The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-05-30

ttains, from one OF the nearest OF which q
r most picturesque cataract directed its foam
ling course toward the river. The whole
scene was lighted up by the rays of the
rising sun, gliding the crimson and purple
, clouds that aoated in sky Of the puresl
, blue.
II Alphonsine, dazzled, transported, enrap-
! tured. fell on her knees. Her first look
was turned to The sun just emerging from
the eastern horizon, and then her eyes
wandered rouud in every direction, 100
much delighted with all to fix on any
thing. IfI
For my part looked only at my daughter
To me lhe sight of nature itself was at that
moment only interesting, as il effected this
. sole and darling object of my tenderness.
|" Oh my dear mother" che exclaimed, as
soon as she had power to speak, am | TO
see such beautiful things every day 7"
INDUCED her in allowing her to walk to
the church. How delightful was this our
first walk in the open air. She stopped
every few minutes to admire the wild flow
ers that grew on the side of the road. She
saw, for the first time, the brilliant butter
! ilies that flew around them, and she mis-.
took them for living flowers that had escap-
ed from their stems. The birds, the sheep,
the cattle, all delighted and surprised
| her.
J The pastor received us Mt the door Of the
church he was followed by his assistant
priests magnifcenlIy drest in rich habits
which | had caused to be sent to them.
The church was ornamented with wreaths
of flowers suspended from pillar to pillar,
aud interpreted with lighted lamps; aud
The altar, superbly decorated, was lighted
with a multitude of tall wax candles. Twen-
ty-four children drest in white, with scarfs
of blue ond silver, waved their censors on
each side of the altar.
At the moment entered the church with
AIphonsine, the organ struck up, aud the
voice of the children rose into II beautiful
hymn. Alphonsine thought she heard
concert of angels. The Countess de Mon-
cnlde, with her niece and nephew, aud her
attendants were already in their places !;
and after mass was performed, the cere-
mony Of Alphonsine's confirmation imme-
diately commenced. Every eye was fixed
on my daughter, so long an inhabitant ol
gloomy dungeon, and now restored to the
world, and Offering up to her Creator her
frs; act of public ndoraton, ba,bed in tears
of tenderness and piety.
| After the ceremony was over, we were in
vited Ivy the pastor 10 his house near the
church, where n collation. was served up To
us; but Alphonsine could not ea,--she
could only look out of window which
opened upon the village. When we re-
turned 20 the castle, perceiving that the eyes
l..c a 4
from having been used SO much that day,
had the windows closed, aud we diled by
the light of n shaded lamp.
The following night, before she went ia
bed, I took her into a balcony, and showed
her, for The first time, the heavens glitter
ing with stars, and The moon rising behind
u bank of clouds, whose dark sides were
edged with silver by her rays.-llow de-
lighted was AIpbousiue how filed with
wonder and admiration l stayed with
her in the balcony ill the moon had risen
so high as to tinge with her light the orange
trees that grew round fountain, whose
falling waters sparkled in its beams, like
drops Of liquid silver.
Every day was now n day of happiness
for my Alphonsne, for to her every thing
had a charm. Even the rain, the hail, the
lightning, the thunder, excited in her the
greatest admiration. With what rapidty
she learned to read, to write, aud to draw
How nnxiously did she strive to make up
for the years she had passed in darkness |!
Her talent for music was extraordinary,
and she delighted in cuItivating 1t; and
she soon danced with the utmost grace and
elegance.
The Countess de Moncalde, at my earn
est request, passed with me the term of her
mourning; and she then returned to Mad
rid But it was not till Alphonsine had at
tained her eighteenth year, at which time
sha became the wife of the amiable Don
Alvar, tha: | could prevail on myself to -ac-
company her 10 the city where the first
years Of my life had been passed, and where
every thing reminded me of her lamented
father.