Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-02-25
MISCE l. l. A N Y.
TiioRyAhDsEN's FIRST LOVE.

Some ffty-fve years ago, young wo-
man of prepossesiDg appearance was seated
in small back room Of house in Copen-
hagen, weeping bitterly. In her lap lay few
trinkets and other small articles, evidently
keepsakes which she had received from
time to time. She took up one after the
other and turned them over and over; but
she could scarcely distinguish them through
her binding tears. Then she buried her
face in her hands, and rocked to and fro IN
agony. :. -. a,
nv dreams of happiness are vanlshed-all
nv hopes are dead He will even go with
out bidding me farewell. All, Hemlin that
have lived to see this bitter day Loret
raere Gnd
AT this moment hasty tap at the door
was followed by the entrance of the object
of her grief He was ayoung man about
twenty-five years of age, his person middle
sized anG strongly built, his features mass
I'VE, regular, r,attractive-his long hair faxen ,
his eve blue. This was Bertel Thorvaldsen
"a name which has, since then sounded
throughout the world, as that of the most
illustrious sculptor of modern times. His
step was firm and quick, his eyes bright, s
his features glowing, as he entered the
room; but when he beheld the attitude OF
the weeping female, shade passed over
his countcnance, as he gently walked up to
her, and laying his hand on her shoulder,
murmurcd, Amalie!
"Bertcl!" answered q smothcred voice.
The young Dane drew chair to her side,
and sileatly took her tear-bedewed hands.
'Amahe = said he, after pause broken
only by her quivering sobs, Il am come to
bid thee farewell, l go in the morning"
She ceased weeping, raised her face, &
releasing her hands, pushed back her dis
hevelled hair. Then she wiped her eyes,
and gazed on him in way that made his
own droop. "Pertel,'' said she,i in solemn
tone, but void of all rerroach, "Bertel,
why did you win my young heart? why
did YOU lead me to hope that should be-
come the wife of your bosom'"
"I-I always meant it; mean it now" "
| She shook her head mournfully, and TAX
inc up the trinkets. continued, ''Do you re-
member what you said when you gave me
tllS-GnQ tDlS-anu lniS
"What would you have, Amalie' said
loved you; | love you still-but''---
"But YOU love ambition, fame. the praise
of men, far BETTER" added she, bitterly.
Thorvadsen started and his features
flushed for he felt acutely the truth Of her
words.
"Yes, you will leave gam1e Danm0rkc-
you will leave your poor, fond old father
and mother, whose only hope and only
earthly Joy is in you-you will leave me, &
all who love the sounds of your footsteps,
and 90 the distant land, and forget us all p
MN Pige you are cruel and unjust
shall come back to my old father and moth
er-come back to thee, and we shall be hap
py again."
"Never Bertel never When once
you have gone, there is no more happiness
for us. In heaven we may all meet again
on earth, never! Ono, never more will
you see in this life either your parents or
your poor broken hearted Amalie "-and
again her sobs burst forth.
Thoryaldsen abruptly rose from his chair
and paced the room in agitatioh' He was
much distressed and once or twice he glanc-
ed at Ama.ie with evident hesitation. His
past life, the pleasures of his youth, the en-
deared scenes and friends of his childhood
the affection of Amal;e, the anguish of his
parents at the approaching separation, all viv'
idly passed in review, ,and whispered to him
to stay and be happy in the city of his birth
But vision of Rome rose also, and beck
oned him thither to earn renown, wealth,
and earthly Immortality. The pride of con-
scous genus swelled his soul, and he felt
that the die was cast forever.