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

are called the peculiar province Of woman to seek
for hidden love. l recollecl the deep feelings she
had upon this subject, and one day. when We were
conversing upon the advantages Of education. she
exhibited all that strength of feeling which she so
often struggled TO suppress. 81 have remembered
for many years. said she, my fathers and brothers
rebukes, when speaking of the disadvantages under
which we labored in the pursuit Of knowledge. My
father replied, Don't attempt to rise above your
dcstinyi women were born to obey, to suckle fools
and chronicle small beer" my brother, he, too,
would ollen say, "why read hal; it will never be
Of any use to you: well, il you read il, let no one
know it, for be any thing but deep, dark, magn-
fcen, blue: put by your books and get your womans
things about you-your aees and ribands" All man
kind appeared to adopt the opinion OF the quain,
Thomas Browne, who did doubt that the crooked,
deformed piece Of humanity, denominated woman,
was made from mans rib but was not quite certain
where, at the resurrection, that rib would be-thus
denying US soul and future state. But this" said
she, her eye full of intellectual fire. this was
new spur 10 my ambition this kindled the spark of
emulation, just lighting up in my young mind: I
never forgot that born in America, the daugh-
ter of The Republic and the heress of a land whose
darling passion is liberty" "And, in these days,
the proudest eulogy | can pronounce upon that
mother is, that she nothing If not critical and
under her sole charge was fitted in my eighteenth
year 10 enter The Sophomore class at Cambridge
But alas! her motherly care and interest denied
me; she died of prevailing epidemic in Boston,
after my first college term-I retained her advice
and her ambition but not all her discretion Before
leaving college was a member of several literary
societies. and won honors by my connection with
them; and when was graduated had a high post
assigned me Never student left the walls of college
with more elastic step and fond expectations, than
babe adieu to the revered precincts of Harvard
visited my friends in Connecticut and was I'M
decided whether to pursue my profession there or in
some other northern State II was in New Haven
that my acquaintance first commenced with your
aunt. With strong principles of justice, an almost
instructive perception of right and wrong, and SET
tied opinions of religion, at the age OF eighteen she
received the offer of my heart and hand" His
voice failed him, and Josephine sought in vain, by
remonsrance and supplication 10 delay the affiict
ing narrative; his only reply was Death is near,
and have not quite reached the goal l am better
now" and he resumed his story. Her reply was
neither the cold indecsive answer which is too often
attributed to persons of calm judgment and cool pas
sions il the enthusiastic burst of sentiment
and feeling but with maronly dignity she replied,
that my offer but the echo Of her own feelings;
that since our first meeting there had been mutual
fellow feeling, and that the ideas and sentiments 10
which had given expression, were such as had
long been entertained by herself bring, said she,
humorously, to the man marry, no jonure, ex.
cept conditionay, may be independent and may
be dependent, not on the bounties OF others, but on
my own good right arm; on the talents and powers
which owe to Heaven" But enough, said /, are
you willing TO share with me the tolls and burdens
of existence to lend your good right arm in aid and
support of mine
off" said she with that degree of prudent fore
sight which is in either sex, III, alter three
months acquaintance, we evince an attachment as
strong as we now feel promise to return your af-
lection with all the warmth and devotion you de-
serve" Thus speaking and feeling, judge OF my
happiness with the promise OF heart which lie
spent in active benevolence, proved TO be none OF
" natures ordinary work and an arm that sup
ported old age, want and its numerous attendants,
/ 80 -~,-.:----- c>.Ea couaint-
ance grew daily more intimate and with it increased
my affection.
We all insnctively picture TO ourselves some
beau-ideal of goodnesssome paragon of perfection,
I TO which we would willingly unite ourselves, and
the early romance of youth and flush OF hope, sees
through the vista OF futurity, their more than all
realized
Experience, that old wise master, seldom lifts the
veil till years have blunted the vigor OF youth and
time wasted the strength of manhood. But the first
warm gush of youthful affection between hearts re-
ciprocally pure, the unearthly attachment of dear
mother or sister is the brightest jewel happy man
can wear" Happy they who so live as TO merit it.
In less than six months after our acquaintance the
decease OF an uncle in the South, who Left me his
heir TO plantation and numerous slaves, required
my early attention; left your aunt with deep re-
greet we mutually exchanged VOWS and promised
fidelity" . R.
To be continued