The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-01-11
liff'ea for n Glir,ipHiqH
GERALDINE, G
THE FLOWER or MANHATTAN.

- tAAHAAls ~ " stlllh
Making each Wild siuds d.rgo,
SIN more Profound
II whs dark and fearful nisht-tho winds
blew with terrific violcno, thr waves dashed
rudcly against the shore, and their mmutu-
ou- roaring was heard b., the citizens OF our
now far-amed metropolis with emotions Of
mingled sorrow aud drc6l apprcbensons-
II was At that season ofth, ycnr when almost
every vessel which was ~ fortunate a. 10 ar
rive safely, brought intelligence Of some mel
ancholy or fatal disaster by Dea, aud many
were the iorcbodings, lcsta sdn or some 9th
or dear relative, "homovard bound" should
be- compelled To contend ia vain with the an-
cry waters,
On such an cycring, Cen, IT,, seated in his
iavoritc armchair, amid hil family group,
was entertaining them With the various Incl,
dents connected with maritime lie. when
occasionally cogld be seen shade Of sadness,
blended with the mirthGl aud happy coun-
tcnnncc Of the venerable old grntlcman,whic
made one naturally, though silently inquire
its causc-soon, however the conversation
changed, aud a long sigh Immediately sue
cccdcd and with eyes filled with tears, Gen.
G. remarked, this Il precisely such a night q.
| Witnessed 10 years since Wlen Capt Y, was
I lshipwrecked aud only himself and two of his
crew were sayed-thcy were finally taken
from, the wreck hy the ship Maria.
no you not recolloct the night Mrs. c. p
| We were at our country seat nt L., aud YOU
were alarmed lest William, our beloved son
had len Liverpool for the West Indies in
company with Lieut. NJ, a new acquaintance
I he lad met ia Paris?
oh, yes, said Mrs c., remember well the
tinc, never did before experience such a
Inight--but alas have since had cause for
much greater anxiety.
llu4h- AiAEA.-..il lle Gcncral Struggling
his shoulders, We must all have our oys aud
sorrows but thi, Is indeed a gloomy night
let rs, however, look on tho bright side
trouble comes fast enough without anticipat-
mg it.
That is very true, replied Mrs g., aud we
should feel grateful TO a kind Providence that
we are so comiortablc-yct lct us not forget
those who arr exposed to the mcrclcss blast
AS she spoke, she caught the laughing eye,
Other two younger daughters, when Kate, the
elder said,
Mother, how very despondingly you look
| should imagine you were on the eve OF en-.
barking Tor Europe ana did not much fancy
the voyage
My child do nor speak 80 thoughtlcssly
there Is something in this mourniul sound
that GIls nae with saeeletiae FeAaetiaRs-----
1t is not so pleasant indeed, replied Kate
but can we bcttcr eyincc our thank fulncss
than by being cheerful and cDntentcd2 And
ttattcr, why tit, -,te,.aed Capt, j. propose
game at chess, or let MS have some Music
come Capt j., sing us one Of your martial
songs or even whistle one of Bonapartc's air.
Louisa, come, let us hear that new piece
La Nieunoiso that Capt, j, admiros so much
lit is really beautiful air
Indeed, replied LOUISA | would sooner
play Mozarts Last Waltz, or some fuNcfpl
anthem, or oven Psalm tune just now.
Wen, said Capt. j., I think Miss Louisa
and myself must contribute our share, in en-.
deayoring "to drive duh care away" and if
we cannot be entertaining, we may at least
be amusing.
After the singing of several interesting
songs and the playing of many lively waltz
es, various other plans were suggested to pass
the evening agrecaby, and when the hour
of ten arrived, all expressed their satisfaction
at the evenings entertainments
The family of Gen. G. was considered at
that period one of the most aristocratic in the
New World-the brave General being of
English origin, and his lady also being de
scended from very ancient and noble fhmi-
ly, il was not strange that they should attach
some Importance TO titles and ancestry, if not
in appearance, yet in reality. But the ao-
tive part which Gem o. took in our struggle
for independence, the uncompremisng man
ner with which he replied, when rallied by
III. enemy aad tha -rahuhliess, si,rt,liri+, of
his whole exterior, gained for him many
warm and devoted friends Mrs G., delicate
and lady-lika, and amiablc almost 10 fault,
was beloved by all--but the many vicissi-
tudes she had been called 10 pass through In
her thome of the Wilderness" had glve,I a
tnge of melancholy TO every feature. Her
daughters have been sufficiently introduced
but there one, the most beautiful, the
beloved Of all, the cynosnre Of their hopes,
whose hi5tory is deeply interviewer in this