Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1838-02-28
From the Democratic Review.
LEISURE HOURS AT SARATOGA.
BY THE AUTHOR OF .HopE LEsLIE.' &c.

remember once TO have been startled
by sermon on the right employment of
our leisure hours. had fancied, in com.
mon with the most Of the world, that if the
set time of business (by that imposing title
we all grace our occupations) was diligently
employed, our leisure hours were not to be
included, in the great account, but rather
thrown in like remnants by generous
dealer-sunny hours all, taking no shadow
from the past, and casting no shadow be.
forc--goden hours, snatched from that wrin.
killed. bag Care, who sits broodng over our
anxious days. But the preacher told us,
and have ever since been haunted by the
idea, that our leisure hours were precisely
those for which we should be held to the
strictest account.
With this sermon on my conscience,
went TO Saratoga. One of my first thoughts.
when | looked round upon the busy crowd
of idlers, 1--WE are all vigant over others
duties) was, how in the world those people
were to answer for ten consecutive days,
three weeks, or month of leisure hours
Were they not throwing away the stuff that
life is made of, without thought of the &C.
count accommodating upon them! Here were
the old, just finishing the voyage of life, and
the young Just entering upon tall gliding
rapidly down the stream, and all seeming
to fancy that the shores are passing them,
not they the shores. was awakened from
my reverie by my friend Mrs. !,
whose ideas seem to be generated in the
clear, healthy atmosphere of her heart
| nntr - ehs tb1
can find field every where, even in Sar-
atoga drawing room." followed the di.
rection other eyes, and saw one of the love.
Hest Of all the young and fashionable that
graced that drawing room. She had bro.
ken away from knot of young girls and
men, (leaving her lions portion Of their at
tentions to escheat to her companions) and
joined poor lady who actually appeared
aching with her solitude in that lively crowd.
She had come to Saratoga two or three days
before, with the prime necessity of woman's
life, male adjunct, who appeared as regu-
larly as the knives and forks at meal times,
and left her side as soon as he had recon-
Quoted her to the drawing room where
she would stink into corner, and remain
like bit Of dIift-wood, that has been whirl.
ed into an eddy, and there stops, while ev-
cry thing else is joyously floating past.--
Her name and condition were known to
be respectable, but her dress was rather
grotesque, and her hair, which no stretch
Of the inauguration could change from red
to auburn was,-now when every head is
simply and classically arranged-drawn
up 70 the top of her crown. where il stood
like the leaning tower of Pisa. Then she
looked so painfully still, so sorry that she
was there, so wishfully towards every one
that had companion to speak to, that she
had moved IS compassion, and she
went on her errand Of charity. Scarcely
had half dozen sentences of the common
currency Of Introductory conversation been
exchanged, when the solitary looked like q
new creature. She was no longer stran.
ger and an alien, but linked in with her fel.
low creatures, part and parcel of the cheer.
full world about her and whom--of
fered her arm, and strolled up and down
the room with her, giving her that impor
tant information which she had been burn
ing 10 acquire, but dared net ask, the namo
ofthat tall gentleman, and this short lady
she appeared like taken off desolate isanC
on board ship sailing under his own coun
try's flag, with ship mates speaking his
own language. "You were right" said
to my friend, seven this is a field of benev
olence, and--has cleaned scattered
ear" And we'll redeemed, | thought, Q
leisure hour, for she has made fellow
creature happy (; no matter by what simple
means such an object is attaned--the sim
pier the better.
The next morning enriched us with I
large party from North Carolina. Foru
nate is the State that can send forth such
citizens to represent it. Intelligent ant
kind-hearted, simple and direct in thei
manners, with that evident self.respect res
,, ting on the immoveable foundation of in
trinsic responsibility, and the modesty ant
Difference that springs from a faith in thu
worth of others--a- faith which is the well
spring of life to humanity. There was one
young person of this party who was thu
centre of general interest. She was no
beautiful, but she had a power to rivet ant
charm the eye beyond regular and reign
, ing beauty. There was a languor in he
movement, and an abstractedness in her ex
preston, as flor her the soul Of life wa
gone, or as if (for she was suffering from
i'll healthy she were listening to the strain
Q "Sister-spirit, come away" But when
voice she loved struck upon her ear, or
word touched her heart.chords, she raise'
!, her heavy eye.lids, and world CLOWN.
with sunshine, warmth, and beauty, was re
vealed at single. glance. 1t reminded mi
Of the chd's pretty fancy, that "the star
are holes cut TO let the glory through"
, The morning after her arrival one of he
party asked her to sing, and her father--o
|, all the admirers of her music the most en-
thusiastic (as he should be)--brousht he
guitar. She took it, and without any pre-
' Jude Of affected modesty, or fluttering anx
, iety, or real painful bashfulness, she playe,
0 Irish melodies, Scotch airs, and old Engis
: songs, such as "The harp that once through
Tara's halls" the "Ingle.side," and "Ol
( in the Silly night, "--those household words
domestic treasurers, holy spells that conjur
. up the dead, and pour melody over the sou
I from voices long silent. When she begal
to sing it was some hour or two after break
n fast, the hour of general dispersion. He
Q voice was signal for general recall
The ladies' came from their cells, I'LL tn
drawing room was filled. There was no
y the slightest change in her manner. Will