Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-04-05

the elements Of which am equally in
capable of describing. Vague images
of love and peace, and gentlcness and
virtue occupied my fancy:l must have
experienced something like what the
poets have done in their day-dreams.
All know is, that had OH such occa
..ons greater enjoyment than the whole
course Of my after life has afforded;
and that ! would give all ] possess Of
the substantial goods of life to taste
again the same innocent bliss.
While TINS dreamt my soul away,
time flew by. and the hour at length
arrived which summoned me abroad
must be brief at the hazard of being
abrupt. need not say with what in
dications Of mutual reluctance we
were severed. was too poor as well
as too young then to marry, and ]
could not, therefore, venture express
ly to declare my love; but words sure
" were not ncedful to intimate it.
Had not my assiduity, my covctous-
ness of her company,my glowing eye,
my flushing cheek, my whole mien
cvinccd my devotion and had not
our lonely walks and rides together,
our happy meetings, our reluctant Sc
para,ions, all attestcd the affection
which animated US? We parted, and
with heavy heart took my way
Heaven is my witness, how fondly !
yet loved, when after the lapse Of
eight months, ! unexpectedly found
myself free and discngaged. had no
room 70: hesitation as to how should
dispose of my leisure. flew back to
~ y. My first enquiry was for
Anna Hervey. 'Anna Hervcy no lon,
ger'-was the response she was mar
ricd When somewhat recovered
from the effect of these tidings, my
question was how, married, and to
whom p need not detail however,
the manner in which | became sue
ccssivcly acquainted with cne circum-
stance after another. Let'mc Il.tcn
to give the summary. Shortly after
my departure, Anna was addressed
b. man whom she married upon six
weeks acquaintance that man was
coarse, rcpulsive, vulgar and illitc-
rate but he was rich, and though
herself well provided, Anna IIervey
married him for his wealth So ended
my first love the object of it had
plainly been invested by the romance
of my youthful mind with sensibiiiy,
delicacy and modcsty TO which she
had no title. ! had mistaken the
bashfnness of a simple girl for those
of high attributes. The favors which
afforded me so much delight and pride
she had set no value upon or if sen
sibc enough Of the import of such fa-
vors when g,anted by a young woman
in the bloom of youthful beauty to an
ardent young man, she must have a
mind coarse and indclicate, though
aware of that import, when she law
ishcd them where her heart went not
with them: either" alternative, and
one or other is inevitable, is decisive
of her character. was at the mo-
ment confoundcd ; but have not liv-
cd long enough in the world to know
how often an ingenious countenancc,
and artless demeanor, belong to the
mean and dcceit(ul, aud that nature,
falrest, are not always her noblest
works. had not when | loved Anna
llcrvcy this experience. | was de-
ceived ; yet the phantom which my
own fancy raised continues to haunt
my memory, and though ! am now
aware loved an airy nothing, yet
like Gibbon. am proud that | wa.
,nce capable of feeling so pure and
exalted passion.