Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-08-09


was at that period student Of med
'cine, and was in the habit Of spending
"a great portion Of my time in the hous,
OF surgeon situated directly opDosit,
to that in which Miss Stanley dwelt.-
This, 1t will be supposed, was not a cir
cnms,ance much calculated to promote
my advancement IN professional knowl
edge; and confess that expended mucl
more time in contemplating the lowell
ness OF the fair object of my idolatry
who now so frequently blest my sight
than IN the study Of Bocrhave or Cullen.
aSslduouSIy cultivated her acGuant.
ance, and took every means of acquiring
her good will. She soon discovered the
State OF my feelings, not by any formal
avowal on my part, but by the whole
tenor OF my Conduct. The discovery,
thought, rendered her shy and reserved
towards me; and our intercourse for a
time, became less easy and familiar. /,
was then that | bctook myself to that us.
ual resource of all loyc-sick youths whose
minds are imbued with any warmth OF
sentiment or imaginatlon-the making
"f poetry. l sang her praises and SON
nctIzed her cruelty like another Pctrach,
until absolutely began to find an enjoy
ment in the composition OF verse, almost
sufficient to atone for my disappointment
IN love. My vanity, which | trust will
be excused as was very young and ve-
ry ignorant Of tho world, began to dcIude
me with expectations of distinction and
fame in this new pursuit; and | a. times
lelt equally grateful to the beauty and
to the cruelty Of her who had elected a
talent of which | felt so proud.
Time rolled on in this manner, with
occasional intervals Of industry in the
prosecution OF my studies, until went
to college. Ii was there that became
acquainted with him whose fate and that
Of Ellen Stanley became afterwards too
intimately blended. Ills name was
Ormsby. lie was Of n wealthy and res
peclable family, a native Of the same
, county with myself, and was now en-
gagged IN tho same course of studies.
lie was young man Of much lIberality,
and of convival disposition, which he
sometimes induIgcd to imprudcrce. His
good sense and strength Of mind, how
! ever seemed to me sufficient TO guaran-
tee his never falling into habits Of con-
lirmed intemperance. Although no poet,
he was an adilrer Of poetry, and haetcr-
cd me by occasionable praising and Ic-
citing my amatory cilusions. From be-
ing at first casual acquaintance we be-.
came confidential friends, and entrusted
to each other, secrets that we carefully
concealed from the rest of the world.
Under such circumstances, our views
and feelings with respect to the other
sex, would, OF course he communicated
| impaired to him the history Of my love
with the description and name Of its OBJ
Ject. During the summer recess Of the
college, when we returned to our res
pcctive homes, we regular wrote TO each
other. In his letters he frequently ad-
vcrtcd to the lady whose charms he had
SO often known me to eulogize, both in
prose and verse, and expressed much
curiosity to see her. In this particular,
however, it was more than three years
afterwards before he was gratIiied.
In the interval an important change
took place in my views respecting Miss
Stanley, in consequence of an alteration
in her circumstances attended by an al
tcraton in her manners. | no longer
considered her as the best calculated
female in the world, to promote my hap
piness, by becoming my companion for
illc.-lt is true, | still viewed her with
admiration and affection, but ! was not
now borne away by the binding and
uncomfortable passion that had formerly
overpowered me. The alteration in
her circumstances was in the opinion oi
every one except myself, to her advan-
tage. Her beauty had completely ovol'
we'd itself, and shone forth in full and
fascinating lustre, attracting crowds oi
admirers. She had also become mistress
Of a large fortune, bequeathed to her by
an uncle lately deceased. She was IL
fact the reigning belle, the fashionable
toast not only Of our village but OF the
whole neighboring country. The fame
Of her beauty and Of her fortune, hat
!, spread far and wide; and the adulatlol
, of numerous suitois, was daily poured
into her ears. She was the idol Of one
, sex and the envy Of the other. 1t wa:
!, therefore little to be wondered at, tina
she became somewhat supercilious ant
, naughty. Hor manners had indeed un
: dcrgono great change. She was no
now the simple, artlcss, unpretendina
girl that awakened my first love. Sh'
, was the gay, the splendid, tho haught,
: beauty, whose chief delight was to be
, hold crowd of lovers signing at he
feet and imploring her favour. lamen
| ted the change, and withdrew from
, her train. Yet still loved her.
, knew her heart to be good, and he
: morals incorporated, and, firmly be
: Ievcd, incorruptibc. But as she ha'