Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1833-06-06

was in bis studio, carefully veiled with
green curtain. thought it at first rath-
er strange that he should pass it unnotic-
ed but imag ining it to be unfinished, !
made no remark upon the subject.
L | afterwards visited him frequently
The only real p!. asure he seemed to en-
joy was, when sat by his easel, while
he was busily employed, and read to him
the best classic authors; but his health
did not improve. He seemed declining
I rapidly, ard began to fear he was la
! boring under the effects Of some malady
which was secretly undermining his con-
sttution; yet he never complained, and
when | asked him if he was i'll, he would
always reply in the negative. lie took
but little nourishment, and drank very
sparingly of wine. AT last he seemed
wasting away so rapidly, that | found it
impossible any longer to restrain myself
from interfering, and determined, at any
risk, to get at the knowledge Of the hid
den mischief, whose effects appeared
every day TO me becoming more danger
Gus.
II One day after had been reading Pla-
! TO to him IN the original, to whose phi
! losophy he listened as il his soul was
bound up in the words, laid the book
aside, and addressed him in the most
kind and persuasive language l could
use, while watched to observe what ef-
feet my discourse produced.
"Arthur," said |, "it is evident to me
that you have some secret which is ruin
ling your peace of mind, and destroying
your health"
l observed that he trembled, s. chang
eed color, but did not speak
"Pardon me-" continued, eff ] am
ntruding upon your private thoughts
, | am influenced by a lard for your
welfare, and | cannot retain the sacred
name Of friend, ifI see that you are mis-
cradle, and attempt nothing to render
you happy"
"Happy!" he exclaimed involuntari-
ly, but with such an expression of an.
guish as scarcely could be imagined; s
!, then relapsed into silence.
81 knew you," proceeded, cat one
time, when you seemed not to have 9
: care in the world; when your heart wa.
!. buoyan and your step light. now fine
you like one who, in the world, has nc
h occupation-whose soul is oppressed with
I a multitude Of griels-and whose foo
clngs to the earth as if the limbs were
rooted TO the ground. l am certain thai
some heavy disappointment has fallen up
on you, on which your happiness chiefly
d depended. i do not desire to participate
9 in your secrets from feelings of idle Gu
q | riosity; / am actuated by motives of a ia
h higher character; but | must say that
consider you very wrong in keeping you
q Affections to YOURSELF when there is one
, beside you who is ever ready to share
them, and to offer whatever consolation
, it is in his power to bestow."
IIe shook his head mournfuly, as il
to intimate that the remedy was beyond
my aid.
"You ought to be convinced, my dear
, friend" | continued, sthat the encour-
agement of any secret grief is wrong;
: there is selfshness about it; it gene
rates misanthropic feelings; it is often
followed by consequences of debasine
, character to the moral excellence Of the
4 human heart; and must think that mint
: little influenced by the golden truths o
: philosophy, that can continue in prac
|. tice so contrary to social love and gen
is erous fellowship. know that you will
% not take offence at any thing l can sa.
% to you on such an occasion as this, whe
+ | can regard nothing but the huma
f. wreck which see before me, and Cal
desire nothing but speedy return to "al
q its original Brightness" You may re
Is ply, perhaps: that there is u luxury in th'
sole enjoyment Of grief; but it is one tha
IT should not be indulged in. Anything
d carried to excess is injurious-the feel
d ing and passions of humanity particular
j. ly so; they create delirious poison tha
N runs through the blood, injecting all tn
If channels of vitality, till the heart an
J. soul are deprived of all their social qual
q tiles under its withering influence. Fo
:, what are we endowed with reason, m
q dear Arthur, but to show how far we ar
d superior to the rest ofthc creation, an
n to keep us from acting under the blin
IS impulses of passion? You have allowe
: your feelings to get the better of you
# reason, and morbid sloth has overpow
h cred your better nature" Shake o
" this incubus--shake it of, implore you.
20 l observed slight twitching Of the mu.
" cles of the face as concluded; his eye
: glistened; he laid hold Of one of m
ne hands with convulsive grasp, and nj
ny ture, after a short struggle, triumphed.-
en- He turned away TO conceal the veal
ness he had evinced, and / returned hi
ms a cordial pressure of the hand. ! ALLOW
he ed him the full indulgence Of his feeling