Litchfield enquirer., 1833-04-04
THE BACHELORS DREAM.


And ewes smiled him, like the deep
Expressive ones of those that love him.
Wild, brilliant eyes, through raven hair
Clustering upon the bosoms snow;
And, thin, white fingers, like cool air,
Have passed along his severed brow"
I had a friend-a Bachelor of fifty, a
kind, free-hearted fellow, who frequently
amused me with his illusions to the events
of his earlier years. Wearied with the
loneliness and silence Of his existence, he
found certain reliefin the treasured men,
cries of the past. Sorrow and joy were
perhaps equally mingled in these remem-
brances. like the shadow and sunshine Of
an April landscape; yet both were treas
ured up, and loved and unused over.
Il had a dream last night, said he, as !
entered his apartment one cold morning in
winter an ugly dream-ugh my blood
chills to think of it!' His teeth chartered
as he spoke, although there was a glowing
fire in the CRATE ! and he had a thick wrap
per thrown over his shoulders. Sit down.
continued he, and I'll tell you my dream,
if can get through with it without freez-
ing US both into icy statues Go on
said I, seating myself comfortably at the
fire. apprehend no danger from the re-
cital of your dream
Well-last evening was all alone
twas bitter cold evening too-and 1, as
usual-when the present is not particularly
agreeable, amused myself by thinking over
the past. You cannot imagine what
world Of memory passed over me! But as
the minds images thickened, they grew
fainter-the dim light of the lamp grew
DINNER before me-the bowling of the
north wind died away in my ear-and /
fell asleep in my armchair.
For time my visions were broken and
vague-yet they bore somewhat the i'm
preston of my waking ones-half-formed,
half-seen faces, once familiar, stared around
me-and dim and hurried perception Of
familiar scenery passed before me, like the
changes of phantasmagoria. Suddenly the
scene was changed. seemed wandering
over vast plain of ice-anon, struggling
in the rift of Swiss avalanche, or riding
on the steep pinnacle of an iceberg, or
standing in swift current Of cold water
with the raw wind blowing and the ice stiff
fening around my body; and then the dim
ness and incohercnce passed away, and a
l was standing in a familiar looking
dwelling, at least its proportions seemed so
but it was entirely composed of ice
cold, shining, unmelting ice. The trees
which stood without, knew them by their
gnarled limbs and STOPPING bodies as ia
miliar to my youthful days, wore also of
ice-limbs and foliage and trunk Of the
same. / was treading upon an icy floor
the cciliDg-the doors and windows and
household furniture were ice-nothing but
clear, glittcring ice.
I stood in the wintry parlor, shaking
with cold, when figure slowly approach
ed me. / knew it in an instant. 1t was
the mother of my first lovc-the Caroline
whom I have told you OF so often. There
we're the same figure, proportion, dress,
&c.-thc same pair of huge spectacles on
her face, which characterized her thirty
wears ago. She came forward and bowed,
without relaxing muscle Of her counte-
nance, and pointed to sofa of ice be-
hind me. Hardly had l seated myself,
when the door again opened, and Caroline
herself entered and advanced slowly and
without any sign Of emotion towards me,
although she evidently recognised me, and
held out her hand in a sort of mechanical
welcome. ! rose and clasped it in my own.
1t was cold-cold as a winter tombstone
and as the icy fingers fastened about my
own, shuddered as if spectre had well
coined me to the world of shadows. She
was ice, like every thing around her.
The cottage, the old lady, and my long
loved Caroline passed away, and found
myself in beautiful mansion in far-on
land. There too the spell Of winter rest
ed like death upon every thing around me.
The pillars-,he splendid galleries, the
magnificent apartments, and The servants,
and the attendants were all ice in that win
ter of desolation. Yet, l recognised the
scene of my deepest attachment-the dwell
ling of her, whose beautiful image never
ceased to haunt me, from the moment OF
our first meeting. And saw her-the
magnificent girl land she threw her arm:
around my neck. and kissed met wa:
like the kiss Of marble statue--the
twiring Of the arms Of the dead around the
neck Of the living-a cold and icy com.
munion. And then ] seemed myself tc
take the nature of all around me, and be.
came as ice, all save my heart, which still
beat beneath its unconscious body. Anc
ve cat down toCether two lev statues