The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1827-09-06

began to examine more attentively the tca-
lures of those with whom | had any inter
course. The wrongs that had received, or
seen others receive, made me for time al
most misanthropical, and put an ice-band
round my heart, to keep it fromal sympathy.
But there were still some--or rather, there
was oue--whose smiles could thaw the bar
rier had raised, and again call up the boyish
warmth within me. Henricttc was like the
last dream of youth, and when she was lost
to ne, awokc to grief and-manhood.
cannot describe what felt for her, my soul
has not a tongue, or would do it,. Mine was
love that grew almost from infancy, ere /
had learned to
-"Make my heart grave, and in it bury
deep
Its youth and beautiful feelings"
Now can only remember that felt pas
sinn, aud felt it strongly, hut the different
grades Of sensation which then experience
ed, are lost to me forever, or if at times
am able to recall them, they do not come
freshly back upon me, but indistinctly and
confusedly stealing across my memory,
"Fantly, as does an i'll Remembered dream"
Even in manhood have sometimes been
thrown of my guard by Kind expression
of countenancc, and placed in 1t the implicit
confidence Of younger and better age; but
on these occasions have often had to repent
of my sudden and unquestioning ttith. a.
| bout four years ago, | wandered with some
friends on the Continent, and stopped to re-
fresh at a little village inn: the landlord was
ont, but his wife looked wildly and almost
fcart4lly at US, and spoke III very incohe-
rent manner. There was little boy appar-
ently of about six years If age N a corner OF
the room, whose ccuntenance struck me az
possessing the most beautiful expression
mad ever beheld in a child. By degrees ne
crouched towards US, antI in a whisper told
US that his mother Was suffering under men
tai c"rsnge mcnt; which had been partly oc-
casioned by the ill-treatment Of his father
who stili bc,t her cruelty at times. The art
less manner in which the CHILD spoke Of it,
mothers wrongs, interested us strongly, and
We gave him few peces OF silver OIL leav-
ing Tie house. The day after this. we made
some INQUIRIES, aud fouad that tho boy had
/ spoken the truth with regard to the conduct
Of his father but omitted to state that his
own infant hands had also been raised against
His parent in her hclplessness. 1t was d
bitter pang to me when / thought the child
had reached his very mAnIiood in crime, and
seemed as If he had imbibed hypocrisy and
guilt evcn from his birth. 1t set aside the,
CRY in which l had long indu'ged, ant
weakened my confidence in others, 1t wa:
like finding venon in a spring blossom.
began to doubt whether had myself beer
quite so innocent in childhood as had i'm
agined, for | found that my suspicious OF the
world had robbed me Of many very many
! of INV sweetest feelings: and | almost ian
ced that some drcam had given rise TO thu
idea, and that memory had preserved it
OH that my mind could go back again to it
cight-year-old imaglnings On that my
heart could revert to the Juvenile affection
and innocent associations Of my youth!----
What have since learned that Can at al
compensate for their loss Inc man ma
added little to the child's stock of genera
knowledge, but the biissfui feelings and th
happiness Of the child arc lost to the man for
ever,