The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-03-14

SPRING AT THE ISLE or RAYS
Spring with it's rOse-buds Spring,
The gladdest time In the csprieious year
With its green foliage an its sunlight clear
Ana wath drowsy tune
VI the bright leaping waters as they pass
LauShngiy on amid the listening grass
W IT, Buleiel
oh, The Isle of. Rays in Spring. IL was a
scene more enchanting than poets dream Of
Eden-a Mussulnan's vision of Paradise II
was an elysium of beauty, music, and fragrance
Ii was a rapture merely to stand there in the
mornings silvery food, and breathe, though every
other faculty were suspended.
1t was a heaven Of beauty The mansion. with
its white freestone walls, and its piazzas above
and below, supported by the light and elegant
white marble pillars Of the Corinthiln style Of
architecture. Its terraces, with its beautiful
shade trees dropping shadows on the fresh AMI
dewy grass; its parterres of flowers, of every
form and hue; its lawn, with serpcntine walks
and meandering strsams-with groves of trees
and vine-clad arbors-with the black shadows Of
its rocks and the bright flashing of its waters,
leaping, sparkling, and glancing in the sun
shine-radiatng streams of dazzling light "The
Isle Of Light The Isle of Sunbeams The
Isle Of Rays,o would break inspired from the
lips of the spectator
1t was heaven of music, when the full rich
diapason of Natures morning hymn was sound
ing there, from the lowest notes.-the almost in
audible murmur Of a foliage-hidden stream and
the whispered condolences of the breeze wooing
the leaves-tO the clear ripping, ringing song of
the rivuIe and the shouting laughter of the cata-
ract and from the harmony of the bee, beguiling
the flowers, to the grand harmonic chorus of
thousand birds, breaking out in their rapture,
till ali the sunbright air above seemed SCATTERING
with silvery sound, and the PARTICLES falling around
you in rain Of radiant light and music. "The
Isle of Harmony! The Isle of Music!n a blind
one would exclaim, in delight.
And it was an elysium of the breath Of
millions of flowers. The delicate perfume Of the
violet, the fine fragrance of the lily, and the rich
aroma of the rose, mingled with the intoxicating
odOrs of the rarest exoiics, filling with sweetness
the san-lit and music-freighted atmosphere Of
this Isle of Fragrance
The Isle of Rays The Isle of Music The
Isle of Fragrance The eiSsium of beauty,
melody, and perfume cit was rapture to stand
and receive all this food Of beauty, harmony,
and fragrance
And Louis and Louise wandered through its
groves and gardens like another Adam and Eve
through another Eden. And it delighted Louis
to see how Louise revealed in the light of her
new liberty. AT last the elasticity of youth had
thrown off the pressure of long habits restraint
Her step became so free, SO light, so feet the
tones of her voice SO high, clear, and cheerful
her laughter 80 gay and ringing And oh,
Louis loved her more and more, for every good
his love had brought her He had feared that
the long fettered mind, the ong-repressed affec-
tions of his little bride would never escape from
their captivity-never throw off their chains.
But it was wonderful-delightful- soon
Louise cast off the habit of restraint! How
soon she Clipped the shell, and fiuttered out
a jubilant and full-fedged singing bird How
soon she emerged from the chrysalis and flew off
joyous radiant butterfly And how she loved
Louis, as one who had given her freedom, happi
ness-new life! And how Louis loved her,
How deeply, how profoundly; how much more
deepiy-how much more profoundly-as he saw
her gladden. and brighten in the light of his love,
Ii was now that the depth and strength Of his de-
votion to Louise was revealing to him the great
ness of his own soul lie saw her happy in his
affectiOn-happy through his means-and he felt
in his profoundest heart that were the sacrifice
OF his life-yea, Of his Soul-demanded as the
price Of her happiness, it would be made. Some
times he even regretted that every good she en-
joyei was so readily at hand-that he was not
required to toll for her. There is an intensity of
dolatry in some love that cannot be pressed but
by wf,roag for the LlOped. This may be excess
insanity-fanatcism--o it may be the profound
est religion, but it is truth-truth on earth The
depea lore cannot Be satisfied bit By suffering for The
melfars of The belOued
The love Of Louis for his bride was intense
profound-powerful. The love of Louise for her
husband was only grateful, glad, and confdiug.
That was the difference between them.
This was the under-current Of feeling on both
sides. Specifically they appeared like two chill
dren, wandering through the groves or sitting
together in the bowers of The Isle of Rays.
And the countenance Of Louis would radiate joy
as his dancing eyes would follow the flying feet
of Louise when she would spring from his side TO
chase bird or pluck a flower That changed
Louise whom he remembered pacing in slow,
lady-like steps through the lofty, cold halls of
Mont Crystal The enfranchised spirit Of Lou
Use electrified even the grave old General, who
would sometimes catch his little daughter-in-law
up in his arms and toss her until she laughed
aloud
But for the most part General Stuart Gordon
had the good taste to withdraw himself from the
company of these newly-wedded lovers Some
times by shutting himself up in his library
sometimes by joining the hunt of which he was
still very fond, and sometimes by riding over his
estate, and giving his personal attention to its
management. But still more frequently his horses
head would be turned in the direction of the
Crags.
Thus happily passed the time at the Island
Palace, until Mrs. Armstrong, at the invitation of
Louis came to. pass a month with her daughter
The presence of this naughty and frozen woman
cast cloud over the brightness Of the Isle Of
Rays She radiated spiritual cold that chilled
all who approached her. She had arrived in her
coolest, hardest, and haughtiest mood and all
that she saw, heard, and felt there, aroused the
most malignant passions Of her soul She saw
Louise, instead of being pale and dspirted at her
long absence looking rosy and joyous and il she
did not hate the child for daring to be happy, ex-
ccpt by her permission and through her means,
at least she loathed her daughters husband, for
superseding her in the work Yes, she began to
hate Louis in proportion as Louise loved him.
And sometimes she would look at Louise in as