The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1850-01-23

parture, as my uncle was expressing his
gratitude for his kindness,and his hope OF
meeting him in town, he answered-and
it was not without emotion-.sI fear our
paths diverge too much, to allow that
hope. Mine is lowly one, but | trust /
shall find il best" | then, for the first
time, learned that he was a minister-the
humble pastor Of country village. My
heart died within me. That this graceful
and uncommonly interesting young man
should be nothing more than an obscure
village preacher--it was too mortifying -
All my bright visions Of conquest faded
away. g%We can never be any thing to
each other" thought /. Yet as ! again
turned towards him, and saw his usually
I calm eve fixed on me with an expression
Of deep anxiety, I felt a conviction that !
might be all the world to him, He was
watching the effect Of his communication,
and the glow Of excited vanity that suf-
| fused my cheek was supposed TO have its
origin from purer source. ! was deter
mined to enjoy the full glory Of my con-
quest. When my uncle warmly urged
him to accompany us home, and sojourn
with us a few days, backed the invitation
with all the eloquence my countenance
was capable of expressing. Vain and
selfish being that was-l might have
known that we differed from each other as
much as the rays Of the morning star from
the artificial glare Of the sky-rocket. He
drew his light from the fountain of living
glory, from the decaying flowers Of earth.
The invitation was accepted-and be.
fore that short visit was concluded, SO great
was the influence he acquired over me,
while Twas only seeking to gain the as
tendency over his affections, that felt
willing to give up the luxury and fashion
that surrounded me, for the sweet and quiet
hermitage he described, provided the sac
ri6ce were required. Inever once thought
of the duties that would devolve upon me,
the solemn responsibilities Of my new stu
alton. 1t is one of the mysteries of Provi-
dence, how such being as myself could
ever have won heart like his. He saw
the sunbeam playing on the surface, and
thought that all was fair beneath; did
love him; but my love was a passion, not
a principle. was captivated by the
heavenly greces Of hia nsnner, but was
incapable Of comprehending the source
from whence those gfaces were derived.
My uncle would gladly have seen me
established in a style more congenial to
my prevailing taste, but gave his consent,
as he said, on the score Of his surprising
merit. My aunt was evidently more than
willing to have me married, while my
cousins rallied me, for falling in love with
country parson.
| We wero married. | accompanied him
to the beautiful village of . Ibecame
mistress Of the parsonage. Never shall
forget the moment when | first entered
this avenue, shaded by majestic elms, be-
held these low white walls, festooned with
redo!ent vines; and heard the voice, which
was then the music Of my lie, welcome me
here, as Heavens best ard lovliest gift.
How happy--how best might have been,
and acas happy for awhile. His benign
glance and approving smile were, for "a
time, an equivalent for the gaze of admi-
ration and strains Of fiattery to which l
had been accustomed. | even tried, in
some measure, to conform to his habits
and tastes, and to cultivate the good will
of the plebeians and rustics who constitut-
ed great portion Of his parish But the
mind, unsupported by principle, is incapa-
BILE of any steady exertion. Mine gradu-
ally wearied of the effort Of assuming yir-
tues to which it had no legitimate claim.
The ferver of feeling which had given a
bluer tint to the sky and a fairer hue to
the flower, insensibly faded. | began to
perceive defects in every object, and to
wonder at the blindness which formerly.
overlooked them. | still loved my hus-
band, but the longer lived with him, the
more his character scared above the reach
ofmine. / could not comprehend, how
one could be endowed with such brilliant
talents and winning graces, and not wish,
for the admiration OF the world / was
vexed with him for his meekness and hu.i
mility, and would gladly have mingled if
i could, the base alloy Of earthly ambition
with his holy aspirations after Heaven. /
was even jealous-I almost tremble, while
l wlite it-of the God he worshipped. !
could not bear the thought, that ! held a
second place in his affections though Sc
cond only to the great and glorious Crea-
tor. Continually called from my side to
the chamber of the sick, the couch Of the
dying, the dwelling Of the poor and igno-
rant in vain sought to fill up the WIDEN
ing vacuum left, by becoming Interested
in the duties Of my station. could not
do It. They became every day more irk-
some to me. The discomfort ] was cher
ishing, became more and more visible, till
the mild and anxious eye Of my husband
yainly looked for the joyous smile that
used 10 welcome his return s.
It is true, there we're many things was
obliged to tolerate, which must inevitably
be distastefnl to one educated with such
false refinement as have been. But | |
neverrefected they must be as opposed to
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