The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1860-07-13
GIBBONS FIRST AND ONLY LOVE

| -. ~ooN - Aho1 AND ONLY LOVE.
1e"t lew OF our readers, We imagine,
'a'e the read the story Of the great histo.
ran hrst and only love, which we extract
from MY life and Wri,ings,' now compar
at've'y rare laok. As aiterarv moroccan
It Is unique, and.n. passage could he frund
J" al his works more eha,acteris,ic of the
authors peculiar style. l,is. besides a If.
tie romance in itself, and MOI, peruliar1v
interesting to the admirers of nad TO
Stael:
hesitate, from the apprehension OF rili.
cule. when approached the delicate sub
Ject Of my early love. By this word do
not mean the polite attention, :hs gallant
rv' without hope or design. whiei, has orig
mated in tbespirit of chivalry, and inter
woven With the texture of French manners.
i2unders'and by this passion The union Of
desire. friendship and tenderness, which is
'"fiamed by single female, which prefers
her to The rest Of her sex and which seeks
her possession as the supreme or the whole
Happiness Of our heing. need no, blush
at recoI'ecting the object of my choice;
and though my love was disappointed of
success. l am rather proud that was one
capable Of feeling such pure and exalted
sentiment. The personal attraction Of
Mademoisell. Susan Curchod were embel-
lished BY the virtues and talents of the
mind. Her fortune was humble, but her
family was respectable. Her mother, ma
tive of France, hau preferred her religion
to her country! The profession Of her
father did not extinguish the moderation
and philosophy Of his temper, and he lived
content with small salary and laborious
duty, in the obscure lot Of minister of Crafty,
IN the mountains that separate The Aays de
Vaud from the country Burgundy. In the
solitude OF sequestered village, he beslow-
ed liberal. and even learned. education on
his daughter. She surpassed bis hopes by
her proficiency in the languages; and in
Der visits to some relations at Lausanne,
the wit, the beauty and erudtion of Made.
mo'seIle Curchod were the theme of uni
versal applause.
The report Of such prodigy awakened
my curiosity; SAW and loved. l found
her learned without pedan,ry, lively in con-
versation, pure in sentiment and elegant in
her r'manners and the first sudden emotion
was fortified by the habits and knowledge
OF more familiar acquaintance. She per-
n'tted mo to make two or three visits to
her fathers house. passed some happy
days there, in the mountains Of Burgundy,
aud her parents honorably encouraged the
Connection. In a calm retirement, the gay
vanity Of youth no longer fulte,ed in her
bosom she listened to the voice of truth
and passion, and might presume TO hope
that had made some impression on a vir-
'uous heart. At Crafty and Lausanne in
duIged my dream Of felicity, but on my re-
turn to England, soon discovered ,ha, my
father would not hear of this strange aIli-
a"ce, sand that without his consent ,Lswas
utterly destitute and helpless. After
painful struggle yielded to my fate; l
sighed as lover. l obeyed as a son my
wound was insensitly bealed by time, ab.
sence and new life. My cure WAS accei-
Grated by faithful report ofthe tranquility
and cheerfuiness Of the lady her.elf, and /
my love subsided in frieed.hip a,.d esteem.
The minister cf Crafty soou afterwards died
his stipend dieo with him his daughter
retired to Geneva, where, by teaching
young ladies', she earned hard subsistence
for herself and her mother; but in her low
est distress she maintained spotess repu-
ta''on, and digniie.i behavior. A rich
banker OF Paris, citizen Of Geneva, had
the good fortune and good sense to discovs]
er and possess this ines,imabIe treasure :,
and inIthe capital Of taste and luxury she
resisted the temptations Of wealth as she
bad sustained the bardships Of iudigeuce. |;
The genius Of her husband has exalted him
to the most conspicuous station in Europe.
In every change Of prosperity and disprace /
be has reciued on the bosom Of faithful
friend; and Ms5saHoiseIle Curc,lod If now 7
the wife of MNsessr the minister and
perhaps the legislator Of The French :. mon.
a'chy. =
TRACES OF DREAMs-Persons are fse.7
quently at loss to account for certain iml.