Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-04-25
PAsroRErrA was the daughter {


plain country gentleman, whose inde-
pendent circumstances enabled him 10
give her liberal advantages. She pass
ed through all the common forms OF
education, and no expense was spared
to accomplish her mind and person.
But her parents, though kind and in
dulgent, were illiterate, and gave her
entirely into the hands Of her teachers,
not pretending to dictate in what way
she should be taught, or how her studies
should be arranged. In the manage
ment Of her scientific pursuits, the too
common error prevailed. Every study
calculated to elevate her mind and alb
stract her from sclf-admiration, was en-
forced upon her as task, to which she
must submit, because such knowledge
as it would furnish was fashionable; and
as reward for accomplishing such tasks,
she was allowed to read romanccs, nov
els, and that captivating kind of poetry,
which heats the Imagination, but never
mends the heart. She abounded in
feeling and in sentiment; but it was that
feeling and that sentiment which centres
in sell! 1t was easy and delightful to
recline on bed of roses, and melt in
tender anguish over a dying insect; but
carry Pastorctta into sick room where
poverty and sickness were united; bid
her watch dying friend; bid her perform
those Offices which the weakness atten-
dant upon long sickness and conine-
ment require, and she becomes impatient,
her nerves are affected, her delicate
frame is exhausted, and every pretence
is laid hold of that can excuse her atten-
dance, or free her from care. Yet had
you told Pastoretta she was destitute Of
sensibiity, she would have thought you
barbarous. She had been INDUCED in
light reading till her mind was too much
cnervated to bear the dicipline of reason;
and as soon as she was freed from the
restraints of school, all high pursuits
were thrown by, and she was careful to
cherish those delightful emotions only
which. she found luxuriantly described
by the poet and the novelist. When
brought down by unprosperous fortune
to the gross realities Of life, despair and
suicide ensued.
The restraints Of parental authority,
mild as it was, early became irksome |;
and Pastcretta determined by marrying
to become her own mistress. A husband
she was sure could not oppose the wish
es of a wife like her. She promised
herself life of rapture, and believed
that all distress would cease when onoo
freed from a mother's cautions and
fathers advice, which she ever consid-
cred as the offspring of prudery, preju-
dice and affectation, and treated with
open contempt by acting in direct op-
position.
She married, at the early and inexpe-
rienced age Of fifteen, a gentlemen Of a
fine person and much good nature, but
for whom she never felt that deep rooted
esteem absolutely essential to happiness
in the marriage state. After she COM
menced housekeeping, and found that
more must be done than mere
ly to recline on beds of flowers, wander
by charming rivuIets, or waste the day
in reciprocations of fondness, she be-
came retulant, her mouth was no longer
decked with perpetual dimples, she fret
ted, wept and upbraided. Domestic dis
cord soon produced serious and lasting
distress. Her husband, weak in principle
as herself, sought abroad the pleasures
he no longer found at home. Disipa-
ton impaired his constitution, and vast
cd his fortune, bankruptcy cnsued, and
the wife, who ought to have soothed his
sorrow, and by industry and economy
assisted in retrieving his fortune, up
braided him for reducing one, whose
education was so refined, to q mere
household drudge. Such united per-
plexities were too mighty for his enfee-
bled constitution, and Pastoretta was
left widow at the age of thirty. She
had two fine children, but was destitute
of any means Of substance. Some
able friend offered her liberal assistance
that she might establish herself in some
eligible line of business; but Pastoretta
had read in her favourite authors Of men
and women who molly died rather than
receive pecuniary assistance, and believ-
ing that her exquisite sensibility never
could support a state Of dependence,
she obstinately refused all relief, and
suffered her creditors to throw her in
to prison, determining there to finish what
she imagined life Of misery, by poison
She effected her horrid purpose the Sc
cond day Of her Imprisonment, rushing
unbidden into the presence of her eter-
nal Judge, leaving her children unpro-
vided for, uneducated, and to the mercy
of strangers.
Pastorreta is no imaginary character