Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1840-04-14


never live in Heaven.-Shnw me q man
who is so far destitute Of the principles of
honour, virtue, and humanity, as to make
the pure principles of love cloak for con-
cealing the base passions of his heart,
losing sight ofthe truth, that
"He who steals my purse steals trash,
But he who filches my good name,
Deprives me of tiAt which naught enriches
him
And leavesme poor indeed''-and IN show you
onewho is disgrace to society and ought,
ike Tantalus, to be esteemed so vile, that
the fruits Of the earth are too pure for his
polluted lips. Such were the views and
the feelings of young Edwin, when he first
met with the beautiful Amanda. He was
aware that he had seen many lovely girls
before-many who we've worthy of his
confidence and even his affections; but
none had so charmed and allured his soul,
so enlivened his sensibilities, and made
his earth a Heaven. II was now a pleas.
ure to him to live, because he dwelt in the
region Of love, surrounded by the horizon
of beauty, famed by the wings of HOPE,
enchanted by tho voice of gladness, and
fed on the nectar of Felicity! When he
first sew Amanda, she was in crowd,
and no acquaintance was formed between
them. The second meeting was under
her own roof. Several others were present
and soon after the entrance of Edwin,
with all the modesty peculiar to her sex
Amanda arOor lxy,t,,l,l s,.o co f,,II,y and IaG
the room. All! how that splendid form,
that fair neck, those sparkling eyes, those
ruby lips, that blooming bosom arose be-
| fore his vision. Her whole image seemed
to him more fit to dwell among angels than
mortals ooh % thouhgt he, "what an
inestimable gift is woman! would wan
der Ger the vast desert of Sahara, or the
frozen shores Of Greenland would go
to the lofty Andes, and there chase the
swift stag, leaping from cliff to cliff
would commit myselfto bark, launched
on the boundleSs ocean, bare my bosomto
the merciless tempest, look with compla-
cency on the rolling waves, listen without
dread at the noise of the spouting Levia-
than-l would post myself, if he would
permit me, on the broad pinlons ofan ca
gle, soar with him to the cold atmosphere
ofthe second Heaven, and with him face
old Titan glazing nightly on earth and
sky--if; after all, ! could be blessed with
that woman's love-"
Amanda did not long remain out, and
on returning, found Edwin engaged in
conversation with a young lady whom
she had left behind. | know not what
her feelings were at that moment, whether
they were such as arise from jealousy,
because | know not whether she were in
love. Edwin was not bashful and reserv.
ed, as most persons in his situation, for he
possessed, in an uncommon degree the
art Of concealing his emotions, and Of
being familiar not only with the one whose
name was engraved on his heart, but also
with others in her presence, and he man.
aged so well on this occasion, that he kept
even Amanda herself ignorant of the eff
feet her charms had wrought upon him.
After q short but pleasant visit, Edwin
returned home 10 ponderon what he had
seen, and what he now felt. The sun
had long disappeared behind the western
hills, and ''night's sable curtain" had been
drawn over the world to close its busy
scenes. "Tired natures sweet restorer,
balmy Sleep" sat upon the lids of other
men, and Edwin threw himself upon his
couch to release his mind awhile from its
weighty concerns. But it was not so.
The mind often refuses to be separated
from the beings of its own creation it
delights to wander in the region of fancy,
and picture to itself the images of real be-
ings and even when the organ of per-
ception is closed in sleep; and the body
becomes inactive, the mind is in continual
operation, wandering like the bee, from
object to object. Edwin slept, but his mind
did not. 1t sought for Amanda, and found
her in a situation similar to that of Edwin.
What pity such minds never maet in their
| flight and communicate their thoughts
Edwin dreamed, that is, his mind pictured
to itself images. He dreamed that be
stood near a neat dwelling, the habitation
of his love. On that side of the house
next him hung balcony, and under this
ran a rivulet, upon whose surface the dam
cling of moon.beams was seen. Soon 9
light skiff flew over the water and stood
near. A soft, sweet note was waited or
the breeze, and beautiful form appeared
in the balcony. "T'was Amanda SHARK
said he, what seraphic strain is that hear
The sound is like angelic notes which chan
eternal praise This must be the realm where
holy spirits dwell IT'S here that Angels wall
so dazzingly the sapphire walls of Heaven! VIVA
form is that see bending silently Ger the
stream! lSeeI how she leans her cheek upoI
her hand; o.! that were glove upon tina
hand, that / might touch that cheek" III,
awoke and found it all but dream. He al
most wished it had been otherwise, and yet h,
could not, because that music was asouree O
sorrowful reflection to him. Whence did
proceed! Who could presume to force himsel
between him and his Amanda Was he doom
ed to suffer the miserable effects of jealousy
These were thoughts which, ever and anon
traced each other in quick succession through
his mind. He longed to see Amanda, and as
; certain whether he was attempting to displacl
some unknown person to whom her hand, he
heart, and her confidence had been plightec
and, if not, to disclose to her the emotions c
his bosom He felt that his love was pure AM
holy as the fame which assembled from Eli
iah's altar to Heaven. He thought that n
one could love her as he did, and @wished sh
might know his story and 1t would WOO her.