The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-10-06
COMMUNICATIONS.
FOR THE MADIsoNIAN.

/ ron THE MApIsoNIAN.
The painfulest feeling is that Of your feeble
ness ever as the English Milton says TO be weak, is
the true misery Between vague, wayerlng capabity,
and fixed indubitable performance what difference
certain inartcuate selfconsciousness dwells dimy
in us, which only works can render srtculate and
dccisyely discernble .#
But as for our miseducaon make not bad worse
waste not the time yet ours, in tramplng on thlstles
because they have yielded us no figs Fnsch zu bru-
der Here arc books, and have brains to read them
here is whole earth and whole heaven, and we have
eyes to look on them; Frsch IN -Sarfor Resartns.
II was tall, thin figure whose slow, but stately
strides bespoke majesty of bearing, that had lost
much of its activity during the lapse Of few years;
as he entered the long to the cottage, Jose
phine marked his appearance; his lustrous black
eye was full Of expression-but it was sunken SO
much, as on nearer approach it gave 10 his counte-
nance melancholy tnge. He walked up to the
oldest oak on the lawn and bendng,as if Druid like
he would do il reverence, uncovered his head. His
forehead was high and we'll developed but care had
furrowed it, and silver line stole in here and there,
to heghten the beauty Of the glossy curls that float
| ed careessly TO the wind,
at is not here" said he, carefully examining the
tree and turf around it, "and yet me thought this
was the tree !" and slowly covering his head, he re-
with the grounds for instead OF entering, he wander
ed about and whiled away hour, before Josephine
was informed of his arrival She FASTENED to salute
The stranger. As she entered the apartments, his
eve was fixed upon an ancient family picture and
then upon that Of her aunt he appeared absorbed
| in thought she did not speak until he turned from
the portraits and with deep sigh threw himself on
the sofa beside her.
"Traveller, you weary" said she, and, ring
ing, ordere refreshing drinks which were offered
him; recovering from his fatigue, though scarcely
able TO articuate he rose, and bowling, saluted her
:" Do see before me Miss josephine thornton, the
only surviving member OF the Thorndon family ~
at is Josephine, whom you address," replied she,
"but thanks 10 gracious heaven, not the only sur
vvor" ..H ...
Glow not the only SURVIVOR but forget my
| self and should, me thinks, make some explanation
of nv visit here but, am very weary -
and Observation-Disclosures --will--tell--you--
all"
| As he pronounced the last sentence he sunk back
bs saf I9ssRhteen E4se a IL lTfre R29k II
shortly said she, meantime rest, repose" Short
H." he repeated, with ghas,ly smile Josephine
went out into the room, where she could hear
the least stir OF her singular and she feared dying
guest. The deathike silence which prevailed struck
her with awe; she slowly walked towards the room
door and softly entering, approached the couch upon
which the sick man lay; deep sleep had fallen
upon him, but the cold sweat and altered expression
made her fear il was the sleep of death. As she
stood in mental agony, watching each changing hue
hectic flush stole his ivid cheek, and he NUT
tered incoherently: e.. H.
| "Yet scarce believe
The witness that my sight receives;
| Such appartion may well seem
Delusion Of dreadful dream"
o shade of Josephine, no longer reality" and
settled again into unquie slumber.
Josephine had always been reminded of her strong
resemblance to her aunt whose name she bore, and
whether she or the picture were the apparition,
or what the stranger had to do with either was, TO
her, mystery. For long time, she sat watching
him without perceiving any alteration in his coun-
| lenance. AT length he slowly Enclosed his eyes,
and in hoarse, sepulchral voice said II am better
| now-me thought was on that journey to another
world, for which feel myself prepared, but that to
you hope to bequeath the dying legacy of Edgar
Morton.-Nay, start not this wasted form and
blanched forehead are the remains Of that robust
Edgar Morton whose portrait hangs there, pointing
with his finger to niche in the wall, where hung
the portrait of strength and beauty. But have
history to relate, and drawing from his bosom a
miniature, "this legacy to bequeah, and the tide of
life GIBBS low" He faltered almost faint from ex-
ertion. Josephine gazed with mingled look of won
der and grief; she had often admired that portrait
of manly strength and health, and had heard her
aunt speak, with feeling, Of Edgar Morton She re-
membered once entering her aunts apartment hasti-
ly, she saw her gazing beautiful picture brush
away the tear and restore the picture to its case
This miniature she had possessed since her aunts
deccase but it only dear her as sacred relic
OF that aunt; for Josephine always fancied the ORR
Sina, deceased but she in that wasted form,
pale cheek, and sunken eye alas the feeble likeness
OF those which she possessed.
Recovering himself, Edgar proceeded, al have
snort history TO relate TO thee Josephine and my
experience through life is the best boon can offer
thee" Josephine drew her chair nearer the couch,
bowed and smiled as he continued al was born to
competent fortune, but the good sense and strong
Judgment OF my mother kept me- in early youth from
the vanity and recklessness too frequently the
danls ofyoung men in easy circumstances and if
be not claiming too much for myself aor let me say,
mat until the age Of eighteen till which time my
education had been entirely under my mothers SUI
perintendance, l had less vanity and less conce
than ordinarily falls to the lot of humanity. My
father died when was an infant and left me to the
sole care OF my mother Educated in the religion of
the gospel which is first pure, my mother was Of
temper most equable, TO which she united talents
of the first order strong judgment and deep penetra-
ton, and her cultivation of those talents would have
been honorable to the greatest statesman that ever
lived, for she was self-aught, and in early youth
combai'"d with strong prejudices against her sex
Her a lp' hann