The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-10-27
A COUNTRY SCENE IN ENGLAND


Is thus beautifully and vividly sketched by a
writer in Blackwood's Magazine
| Al about ten yards distance from the church,
peeped modestly out from the midst of stately
elms and luxurlant evergreen, the neat little rec
tory II was constructed Of the same rough
gray stone with the church Long, low, with
projecting caves and easement windows facing
that large east window of the church, still fam
ing with the rejecting splendor of the setting
sun. His orb was sinking TO rest behind the
grove, half empowering the small dwelling,
which, therefore, stood in the perfect quietness
OF his own shadow, the dark green masses OF
the jasmine clustering round its porch and win
dows, scarcely revealing but by their exquisite
odor the pure white blossom that starred ''its
lovely gloom" But their fragrance foated on
the gentle breath of evening, mingled with the
perfume Of mignionette, and the long fingered
marvels of Peru, (the pale daughters Of twilight)
and innumerable sweet flowers blooming in
their beds of rich black mould close under the
lattice windows. These were all flung wide,
for the evening was still and sultry, and one
opening down to the ground showed the interior
of very small parlor plainly and modestly fur
nished, but paneled all round with well filed
book cases. A lady's harp stood in one corner,
and in another two fine globes and an orrery-
Some small flower baskets, filed with roses,
were dispersed about the room, and at a table
near the window sat gentleman writing-or
rather leaning over writing desk with pen in
his hand for his eyes were directed toward the
gravel walk before the window, where lady
an elegant looking woman, whose plain white
robe and dark uncovered hair well become the
sweet matronly expression of her face and figure
was anxiously stretching out her encouraging
arms tolher little daughter, who came laughing
and lettering towards her ON the soft green turf
her tiny feet, as they essayed their first indie
pendent steps in the eventful walk of life, twist
ing and turning with graceful awkwardness,
and unsteady pressure, und the dsproporton-
ate weight of her fair, fat person. Ii was
sweet, heart thrilling sound, the joyous crow
ing laugh of that little creature, when with one
last, bold, mighty effort, she reached the mater
nal arms, and was caught up to the maternal
bosom, and half devoured with kisses, in an
ecstasy of unspeakable love. AS If provoked to
emulous loudness by that mirthful cutlery, and
impatient to mingle its clear notes with that
young, innocent voice, blackbrd, endowed in
a tall neighboring bay tree, poured now forth
with such food of full rich melody as stilled
the ady's laugh, and for a moment arrested its
observant ear. But for moment. The kin
dred natures burst out into full chorus the baby
clapped her hands and laughed aloud, and after
her fashion Knocked the unseen songstress.-
The bird redouhled her tuneful efforts, and still
the baby laughed, and still the bird r-joicsd, 1.
and both together raised such melodous
ulu tHdl eCHOcS VI the Oiu CHuICn rang
again; and never since the contest Of the
nightingale with her human rival, was heard
such an emulous conflict of musical skill. |
could have laughed for company, from my I'M
seen lurking place, within the dark shadow of
the church buttresses. II was altogether such
scene as shah never forget one from. which
could hardly tear myself away Nay, | did not.
stood motionless as a statue in my dark niche,
till the objects before me became indistinct in
| fxrilirhf fill tho laot 81. Min nod
withdrawn from the highest panes of the church
window; till the blackbird's song was hushed,
and the baty's voice was still, and the mother
and her nurseling had retreated into their quiet
dwelling, and the evening taper cleaned through
the fallen white curtain and still open window.
But yet, before the curtain fell, another act OF
the beautiful pantomine had passed in review
before me. The mother, with her infant in her
arms, had seated herself in low chair within
the little parlor. She united the frock strings,
drew of that and the second under garment,
dexterously, and, at intervals, as the restless
frolics Of the still unwearied babe afforded oppor
tunity and then it was E its little coat and stay,
the fat, white shoulders, shrugged up in antic
merriment far above the sackened shoulder
straps. Thus the mothers hand slipped off one
soft, red shoe, and, having done so, her lips
were pressed almost, as it seemed involuntarily,
to the little naked foot she still held. The other,
as if, in proud love of liberty had spurned off to
distance the felow shoe, and now the darling,
disarrayed for its innocent sumbers, was hush
ed and quoted, but not yet to rest the night
dress was still to be put on and the little crib
was not there-not yet to rest-but to the mighty
duty already required of young christians. And
in moment il was hushed and in a moment
the small hands were pressed together between
the mothers hands, and the sweet, serious eyes,
were raised and fixed upon the mothers eyes,
(there beamed, as yet, the infants heaven, and
one saw that it was lisping out its unconscious
prayer-unconscious, not surely unaccepted-
A kiss from the maternal lips was the token OF
Gods approval, and then she rose, and gather
ing up the scattered garments in the same clasp
with the half-naked babe, she held it smiling to
its father, and one saw in the expression of his
face, as he appraised it, after having imprinted
kiss on that of his child-one saw it in all the
holy fervor of fathers blessing.
When the mother withdrew with her little one
and then the curtain fell, and still lingered-for
after the interval Of few minutes, sweet sounds
arrested my departing footsteps-a few notes Of
the harp, a low prelude, stole sweetly out-a
voice still sweeter minglIng its tones with sin
gle quiet accompaniment, swelled out gradually
into strain of sacred harmony, and the words
of the evening hymn were waited towards the
house of prayer.-Then all was still in the cot
tage, and the deepening shadows brought to my
mind more forcibly the lateness of the hour and
warned me to turn my face homewards. So
moved few steps, and yet again lingered,lin
gered still; for the moon was rising, and the stars
were shining out in the clear cloudless heaven,
and the bright reflections of one danced and gilt
tered like liquid fire fly, on the ripple of the
stream, just when it gided into darker deeper
pool, beneath little rustic foot bridge which led
from the churchyard into shady green lane, com
municating with the neighboring hamlet On
that bridge ] stopped minute, for listened to
the voice of the running water and methought