Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-09-03
" And there were sudden partings,
Such as press the life from out young hearts"


On one of Albion's chaky cliffs. there stood
at eventide a lonely sylph, over whose far
form the hand Of indulgent Nature had thrown
the spotless radiance Of angelic beauty. Her
high arched forehead was lux ~riantly adorned
with auburn locks, which wound over her
snowy neck and foated on the eastern gale.
Her eyes but now they were dimmed with
tears and as she often brushed away the heavy
drops to clear her view, (for she gazod s,edfast-
her swelling bosom was rent with many a con.
vulsive sigh, yet not word she spoke; but in
her gaze distraction dwelt. Pale was that
cheek. which once gowed with health and art
less innocence. There was time when her
mind was free from care -thofe was a time that
Mary laughed with the gay and sympathised
with the sorrowing. But how shall she laugh
again who hath drank the bitter cup Of disap-
pointment, and that to the very dregs' How
shall she let fall the tear Of sympathy for 9TH
ers' woes, whose griefs have gone beyond them
all!
Mary was no common girl. From her child
hood she had been distinguished for her un-
common sensibility, her ardent feelings, her
disinterested benevolence, frankness, and gen.
erosity. She was the daughter of poet, a
man of unbendng spirit, of noble independence,
and chivalric honor. He died ere his daughter
had reached her tenth year, and the unk indness
of her mother taught her to regret the irrepora-
BILE lose. He left considerable fortune which
her mothers imprudence wasted, and when in
her fifteenth year she followed her unfortunate
parent to the grave, she found herself an Or
phan, alone and destitute in the wide world.
But that Power which enables the virtuous to
bear up under every vicissitude, supported the
tender plant; and the pelting storms Of adver-
sity, but rendered her more interesting, strength
ened her mind and enlarged her conceptions.
Yet, now and then. she would weep at tho re-
collection Of days gone by. When she saw
her female companions basking in the smiles
Of parental fondness, when sho saw the tear Of
sorrow dried by the sun shine Of paternal afioc
to", S"o "ou'uo oayb N"'o i, 'oo, hdu u idthei!
In spite Of her utmost endeavors these fond re-
grets would arise, and nothing could mako her
forget that she was a /" friendless orphan"
Yes, iiendiess orphan--for the society in
which she was now forced to mngle. afforded
her no congenial spirit, no friend. Although
she joined in all the youthful divert isements Of
her companions, although her goodness, Of
hea.t led her to take lively interest in all that
concerned them, still she felt alone ia the most
jocund and exhilarating assemblies. She was
shrewd. without vanity, and witty without of-
feciation, for the encomuins passed on her un-
derstanding, the compliments on her personal
attractions, ,could yield her no satisfa ction. when
she saw that the most estmabe parts OF her
character lay beyond the ken Of her associates.
Her towering genius was forced TO bend TO hor
condition, but her acute sensibility was not 30
easily conquered. sho ,couid weep at tale
Of misery, and she wouid lavish her scanty
pittancs upon every object Of benevolsncs
which presented itself She was therefore TN
able to maintain the same appearance as her
companions, and frequently underwent consid-
erable contumely on account Of her dchciepcy
in bows and red ribbands. And then "she was
so odd ito read books, and shed tears over
fictitious tales OF distress, Thus whfIe her