Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-10-01
MISCELLANY.
rRoM THE PENNsYLvANIAr
THE OLD STORY,
BY Richard Penn Smith, Esq

lderness; withdrew from the scornfu
gaze Of their fellow creatures, to hol'
communion with their sorrows. A rive
in its primitive wildness, rolled befor'
their humble habtation, while behind
ffowned lofty mountain, in all the rug
lged majesty Of nature. The few VIII,
traversed its mazes, in pursuit Of game
were as uncouth as the bear that dwell
in its caverns; and the struggle between
civilization and savage state for mas
terry rendered them, as it were, un anon
ally in the human race. But the strides
Of civilization are gigantic, and not &c
be impeded. A cluster Of rude cabin:
already appeared on the margin Of the
river; the lofty monarchs Of the forest
yieding to the stroke of the axe, were
girdled and suffered to decay. The
green corn sprung up amid their dying
trunks, and the silence Of the wilder
ness was now broken by the tinckllng o
the beIls, that denoted where the hero
was browning amidst tho luxuricnt nalu'
raj pasture.
But this was TO them sight of sor-
row, and not Of joy, for they had iel,
the scorn of their fellow morals, and
were crushed TO the earth by the arbitra-
ry rules Of right and wrong prescribe d
by greybcards and schoolmen, even as
the oak of the forest, and the flower that
blooms beneath il, are crushed by the
thunderbolt, never again TO blossom.
They behcld the inroads Of civilization
n 4 tha oil hanch ha
holds The approaching waves, from which
there is no escape; gradual, yet fearful
to look upon, for they no sooner reach
than they destroy. Theirs was COM
munion Of spirit an intellectual inter-
course, such as mortals cannot partake
of, until the spirit has been bru Used, and
the ties Of this world are as powerless
as letters made Of the sand of the sea-
They already understood the language
Of spirits for it seemed as If their inmost
thoughts were made known without the
aid OF the corporeal senses. They sell
dom spoke, for words were useless,
their thoughts were common to both,
and every act und every look proved the
extent Of mutual devotion.
The first time met them in their Sc
clusion, was on delightful morning in
the month of June. 1t was in grove Of
sugar trees on the bank Of the river,
some distance from their dwelling; the
sun was just rising, and the birds were
singing joyously from every spray. lie
was slowly leading fine horse, upon
which the tall sylph-like form OF fhls COM
panion was seated. She was dressed in
neat apparel, and veiled, though there
was little chance of any other eyes fall
ing on her eounienance than his own.
| True, there was time which she would
rather have encountered death than a
look from him, bu; that time had passed
by, for now it seemed that his presence
was tho very fountain o: her presence.
She raised her veil to enjoy the pass
ing breezc.-IIer countenance was co.
rene and divineIy beautiful; divinely so,
for there was much more OF heavenly
than earthly beauty ia it. Her forehead
was high and polished, and bound round
by plain braid Of hair, as glossy and
as dark as the plumagc of the raven.
The lustre Of her large black eyes was
now feeble, and the cheeks that once
We'd with the colour Of the rose, were
now as pallid as the lily, save that deep
hectic spot interrupted the perfect white
ness, but blended not with it. 1t was
the mark that death had set on her, that
he might know his victim.
| had seen her the lovcliest among
the beautiful; where all eyes we're turned
upon her in admiration, for she shone
forth as conspicuously in the multitude
as the evening star in the lirmament.- -
But cloud had passed over her, anc
her rays were 10 longer seen. And him
also knew, when he moved among the
proudest, and was distinguished wherev'
er he moved. His person was matchless
his spirit lofty, and his mind highly cul.
hvated, but unfortunately those things
which have received the highest polish
are the most readily susceptible of tar
nish.
lie surveyed the surrounding land
scape for some time, and then turning to
his companion, exclaimed,
sHow beautiful is nature! While con-
templating a scene like this, the mind
becomes regenerate, and startles at the
sublimity OF its own conception. 1t burst:
as the young eagle from the egg, ant
though at first it winky at the resistlcs.
stream of light, nature impels it to soa'
above on steady wing, and in time i
turns not, even though the forked light.
ming shivers in its path More is to bt
learnt from the silent musing on the won
ders Of creation, than from all the wise
saws that gownsmen deal from the pull
pit. Even the little flower that spring:
at your feet smiles for time, and ther
dies in the midst Of its fragrance, has it:
| moral: the JOYOUS stream that pushes