The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-05-12

That is not governed by the stars above us;
The blood that fills our veins, in all its ebb
And flow, is swayed by them certainly
As are the restless tides of the salt sea
By the resplendent moon.
NEELE.
Leopold felt relieved when he had quit
ted the converts; and as he pursued his
journey, the conversation of his compan-
ions, and still m0Te, the increasing distance
which every step put between him and that
place of terror, contributed to restore his
cheer(ulness. When they had passed the
Alps, orders was received for the return of
the troops into France, where they were 10
go into quarters; and Leopold not choos
ing to accompany them in the dull coun-
try life they were about TO lead, went to
reside at Berne with some others Of the of
fcers, who had obtained leave of absence,
intending to rejoin the army at the COM
mencement of the next campaign.
In the festivities Of Berne, which has
the invidious reputation of being the most
gay of all the towns of Switzerland, Leo
pod thought he should find the means,or
passing the winter very agreeably. Soce-
ty had become necessary to him, as the on
ly means Of disspating the disquiet which
often assaled, and sometimes depressed
him.
He had been living here for some weeks,
when one day, as he entered the church
on a religious festival, he saw a procession
Of young girls passing along the aisles, and
collecting the contributions ofthe devout
people who filled the church. His alien
ton was particularly attracted by the sight
Of so much loneliness engaged in so plous
an office.
The cunning directors Of the Romsh
church, who have always been deeply vers-
ed in the feelings Of the human heart, and
the means by whichthey may be probably
assaed, have been continually in the habit
of reporting to the agency of youth and
beauty, among other expedientS, for the
purpose ofexciling charity. On the present
occasion they had been extremely happy in
their selection, for every one of the girls
who formed the procession was distinguish
ed for personal charms, and none oil them
had yet reached the age Of eighteen years.
One among them attracted the attention
Of Leopold by her remarkable beauty,
which even the neighborhood of so many
other lovely faces only rendered still more
striking. She appeared to be about sew
enteen years old, and the bloom OF youth
was just ripening into mature graces oil
womanhood. Her figure was OF perfect
symmetry, and such as even the most ex-
allied imaoina ton, and the best efforts oil
painters and scuptors, could not suIpass.-
in all her movements there was an eloquent
dignity, and her very gesture seemed 10 be
under the influence of that instructive love-
illness which pervaded her whole frame
Her walk, bounding and elastic, bespoke
allthe frmness and v!gor ofyouth, but was
surpassed by grave modesty, suited TO the
place and the OCCASION. Her face was
more fascinating and lovely than her form,
because it seemed even to pass mortal
beauty; it was like one of the sublime crea-
tons Of Guido, which are, as it were, inn
provements upon humanity, and which,
while they seem to defy comparison with
any known models, deserve all the praises
which have been bestowed upon them; like
them, it possessed the characteristic
s0vrnmanu beliesza which commands uni
yersaI admiration II would be impossi-
bic TO describe accurately such a face; and
if the imaginations Of the hearers cannot
supply them with an adequate notion of II.
it must even go undescribed, so totally Is IL
beyond the feeble power Of words to dc
justice TO it. An expression of perfect
goodness and simplicity added to il the on
ly charm which it could have received.
Leopold gazed with raptur0us admira-
ton that engrossed his whole faculties
The ceremony he had been witnessing had
already excited his feelings to pitch oil
exaltation and enthusiasm the solemn mu-
sic-the loud choir-the lervent responses
of the devout congregation-had prepared
mind like his to be easily wrought upon.
AS he looked now upon the enchanting be-
ing, who moved at the head Of her compan-
4. At LII "a.
the charity of the people. he fancied that
she was one of the inhabitants of heaven,
who had visited the earth only for the pi-
GUS purpose in which he saw her engaged.
While he looked at her this notion gath
cred strength. and at the same time, a
feeling of pure and holy love mingled with
it. File thought that il was through the
intercession of such an angel that he could