Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1837-02-08
GENEsEE FALLS, AT ROCHESTER,.

GENESEE FALLS, AT ROCHESTER,.
GT The beautiful view of the Falls, in the
first number of THE GEM, for the present year,
that excellent semi-monthly literary paper, at
one dollar year, by Shepard, Strong g. Daw-
son, at Rochester, N. W is accompanied by the
following description of the charming scenery Of
the elevated river banks adjoining, and the ami
mated review of the several incidents of interest,
of different periods,-well worth perusal:
The cluster of trees seen above the Falls
stand upon what was once called Browns
Island. Before the ruthless hand of I'm
provement had marked this island as the
location of extensive depots of machinery,
it was one Of the greerest and fairest and
most enchanting spots imaginable. To it.
in the twilight of summer, did the grave and
the gay-the boisterous and merry youth,
and the sedate yet gladstone lovers-hie to
catch glimpse at one OF the loveliest
scenes in nature, and to inhale the cool
breeze which arose from the troubled bos-
ON Of the foaming cataract.-How often
while reclining beneath the towering naples
which once stood upon the verge of the pre-
cipice, and watching the merry waves as
they danced to their tomb, have we been di-
verted by the whisperings and signs of
plighted lovers, as they rambled, in lost ex-
stacy, from spot to spot of this their lovely
grove. 1t was there, when the zephyrs OF
evening were chanting their sweetest notes
as they passed through the green foliage
which overshadowed us, that we heard the
repinings of as lovely an angel as ever felt
the keen pangs of sorrow. She was up
braiding the "gay deceiver," who by his
fair words and insinuating manners, had sto.
len her affections, for the abrupt desertion
which he threatened her. Never shall we
forget the anguish which was painfully de.
picted in her expressive countenance, as
she uttered her last entreaty to the heart
less monster to retract his barbarous reso
luton and spare her life.-Madness seem
ed already gathering upon her fair brow
Her dark eyes were fearless, and seemed
ready to burst from their swollen sockets
The roses had fled from her cheeks, anC
they were pale and death-like and he
arms, which she had raised in reverentia
supplication, fell, as if pasied by the sterl
inexorableness of her heartless decelver
She gave him look-oh! what look
and fled from him as from the precincts o
the poisonous Upas. The wretch stood 70
moment as If communing with his owl
: craven spirit, when he walked slowly iron
the consecrated spot. One week thereai
> ter the broken hearted fair one was carrie
! to the tomb!
But not always was this beautiful resor
!, the place chosen for such scenes of sorrow
e Many bright and happy events have W
= Witnessed within its Eden precincts.
But this is not the place to record them
y As an earnest however of what we may d
hereafter, and as an evidence that this ono
: favored spot is not void of romantic inc
dent, we may say that-The rays Of tn
a setting sun beautifully tinged the spreadin
S, tops Of the towering naples which compo'
u ed the grove ofwhich we are now speaking
d. ., when the loud shouts and the merry laug
of the school-boy troop whose gambols W
K. were watching, were for a moment hushe
s, by the appearance of an aged lady, accom-
e. panied by two sweet children of about Il
v ages of twelve and fifteen. The turbule
i. 10Y of our young friends was soon rene,
ed. There was one among them, howe
I'd err, who seemed either entranced with Il
s beauty of the sweet intrudcrs, or was II
ss pelled, from q sense of modesty, to refra
do from boisterous merriment in their pre-
sp ence. He wiped the perspiration from |
ca manly brow, and instinctively pushed ba'
,s' and arranged his dark curly locks, as
ire assumed retired position near the watel
tat edge, and closely watched the movemer
=, of those in whom he seemed to feel so de
~. an interest.
" Our fair young friends had given
cataract hurried glance, and were retul
4 inc by the side Of the rapid stream viii
8. bounds the eastern shore of the island, a
700 had reached a triHing projection abou
an stones throw from the foaming precipi
!; upon which Helen, the youngest of our
for friends, ventured to pluck a flower VIII
! bloomed with exquisite freshness at the
10 most verge of the projection. In haste
rs secure the tempting prize she forgot
low care which her own good sense would
ish, erwise have taught her, and while in
lrd; act of plucking the rose, she plunged
an. ,hn the foaming flood which threatened j
nos, s moment to bear her over the fearful pre-
J. pice. But the troubled waters had scar
" received her lovely form, before she
,aIl. seized by our young hero with the ra
'lso, locks. The stream seemed to rush v
for the speed Of lightning toward the foam
/, gulf, and, for moment, the fate of
beautiful pair seemed inevitably sea-