Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-06-23
M1ECELEAMY.
THE FAIR MANIAC.
Let pcnsivc pity, pond'ring here,
A scene of sorrow find;
Cunni ch,lI &C Ennlinu nknI AL,r

Let pcnsivo pity, pond'ring here,
scene of sorrow find;
Sweet child Of feeling shed thy tear,
Der beauty's blasted mind.
1t was on q beautiful evening in
spring, that | wandered with the spright-
ly, the gay, the engaging Leander,
along the outskirts Of Philadelphia. -
Nature was arrayed in the gayest garb
woven by the goddess of flowers, and
the distant groves were made vocal by
the charming choristers that sung the
declining glory Of the day. II was a
scene that still fingers in my memory,
and often haunts my waking dreams of
departed happiness. 1t was a picture
bright as the pencil Of a poets imagin-
alton could paint, and even now it pass
es before me like the spirit Of youthful
loveliness. Lives there heart so dead
TO the finer sensibilities Of nature, that
it never recalls the halcyon visions OF
youth and childhood? Lives there a
man that never recalled to his memory,
the sacred hours when he strayed upon
the banks of the murmuring rivulet, or
reposed beneath the outrageous shade
of the sylvan grove? say, is there
heart that does not throb at certain
sounds, and certain scenes which recall
to recollection the sweetest and dearest
moments Of life? Then he is dead to the
Injuries Of the soul! Leander possessed
poets fancy, and the scene inspired
him-there was creation in his own
intellect, even as beautiful and brilian.
as that which surrounded him. He
was formed to feel and to admire ,wheth-
er engaged in the contemplation Of ami
mated or inanimate beauty, His heart
was the throne Of friendship and the en-
pire of love. Such was the character
Of my earliest, my dearest, and lamented
friend.
But digress. As wo returned to
the city, down ono Of the principal
streets, my eye suddenly rested upon a
being of surprising oveliness-beauti-
full in the extreme! Her tall slender
figure was reclining against the railing
at the door of an elegant building, and
she appeared to be absorbed in medita-
ton as she gazed at the cloudless skies
uPob VIC oiNCi hioou. Clc lOOhcu ike
some soft spirit bowing at the shrine of
alteration, as we Involuntary stopped
to admire that face Of angel mould, upon
which the beams Of the luminary fell
softly. She was apparently about six
teen. As we moved forward, her glance
fell upon us, and though our view was
only aided by the feeble rays of the
moon, never did behold so lovely a
creature. What beautiful girl, said /,
as we advanced. Beautiful respond
ed Leander. The sound reached her
ear = she smiled-and fled. If the ten
der passion ever instantaneously infu-
enced the heart of man, Leander was its
victim, at that moment. Wrapped up in
the contemplation Of the being upon
whose fair features he had few MN
utes before gazed, he appeared lost to
surrounding objects, and with his usual
enthusiasm fed upon the recollection of
her smile. Did you ever see her before,
said 1, as I took his arm' But once,
returned ho-and silence again ensued.
When we reached the door Of my dwell
ling, at which we were to part, he arous-
ed from the lethargy into which he had
fallen, and assuming his usual gaiety,
he Observed I will he made acquaint-
ed with that beautiful girl, ere that moon
shall wax and wanc.' You are becom-
ing sentimental; my friend, said I, but
he was deceived, for in few days he