Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-06-05
MAJOR ANDRE.

merchant in London, where he was prob
ably born, and was about twenty-four
years old when he was made prisoner
At an early age be had mastered several
of the modern languages of Europe, and
had become an expert musician, prom
ising painter and draughtsman, and
graceful dancer. His reading was ex-
tensive. and his general knowledge of
belleS-lettreS literature was remarkable for
one so young. From his pen flowed
graceful rhymes, and from his lips a
sweet voice, affiuent of words that be-
witched all who came in contact with his
handsome face, as delicate and tender in
expression as that Of a woman.
Young Andre entered his fathers
counting-room as clerk when he was
nearly seventeen years old, but the death
of that parent soon changed the current
of the young mans life. With his
mother, younger brother, and three
sisters he spent the ensuing summer in
the interior of England, and at Lichfeld
he made or renewed an acquaintance
with the family of Thomas Seward, canon
of the cathedral there, and living in the
bishops palace. His house was the GEN.
tire of literary circle in that neighbOr-
hood, composed of such young men as
Thomas Darwin, author of 1.-The Botanic
Garden" William Hayley, who wrote
about 1.-The Tears of Penelope :" Sir
Brooke Boothby, author of "Triumphs
of Temper" Richard Lowell Edgeworth.
father of Maria EdgewOrth, the novelist;
and Thomas Day, whose delightful story
of Sanford and Merton" charmed young
England almost hundred years ago as
much as did "Robinson Crusoe"-''a
book, wrote Leigh Hunt, (which shall
always remember and always be grateful
for" These were then only young
aspirants for literary tame, an almost
nebulous galaxy, of which Anna, a daugh-
ter of Canon Seward, was the "bright
particular star" She was the planet
around which the others revolved as
satellites, paying homage to her genius
and praising her poetry, ''most of which, "
Walter Scott, her biographer, said, sis
absolutely execrable.' The grace and
beauty of her person and her rare con-
versatiOnal powers made her very at
tractive.
1t was in this circle, and especially in
, the company of Anna Seward, that
young Andre spent a delightful summer.
= Canon Seward had in his family, as his
| ward, a young lady named Honora Sneyd,
daughter of dear departed friend.
! Her blue eyes, golden hair, graceful per-
son, slight hectic flush on her cheek
that heightened the brilliancy of her
. charming features, her sweetness of tem-
r per and her vivacity of manner, won the
8 heart of young Andre. The maiden was
equally impressed by Andres mind and
person. 1t was a clear case of "love al
; first sight" and not many days had
Q passed by when they were solemnly
% afianced. Andres love for HOnora in.
spired his first effort to delineate the hu.
4 man face. He painted two miniature
4 likenesses of her, one of which he gave
r. to Miss Seward, and the other he kept
; for his own consolation during absence
q from her. This he carried in his bosom
until the latest hour of his life.
Miss Seward was delighted, and tried
'e to speedily light the torch of Hymen
W but wiser counselors interposed. The
n extreme youth of the lovers made theil
10 nuptials then undesirable. They nigh
le 'marry IN haste and repent at leisure,
!. and so time was given them by th'
], parent and guardian for repentance be
30 fore marriage by long separation.
h 1t has been observed that in all low
lg affairs there are two parties. the one tina
e. loves and the one that is loved. Mis-
re Sneyd seems to have been in the latte
d. category. She soon repented, and il
IN 1873, four years after her engagement
D. to Andre, she became the second wife o
IF young Richard Lowell Edgeworth, bu
s. not the mother of Maria. Andres Low
I'd remained unquenched. His letters I
~ Anna Seward were filed with affectiOnat
It, sentiments toward the object Of his love
ed He disliked the business Of merchant
r. but for her sake he resolved to pursu
re it. "All my mercantile calculations.
ed he wrote. '.go TO the tune Of 'dea
ms Honora.' When an impertinent con
ly sciousness whispers in my ear that al
ed not of the right stuff for merchant,
de draw my HOuora's picture from my b
of som, and the sight of that dear tailsma
'r. so inspirits nay industry that no toll al
: pears oppressive" Anna Seward sun
- med up the matter in rhyme. saying
.Now Prudence. in ber cold and thrifty care.
= Crowned ihe maid and bade the youth despair;
la For power pasernai steFnly saw. and siroye
,m To the lily bands Of plishted love;
Nor stroYe In VAN but while the fair ones signs
Is Dlsperse like April storms IN sunny skles.
oe The nrrner lover with answering truth
To has nrst passion eonsecrates his yogth.r
Andre had always expressed q Prefe
~ ence for the life Of a soldier 10 that Of
Ns merchant. and failing to re-awaken Il