The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-08-19
THE INFLUENCE OF A FLOWER.

THE INFLUENCE OF A FLOWER.
There are many brief instances and apparent
~ trivial events in our lives, ha at the moment
Of occurrence, are almost unnotced but which,
from some associations, make an impression on
The memory at many periods of life, or may
be remembered through existence with und-
| mlnished freshness; when others OF the most
seeming interest al the time, fade from our re-
collections, or become abraded from our mind
by a constant collision with the passing trans
actions of our days. II is in early life chiefly
perhaps entirely, that deep and indeibc sensa-
tons OF regard are made and impressions in
those days are often recorded upon an unsullied
tablet, that admits in after hours of no erase
ment or superscrption. How deep are our
school-boy "reminiscences; and the kindness re-
ceived; and the friendships formed at such peri
DDS commonly constitute more enduring charac
tiers on our minds than all the after occurrences,
| halt heartless transactions, perhaps, Of later
hours when darker passions ambition,
avarice, sei-inlerest and cold reality Danish for
ever the elysian ideas of youthful romance
| There is a flower the common copSlip of the
| fields, which, by reason OF associations, for
thirty years OF my life | never saw without emo
ton; and although might sanctiy this feeling.
! confess my belief that il has not contributed
to the general happiness of my life; from reve-
renee at first II gradually became n disease. in
duced a morbid Indifference, and undermined
and DESTROYED the healthtu sources Of enjoy
ment
Toward the close of very lovely spring day
and such lovely one, to my fancy, has never
| beamed from the heavens sinee--l caressly
| plucked cowslip from copse side, and gave
/ II to Constance. Twas on that beautiful eve
ming when she told me all her heart as, seated
on messy bank she dlssected with downcast
| eyes, every part of the flower; chives, polntal,
petal, all were displayed, though | am sure She
never even thought of the class. My destiny
through life considered as fixed from that hour
Shortly afterward was called by the death of
a relative, to distant part of England: upon
my return Constance was no more The army
was my original destination; but my mind be
gan TO be enfeebed by hourly musing upon one
subject alone, without cessation available
termination; yet reason enough remained 10
convince me that, without change and excite
ment it would degenerate into faulty.
The preparation and voyage TO India new
companions, and ever-changing scenes, hushed
my feelings, and produced calm that might be
called state Of blessedness-a condition in
which the ignoble and inferior ingredients OF our
nature were subducd by the divinity Of mind.
y ears rolled on in almost constant service: nor
do remember many Of the events of that time,
even with interest or regret. In one advance of
| the army TO which was attached we had some
>
pursuit was rapid, and fell behind my dcach.
ment, wounded and weary, in ascending a
| ghaut: resting IN the jungle, with my angud
| eyes fixed on the ground, without any particular
| feeling but that OF fatigue and the smartng OF
my shoulder, a colrsiip caught my sight NV
blood rushed 10 my heart-and, shuddering, |
started on my feet, felt no fatigue, knew of no
wound, and joined my party. | had not seen
this flower for ten years but il probably saved
i M ntf, IaI "A
alone, might have tempted the avarce of some
of the numerous and savage followers of an In
dian army. In the cooler and calmer hours Of
reflection since, have often thought that this
appearance was mere phantom, an Illusion
the offspring of weakness; | saw il but for
moment, and too impertectly TO be assured Of re-
atty and whatever believed at the time seems
now to have been painting OF the mind rather
than an object OF vision: but how that image
started up conjecture not-the effect was imme-
| date and preservative. The flower was again
/ seen in Spain: had the command of an ad-
| vance party and in one OF the recesses of the
| Pyrenees, of the romantic, beautiful Pyrenecs
upon secluded bank, surrounded by shrub
berry so lovely as to be noticed by manv-was a
corsHp IL was now nearly twenty wears since
| had seen il in Mysore. did not start. but
cold melancholy chill came over me vet might
possibly have gazed long on this humble little
| flower, and recalled many dormant thoughts,
had not a sense of duty 1or momentarilv cx-
pected an attack summoned my attention To the
| realities of life; 50, drawing the back of my
hand across my eyes cheered my party with
"Forward, lads = and pursued my route, and
saw it no more, until England and all her nowe-
nv meadows met my view: but many days and
service had wasted life, and worn the fine edge
of sensibility away: they were now before me
in endless profusion, almost unheeded, and
without excitement | viewed not the cowslip
when fifty as ! had done with the eyes of nine