Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1859-11-10
For the Yorkville Enquirer.
WHEN FIRST 1 SAW THEE.

For the Yorkvire Enquirer.
WHEN FIRST 1 SAW THEE.
1t was on glad and joyous occasion;
"At eventide when twights dusky shades had passed
And deepening gloom their lenshenins shadows cast"
Abrilliant company were assembled. All SEEM
ed pleased and cheerful. The heavy heart forgot
its grief the eyes feasted long upon beauty, the
ear was RECALLED with the sweet swells Of music
that Aoated upon the air I; and every word and
look and song and smile, announced that Cupid
was eminently present, and was untiring In
throwing his missiles in all directions. 1twas an
inspiring scene-the goddess presided over the
festivities with admirable grace, and swayed her
sceptre with regal dignity. Silent and amused, l
stood surveying the immense throng with perfect
composurs. I saw the obsequious beau as he
whispered soft words of love into the ear Of his
fair one, whose crimsoned cheek and love-lit eye
and subdued cadences, told that she was willing
captive. All! thought I, how many blushing
maidens and gallant besu1 will retire from this
scene stung and restless from the effect Of cupds
dart, while /, wthal, escape, free and unfettered
as the monarch of birds, who soars aloft, and
bathes his trelcss wing in the blue deeps of heaven
But feeble and frail are the bulwarks and towers
of philosophy, when virtue and beauty, and mora
excellences, are etransformedinto breathing images
and become vital and tangible impersonations Of
Invisible elements which fash and rush upon the
soul that is warm and impressible. Under such
circumstances stoicism ITSELF could not be insen-
sible. Such was the combination Of circumstan-
ces. and such the concurrence Of events, which as
in q moment, broke down the strongly fortified
citadel. and caused those who had taken refuge
there, to fly like straws before the tempest. Nor
was the mystic spell brought on by the imposing
array of splendor and magnifcence, which was
calculated, to bewilder and stupefy the brains of
many. Nor wasi the result of the dazzling chan
deliers, whose dancing shadows and silvery rays
soften the sterner looks Of man, and spread
milder radiance over the finer sex. At all this,
had gszed with the utmost GOODNESS. But it was
in the life-breatbing form Of an unknown person
age, whom the fates, without my consent, had
placed at my right hand. Never had we met
befdfe-never had those musical tones saluted
my ear till then-never had those varied intona-
tions of voice greeted me, and fell,
"soft and gentle as morning dew distilled |"
Never had unconscious glances and unintentional
words 80 unnerved and paralyzed my energies
1 stood transf1ed Philosophy was gone; eau
ton no longer kept sentry; discretion had desert
ed resolution faltered judgment was from
home manly independence was bowed down.
In this uunerved and exposed condition, I re-
mained for hours, jammed and wedged and press
ed by the jostling crowd, whose motions were
like the restless
~Wsye behind which drives along the wave before"
What could do? Flight was out of the ques-
tion, and every look I gave, and every sly glance
I stole, revealed the deep drawn lines Of thought
which marked her brow, and gave proof that she
looked upon the fantastic swells of this beau monde,
as unworthy, the pursuit Of beings invested with
immortal powers. YET her vivacity Of life and e1-
uberance Of feeling, indicated o spirit nervously
tempered, but held in due subordination to right
reason, and regulated by sound philosophy. But
will 1 attempt portrayal of those personal
charms?
"No, forever undiscribed let those charms remain,
And let her noble deeds that real worth proclaim.
But why this mystic spell, is the problem yet
unsolved. 1t was no new thing for me to gaze
upon strange faces had often been attracted
by symmetry of form, entranced by superior en-
dowments, pleased with elegance Of manner, but
never had been so enchained by strange face
before; never had seen worth and high charac-
ter eustamped in every feature, and traceable in
every lineament of face. And but for my ability
to rally all my mental forces, and the early dis
persion of the assembly, might have received an
ipcurable wound from Cupid Having, however,
gained the ascendancy, went to my lodging e1-
asperated at the insolence which Cupid had mani
tested, pouring ever and anon, TRADE Of in7ec-
tives upon my invisible tormentor. Get you gone,
YOU little, mischievous, impertinent, meddlesome,
contemplate neriad. How dare you intrude your
self, when all my mental forces are absent! on
no occasion will your vsitations be received, when
they are not in attendance. With such reflections,
I set out for the region Of dreams.
The morning dawned and found all my fugitive
powers at hand. And yet, in my calmest moments,
the question would come up, was not that creature
the beau ideal which you have so often painted,
and which you hoped would share your joys and
soothe your sorrows? To this question I found
no answer, and resolved then, that I would not
settle it, till had sought an interview with the
strange one who had so mysteriously chained my
attention. Time has rolled on-the grand march
of events has made many strides into the une1por-
ed future. I find myself approaching aconsecrated
spot. Why this strange solicitude as. to what is
about to happen? 1t is even so; am about to
meet that parsonage who on former occasion,
threw such enchantment over my spirit. Will
nature and providence, and all the train Of mental
forces sanction the deeds of Cupid on that event
ful evening, and above all, will that embodiment
of virtue set her signet to what has been done
Our story abruptly stops-the future will tell
EssE AMATURUS.
YoRKv1LLE, Nov. 10, 1859.
For the Yorkvile Enquirer.