The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-07-15
Mtsrellaneous.
WoODSToCK-ALICE LEE.

BY L. Il. l..
The history of most fctions would be far stranger
than the fctions themselves but il would be dark
and sad chronicle. Half the works that constitute
the charm of leisure, that give their own interest
to the long November evening, or add To the charm
of beneath the greenwood tree, are
the offspring OF poverty and OF pain. Dr. Johnson
wrote Rasseas TO pay the last decent respect of the
living to the dead his mothers funeral expenses
How often is the writer obliged to put his trou-
bic, his suffering, or his sorrow aside, to finish the
task The hand may uembe, the eye fill with I'M
hidden tears and the temples throb with eversh pain
vet how often is there some hard and harsh necessity
which says, :" the work must be done" Readers, in
general, think little OF this they will say Dear
how delightful be able write such charming things!
how il must amuse you'll believe If there were on
ly the authors amusement in the case II would fall
very short of their own, not but that composition has
its moments of keen and rapid delight when the scene
rises wildly before you, and the mind Is warm with
the consciousness of its powers but these are only
angel visits, they do not form tt staple Of any
work. Literature soon becomes n power, not what 1t
once was a passion but literary success, like all
others only TO be obtained and retained by labor
and labor and inclination do not always 90 together.
Take all our eminent writers, and the quantity
of work hard work, they have got through, will be
found enormous and perpetual Literature, as pro-
fesson allows little leisure and less indulgence. The
readers the gamers, to them how little difference
does it make that I" Marmon' was written in youth
health and prosperity; while " Woodstock was the
weary task al breaking healn ana broken fortunes
their amusement is the same I! But even to the most
careless deeper interest is thrown around these vol
umes and every little touch of individuality seems
like the familiar intercourse of friend. Lockhart
says in the Memoir, know not how others inter
preted various passages in Woodstock, but there
were not few that carried deep meaning for such
of SCOTS friends rs were acquainted with, not
his pecunlary mistorunes alone but the dropping
health of his wife, and the consolation afforded him by
the dutul devotion OF his daughter Anne, in whose
pln hat
" similar To that painted in poor Alice Lee'a light
Joyous air with something OF humorous expression,
which seemed TO he looking for amusement, had van
ished before the touch of affection, and calm melan
choly had supplied lis place, which seemed on the
watch to administer comfort to others.
There is very touching allusion to Miss Scots
anxiety about her fathers enjoyments in the Dairy
A me is practising Scottish songs which take as Il
kind Of compliment 10 my own taste, as her leads her
chiefly to foreign music. think the good girl
that want and must miss her sisters peculiar talent
in singing the airs of our native country, which, inn
perfect as my musical is, make and always have
made the most pleasing impression on me, and so, If
she puts constrant herself for my sake, can
" say in requital, "God bless her'' There is
shine in shady place, and it is soothing to imagine
the pleasure that Scott must have had while investing
the of his Imagination with the love and devo
ton which had been his own solace. There is strk
inc reality about the character of Alice Lee. They
are indeed unfortunate who can recall no likeness,
who are not reminded of some actual instance OF alec
ton tightening adversely, and shedding lis own sweet
ness over the sorrow which il could at least share
Alice Lee is among the most lovabe Of Scots temi-
nine creations. No writer possessed To greater de-
gree that faculty which Colerldge prety describes
one line
only eyes make pictures when they're shut
And every appearance of Alice Lee is picture. We
see her first tin the shadowy twilight the light step of
youth subdued to the heavier tread of age aud IN the
dialogue that follows, with what force, and yet what
dcrcacy, we are made acquainted with the innermosi
reccsses of the madens heart! Alice is at the most
interesting period of a wonan's existence-when the
character is gradually forming under circumstances
that develop all the latent qualities. The rose has
opened to the SUMMERTIME girl has suddenly become
woman.
Alice Lees predominant feeling is attachment TO her
father her love for her cousin Is gentle and quiet
love, II belongs 10 the and familiarity OF child
hood; it is constantly subdued by val and hoier
sentiment Alices devotion to her father is not mere
~ the fulhlment of duty, II is warmer and keener
enoion-ihcre is pity and enthusiasm blended with
her lilial peiy-she sees the kind hearted old man
bowed hy adversely mortified in all those innocent va
mites which Ill closely every heart his old age Is
deprived OF those comforts with which youth may
dspense-but which are hard to lose when they are,
and long have been matters both ct right and habit,
No wonder that this child clings hin with deeper
and sadder tenderness. Who can avoid bringing the
picture home to Scott himsefl his difficulties seem pc.
cuiarIy adapted to awa.en the most painful sympathy