Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-06-04
NTTSCELLA c1Y.
THE GAM BIER.

| beautiful valley, IN whose bosom the
| voiceiess spmt oi solitude loves to d" ell,
throwing her melancholy smile over the
! soitest aud most pleasing works Of Ma
ture. nny younger days | used to court
the whisperings Of the leaves and the
pensive melody of the rlvulet IN this lovely
retreat. 1t was an earthly paradise to
me, the world Of fancy was ali my own,
and my spirit seemed to take flight TAI
above the everyday speculations Of the
world; Tor, though | attended cheeriu!ly
to my business, yet there was vein OF
romance, within me, which could only
find vent in the silence Of solitude. AS
the golden sun sunk in the west, would
climb the lofty eminence that overlooked
the valley: gaze on nature in her most
imposing. dress, and wonder how man
could delight in the duh pursuits Of life,
when such beauty, such sublimuy, call
ed forth the noblesl energies Of soul and
mind.
l traced far towards the north, peak
after peak, striving as it were, for su-
premacy, while tine CLASSY Hudson re-
lected their hoary brows from lis bosom.
and laughed at their giant celormity.-
Gazing south, the wh'le-winged messen-
gers OF commerce met my eye; the smoke
Of the city scared IN the atmosphere like
a snowy cloud, and ever and anon, the
merry song Of the bargeman sailed faint
ly along the surface Of the water, until it
died like a whisper upon my ear.
From gazing on the busy mart, turn
cd to the still glen below; the perfume
Of its wild fowers--its thickly clustered
foliage, and the gentle inurmur of The
brook invited me to ITS bosom. walked
over beds oil moss inlerspersed with lilies
and violets; the timld hare did no. fly al
my approach, but gazed upon me as il
wondering what being il was that thus
intruded upon its retirement.
A grave was at my feet; the sunshine
Of many summers had cleaned upon it,
and given strong root to the grass aud
wild strawberry vines that had spread
over it; single granite stone marked
the spot, yet il bore no golden letters that
told the title or the deeds OF the sleeping
dust; but on un aged birch that mourned
over the humble mound, the name OF
"MARIA" was cut.
The melancholy story Of Maria is not
lost in oblivion; though no studied epi-
taph invites The attention Of the solitary
travelIer--though no polished obeIisk tow
ors above the crumbI,ng reliques-. though
the way-worn pilgrim seeks not her lonely
pillow to baihe It with tears; yet tradition
hath rec rded her name and virtues upon
the hears Of all who dwell near the SOL
itary spot
On cool auiumnal evening, as the
proud sun was slowly sinking IN the wes-
tern horizon, gliding The mountain tops
with his farewell ray, Carinda and Ma
ria sat in friendly conversation on the
piazza of the beautiful villa of Mr. Bar
low, a wealthy merchant, who had retir-
ed from the NOISE and bustle of the city
| with his two children, Alfred and Clar-
india, on the death of his beloved wife
The modest and retiring manners Of Al
fred, and his firm devotion to the cause
| of Religion, determined Mr.. Barlow tc
have him trained to the study of divinity
after he had finished his college educa
lion. Clarinca was lively and gay, ye
dutiful daughter and atfeclionate sister
Ii recollections of his much loved wife
stole upon the medIiations Of MIR. Bar
low, the good natured Clarinda was al
ways ready to cheer his droopmg spirit.
and wipe the truant tear from his cheek
her harmless pratlle kept the worm o
sorrow from guawing to his bosom
core, and he doated on the living sem
blance Of his departed wife. Maria, th,
heroine Of this little story was the daugh
ter Of worthy clergyman, whose peace
full, though humble mansion stood at th'
foot Of the hill from which the villa proud
ly overlooked the wide landscapes; sh,
was mild and unassuming; a soft melan
choly stole upon her cheek, where tn
rose and the lily blended their hues 8
nicely that it might have been said-.th
rose was dcarded and the lily blushed
being left alone.
| As the two young ladies' sat in friendl
discourse, a splendid pheton drove u
tho avenue, and Clarinda soon recognls
ed her brother Alfred and handsom
young stranger in it. With an excIam,
ilon Of transport she rushed towards ih
carriage, and was soon locked in th
embrace Of Alfred, who had been absel
from home for two years. Tongue {
pen cannot describe the pleasure wi,
which the warm hearted girl hung on III
neck Of her brother; she forgot that
share Of her greeting was due the come
ly stranger, until Alfred, gently pushin
her from his arms, introduced his fricn
George Ludlow to her. Maria sat
trembling spectator Of this interestin
scene, she endeavourcd to check HI