflect upon that latent remembrance
which generally exists, of some choice
family relic, even to the latest period of
life, the difficulty will be explained. If
their grandchildren had ever excited such
Al. L.. =. L. l.,lr