The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-05-10
THE DREAM OF LOVE.
BY CHARLES LUDLOW, ESQ, OF RICHMOND, VA.

pycHARLEs LUDLOW, ESQ, OF RICHMOND, VA
! have seen bubble blown into its
circular an indscribable beauty; on its
brilliant surface were painted the most
inimitable pictures ofIight g. life; grace
ful clouds hoated in the bosom of the
mimic sky; tiny sun irradlated the
little world, and cast all the magic of
light and shade over landscape Of
most bewitching splendor. A creation,
bright as a poet could imagne, g lowed
before me; buta wave ofthe air broke
the spell of its transitory, but beautiful
existance, and it was gone. 1t was
like a dream of love. If there is one
happy being in creation, it is the lover
in the luxury of his visionary aspira-
tions-if there is a single blisslul mo-
ment, like a star sparkling in the shad-
owy armament of life, it is that which
discovers long nourished affection to
lie mutual. The moon, as she rides on
through her infnity of space has not a
greater effect upon the ocean tide, than
has the passion of love upon the tide
of human thought-now permitting it
to settle down into state of temporary
tranquility-again bidding it heave and
swell, by the magic ofits viewless pow
er. Without it what would be the
world9 As a creation without light;
vet possessing it, as we do, how does
it discompose the sober plans of
reason? How do the loftiest bulwarks
of stern philosophy bow down and DIS
appear befor the fragrance oflts breath?
1t is the poetry of thought, when reason
slumbers on her throne, or wanderS a.
way in happy dreams. 1t is scarcely
to be defined, for it seems in a perpet-
ual halo of soft light, which dazzles
while it facinates the minds eye. ltis
to the spirit what sunshine is to the
fower--luring the fragrance from its
bosom, and bringing out all the ener-
gies Of its young nature, or as the hand
Of beauty to the slumbering lutte passing
over the silent chords, till Kit doth dis
course most eloquent music"
| had a young friend, just rising into
manhood-fery and unsettled as the
warriersteed in battle, his career was
unguiged by prudence or thought.-A
never failing flaw of spirits made him
always agreeable-he was full ofsense
and d'frolc. He could bring tear into
your eye, before the smile had left your
lip-he was allhope and happiness.
Suddenly he was before me an altered
being--his eye had grown melancholy
and full ofmeditation. tssoftness was
often, succeeded by a flash; and its fire
again extinguished in the trembling
tear. lie Stunned the rude clam
NOR of the bustling world, and would
steal away into some solitary recess,
and 10 the still shade of the forest pom
der on the sweetness O his own serrow.
HIS mind became almost world of
Itself, and thousands of visi ons rose O.
bedient, at the call Of creative thought
his soul lifted high on fancy's wing,
would explore in its wild and beauti-
ful career the fathomless regions Of i'm
agination, through all the varity Of its
magnificent domain. He loved-deep-
ly, devotedly. 1t wasmore than love;
1t was alteration. The object Of his
passion was all that woman could be
There is no object, in all creation, half
so splendid as such being;the charms
that are dilfused through the whole un-
iverse seem gathered together in her.
When the sun is going down in the
west, he leaves behind him track of
bright light, but it is insipid when COM
pared to the light of her eye. The
fragrance of the rose was not so deli
cious as the warmth of her breath
music could wake no melody like the
thrilling tones of her voice. Her mo-
ton was more graceful than the heave
of the sea or the change of the cloud,
and the magic ofmind cleaning through |
all her words, and looks and actions,
shed around her charm more CRATE
full than Arabian incense.
No wonder my hero bowed down
before her; no wonder that the sound
other voice was always in his ear, that
her image was before him in his daily