Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-02-09

odtnCi ~ VI 'NSNHe'"N
Sotheby.
Among the hallowed recollections OF
my earlier days, and the variegated scene
ry which is impressed on the mind with
that p%eImansion, Which a childhood spent
in viewing 1t will ever give, the sparkling
waters OF Whaium will always hold a
conspicuous place. Back to the farthest
date when memory tells it had begun to
receive Impressions, it dwell with emo
lions of no ordinary pleasure in viewing
the CLASSY surface OF THIS AXE or pond,
though d the distance of several miles;
and as the sun rose over its dancing
waves, giving them a tinge OF rudy
brightness, how my youthful heart long
ed for IA nearer view. How happy then
was |, when arrived at a suitable age,
to make u fishing excursion TO this pond
VIII, u heart high swelling with juvenile
yivacity, | stood on the banks, while its
vast aod far spread surface appeared IN
full expansc before my enraptured gaze
and when a small boat bore me on its
waters, and now and then an unwary
perch or reckless pike was felt pulling at
the hook, the measure Of my happiness
vas overflow.ng-aud though led TO be-
l,eve that this consisted oftener in imag-
~iuatlon thar reality, still ! was fortunate
enough to secure a few trophies Of skill
When woari.d with the sport, ! was
landed at the southern side Of the pond
and left alone, white the residue of the
party proceeded to a more distant part
| Of the fishing-ground for the continuation
of the diversion. Left TO myself, l fell
first to skipping pebbles on the wafer,
rejoicing when a fortunate throw sent
one to a distance, diPOing lightly along
the surface till its impetus was exhaust
ed. Then | amused myself by collecting
a few curious small shells, which were
found on the shore, deposlling them care
fully in my pocket, fully resolved to carry
them home, where l anticipated more
pride in exhibiting them than ever did a
wanderer in showing all the cur'osities
he had collected in his seven years
travels round the earth. Grown weary
at length with exercise and excitement,
| seated myself on the fragment Of a
rock which seemed rent in TWAIN by some
great CONFUSION Of nature, and Toasted
my eyes bv looking on what seemed, to
my unpractised gaze, the almost inter-
ninable expanse of the lake. Here l
thought | could realize in some mca sure,
what | had just learned from the study
of geography, and which had hitherto
appeared barely possible, that 'm,re
lth,n hoIc rho .,rtb,s enrra~a 10 c,y.r.I
with water Then ! slrove to form an
idea OF the ocean, but could hardly con-
ceive Of its being infinitely larger than
the long continued sheet Of water that
lay before me.
So far distant that they seemed ofp'g-
my size, | could see my friends he
boat that held them appearing no llgger
than a squash shell vessel | had rrgged
and navigated on the riyulet near my
home, and their persons scarceiy as
large rs the valiant tars with Which il
had been furnished by my own handy.
work. On the northern side Of tie POND
was a hill, which slowly rose from the
shore for q short distance. and on it.
summit a house which the far-oir gaze ]
lad Of it, reminded me strongly OF my
own martin-box perched an the apex oil
my fathers dwelling. On the eastern
side OF the pond appeared a low, thickly
wooded tract of land, where the pine and
hemlock seemed to Intervene them
selves, and form a dark, gloomy shade
over the water sprites add supernatural
beings with which a playful fancy peo'
pied it. Nay, | suffered my ideas tc
range so far, that I fancied nothing bu'
distance prevented me from seeing then
sinking their elfn locks in proud def.
ance Of the human race, and from hear.
ing that disdainful laugh at the poor child.
rem Of mortality who rode %triumrhantly
on the bosom Of the tranquil waters
had even shrewd suspicious I could see
some more ventursome than others, pro.
truding their heads from behind the trees
that circummured the waters edge
Though I should have greatly feared "a
have com in actual contact with this
undesirable race, yet when so far sepa.
rated from them, I felt endued with ar
Overlooking stock OF courage, and after
straining my eyes till the distant objects
seemed really 10 have motion, ] arose
on the stone where l had hitherto been
sitting, and in true Ciceroniun style
shouted forth an heroic daring, which
whether taught me at school, or whether
the spontaneous ebullition Of excited
feeling, | am yet in a dread uncertainty