The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1849-02-20
MISCELLANY.
A STORY OF THE HEART.

A SUM Of LIE 6EAhl.
81 have a love forthis same old colonnade. A
thousand memories linger here. The young, the
lovely, the lght-hearted of many years have
walked this same round, and listened and spok-
en- the words of faith and hope that are spoken
now so lightly, and so easily forgotten by the
gay hunters OF yonder brick hotel. 1t seems
to me that a very few years have effected a
great change in the character Of the visitors
at Saratoga. 1t is now of a lighter, gayer sort.
Even the dance seems to have become more
airy and less solemn than it used to be. When
first trequented Saratoga, flirtations' were
less frequent, love was serious matter, and
many happy life of affection began, where
We now stand The old Congress is sacred
place with me, and prefer ii still, for the sake
of these associations. Stand with me by the
pillar and III tell love story.
l." 1t will be ten years next month. since
stood here as we now stand, with two friends
How well l loved them The one was ayoung
man, my friend: senior in Princeton, pass
ing his vacation before commencement, at the
Springs. The other was gentle girl. There
is none here like her, none half so lovely. |
should incur the severe condemnation of some
fifty ladies, to whom | bow each day, did they
know that am the writer of this letter, when
say that l never saw as little beauty a. Sa-
ratoga as this summer. Out of some hundreds
of ladies, there are not twenty that bear look
ing at twice. But, perhaps, my taste has left
me, and l am no judge. Certainly, | have
seen none to compare with l.. She was
a fairy child of seventeen. Her eye was as
blue as heaven, and had in it winning earn
estness, that made her ten times more lovely.
She was the worship of host of admirers
Her seat in the drawing room was always sus-
rounded BY a crowd, and she never lacked for
a word or a smile where it was deserved, or
cold bow where that was desirable"
Il have said she was fairy in form. Her
foot fell as lightly on the carpet (as Longtellow
said of Preciosa) as 4 sunbeam on the water
Every movement was grace, every laugh a
thrill of melody. Her song was gush ofsuch
Overlooking sweetness as l never heard sur
passed no, nor equalled. That song haunts
this spot on which. we stand. inger in the night
to listen to it. 1t is this that makes me love
The Old Congress
ave stood together that night, having es-
capped the crowded ballroom, and by this We
ry pillar, my friend and L exchanged the
words OF parting which are apt to be exchang-
ed between those who love. 1t was an ordIna-
nv parting. No tears, Eothing but smiles. He
was to return 10 Princeton, attend commence
mcnt, return to the Springs, and they were to
20 to Niagara together. Her father, a man OF
great wealth, and devoted to his daughter,
stood Wonder watching US. l remember the
scene well, how well
ado not let him make you forget me, said
Fred with smile. a week is q long time
to be away, and you may be wooed and won
by some one in that time You remember the
Girl who was wooed, won and married IN q
day!
like to speak of forgetting even in that way
aWell; l will not then. Expect me on
Saturday Good bye ~ and he passed his man.
ly arm around her, and pressed his lips &c
hers, and saying, Take good care OF her
W sprang on his horse, ard rode swift
ly away.
&" Give me your arm," said L, ''and let
us walk here awhile. / can't go back to that
room again.
So we walked till midnight, talking Of
Fred for L would listen by the hour VIII lie
| praised my friend. She loved him with no.
" love. 1t is blessed thing to meet such
love in this world. Such love is like 4 smile
of God among the rough scenes Of life. She
was hopeful trustful, | need not say faithful.
But Fred and l. never met again. lie
died alone, in lonely place. Saturday came,
and he came not. She was disappointed and
sad. All day Sunday devised excuses for
him. Monday, and no Fred. Tuesday,
Wednesday passed; and at length Saturday
brought me letter from a strange hand, "
write YOU, sir" said the letter, AS directed by
Mr.. Frederick C., who died at my house
last night" l need not attempt TO describe
nv feelings as 1 went on to read the particu-
lars of his sudden death. his last words to me,
his message to l.. They were written out
by stranger, taken down from his lips. How
full of warmth, Of love, of agony. Tell him
to tell her. He will know who / mean. She
must not weep. She may, wish she could
forget me-" =,
81 broke the news to her as well as could
standing again just at the same place She
stood, statue-like, and listened-then fell like
A dead person into my arms. Since then, she
too has fallen asleep Her blue eye is closed.
Her glorious hair is under the cofin-lid. Her
voice has learned new, purer melody /
stand here now and think of her while the
sounds of revelry come faintlyeo my ear /
grow purer myself in communion with the
dead. Should not this be 4 sacred place to
me 2"