The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-07-13

BYJ.H. INGRAHAM.
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,
S And the young man that getteth understanding
Al 1t is better than the merchandise OF silver,
And the gain thereof than fine gold
b The day was drawing TO close. The
, sun was sinking TO rest in the magnifcence
Of his auiumnal glory. Clouds, gorgeous in
gold and scarlet, hung about his path like
an imperial train attending the departure of a
, monarch As he slowly descended, and was
at length lost TO the eye below the blue. far
off verge Of the horizon, the sky became
fused with delicate tints Of mingled amber
and pun pie. while the deep arching heavens
overhead assumed a rich and beautiful
amethystine hue. The winds were still, and
a delightful repose pervaded the earth and
air. The shadows of evening fell gently
over nature, and gradually the sounds OF
man industry ceased. and the voice'of child
hood. at his loved twilight sports, fell pleasin-
ely on the listening ear,
How beautifulis all this y said young
man who was standing in the tall Venitian
window OF a stately mansion, with a lovely
girl by his side, both having been some time
gazing in silent deligh upon the sunset scene
before them. What a variety and beauty |,
See those neeting shadows move across the
serene mirror of the bay, which display anoth-
er sky as glorious as the one above it, only
inverted. How sublime, how full of interest,
is an hour and scene such as this, Twi
lights like these fills my heart with adm ira
ton, and soften its sensbilities into delight
full tenderness. All contemplation OF nature
exalts and refnes my being; but the holy
cham Of twilight has sweet influences, pc
culiar to itself. My soul at such time ex-
pands with sense of the beautiful, and rises
to the source Of all beauty and enjoyment.
Ii sympathizes with every sound and sight,
and from the finite and visible rises to the In
finite and Invisible, the Creator of all, our low
ing and benefcent Father ard God'
The speaker was young gentleman, not
more than four or FIVE and twenty, with a
finely intellectual face, and figure, aud a
lperson, and bearing IN the highest degree
lprepossessing, His dark expressive eyes
now eIoquently told the depth of his enjoy
ment in the contemplation Of the evening
scene, refined taste for the beauties Of
udture was reflected from every noble fea-
ture,
AS he spoke, he smiled upon her, and with
his eyes bent down to hers, he seemed TO be
seeking for that sympathy with.his enjoyment
which would make perfect hi, own elevated
the young maiden replied. She seemed to be
embarrassed. surprised as it were, at the
tone and character Of his words. She col
= ored and hesitated, as If not knowing what
5 and how 10 answer him, Not that she was
incapable, from inferiority of taste or intel
ect, or enjoying what he enjoyed, or of ex-
= pressing, in choice and happy sentences, her
-, emotions. No, Adelaide Emery was highly
educated and accomplished person. as well
as remarkably handsom. Her talents, which
were good, had been accurately cultivated.
= Ii was not her mind, but her heart, that was
u at fault. She was surprised, almost shocked,
n at hearing expressions associated with relig
ious sentiments from the noble youth at her
1 side. She was taken completely by surprise
J at the elevated nature Of his remarks. MOI
Il that Edward Kent was young man openly
= irreligious. Fax from it, as his words have
! shown. But she was surprised that one so
rich and fashionable should speak so serious
,fl ly, one whose vile she hoped one day TO be
= for they were lovers, and OH the eve of be-
trothal,
y She it is true. had been enjoying the beau
5 ~ of the hour as well as he; but il was mere
" the enjoyment Of taste. Ii she felt any
: emotion excited by the glory and happiness
of the sceue and time, it was fu gitive, trans
e cient, superficial emotion, Adelaide Emery's
a sensibility was of that kind (which is very
common among the worlds people, which
= ofientimes OVERT ows in tears, but leaves the
S heart selfish. Her heart was moved TO graft
tude and JOY BY the contemplation of the be-
nevOlent paternity OF the Great being from
whom all the beauty and glory OF earthly
scenes are but emanations. Her heart never
expanded with tenderness al the thought OF
Gods goodness; which embraces within its
immense circuit all animated things, from the
angel to the worm. and fills them with enjoy
ment. An Involuntary feeling. without a
name, arose in her bosom as she stood con-
templating The variety and beauty Of the
changing evening hOur-a feeling that par
took something of awe of admirstion. and that
! delight Of the senses which the most careless
feel at such an hour. II was. We will do hei
the justice TO say. kind ofloAe and graft
! tude; but one may experience this kind Of
; love without being religious, or the least bet
ter for it, Ii is an emotion Of the intellect
not feeling of the SOUL
Edward, as from time TO time he glanced,
towards her, saw her gazing upon the sky,
and distant hills, and golden waters OF the
bay, with eyes of taste and the looks of cult
waited delight. He was gratifed TO witness this;
and when he thought he saw her eyes mois-
ten with happiness under the hallowed influ-
ence of the hour, he spoke out all his hear,
and then paused TO hear its echo from her
own.
j But she knew not what to answer She
was wholly irreligious; as much without
God as a beautiful daughter OF Pagan
Rome. She at length lifted her large fine
eyes to his face slowly and wonderingly,
and said:
| Are you religious, Edwardr
Religious, Adelaide! Would that /
were!' he answered, with deep emotion.
One would think so from what YOU
have said. You really frightened mel
And the bell laughed, bot not as ifl
wholly treasured in her mind, 1t was a
laugh slightly nervous and ironical.
Il am not religious-that is, Adelaide,