The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1851-11-29
OTTAWA, ILL.,, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1851


u hesitate says Gi5bun, from the npprehen.
sion Of rdicule, when | appronch the delicate
subject of my early love. By this word do not
mean the polite attention, the gallantry without
hope or design, which has originated in the spirit
vi chlvalry and Is interviewer with the texture Of
French manners. | understand by this passion
the union Of desire friendship, aud tenderness
which lntiamed by a single female-which pre-.
iers her 10 the rest Of her sex, and which seeks
her possession as the supreme of the sole happy-
ness of our being. ! need not blush at reccllect
| lng the object of my choIce; aud though my love
was disappointed Of success, ! am rather proud
that was once capable Of feeling such a pure
I and exalted sentiment
The personal attractions Of Mademoselle Su.
| san Cnrchod were embelshed by the virtues and
talents OF the mind. Her fortune WAS humble
| but her family was respectable. Her mother a
native OF France, had preferred her religion to
her country. The profession Of her father did
not extingulsh the mod ration and philosophy Of
his temper, and he lived contented with n small
salary and laborious duty, in the obscure lot o.
minister in Grassy, in the mountains that scpa
rate the Pays dc Vaud from the country of Bur
gundy. In the solitude Of seouestered village
| he bestowed n liberal and even learned education
OF his own daughter. She surpassed bis hope:
by her proficiency in the sciences and languages
and IN her short visit to some relations at Lsus
anne, the wit, the beanty. and erudition Of Made
Inoisel!e Curchod were the theme Of universal
| applause. The report Of such PRODIGY ava
sened my curiosity. / saw aud loved. Il found
her learned without pedantry, lively in conver
sauon, pure in sentiment, and elegant in manners
and the hrst sudden emotion was fortified by the
habits and knowledge Of more fameliar acquain
'ance. She permitted me TO make her two uI
/ three visits at her fathers house passed some
happy days there in the mountains of Burgundy
| ana her parents hcnorably encouraged the con
ncction. In calm retirement the gay yivact,
Of youth no longer futtered in her bosom sh,
listened to the voice Of truth and passion, aud
might presume to hope that had made som,
impression on a viriuous heart. At Grassy anc
Lausanne INDUCED my dreams Of felicity tn
on my return to England, soon discovered the
my father would not hear Of this strange alliance
and that without his consent, was myself des
,itute and helpless. After painful struggle,
yielded to my fate; ! sighed rs a lover, an,
obeyed ms & son. Ny wound was nsensi6ly hea
led by time, absence. and new life. Nv cure wa
accelerated BY faithful report Of the tranquiIit,
and cheeriJness Of the lady herself, and my loy
subsidized in friendship and esteem.
THE minister of Grassy soon after died ; hi
stipend died with him. His daughter retired t
Geneva where, by teaching young ladies, sh
earned hard subsistence for herself and her mc
ther, but in the lowest distress she maintained
spotless reputation and dgnifed behaviour. !
rIch banker Of Paris, citizen Of Goneva, had tn
good fortune and good sense to discover and po,
sess this nestimable treasure, and in the capita
OF taste and luxury she resisted the temptation
Of wealth aq she had sustained the hardships {
indulgence The genius of her husband has t,
hauted him to the most conspicuous station i
Europe In every chang. Of prosperity and d'
grace he has recned on the bosom Of fai hg,
friend; and Mademoiselle Curchod is now til
wife Of II. Neckar, the minister aud perhaps til
legislator of the French Monarchy, Gi55on's u
Memoirs