The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-05-10
- 4 Z p ~ -
EARLY Life of Major Andre.

andre was a son Ola Swiss merchant
in London, where he was probably
born, and was about twenty-four years
old when he was made prisoner. At
an early age he had mastered several Of
the modern languages Of Europe, and
had become All expert musician, a
promising painter and draughtman,
and a graceful dancer. His reading
was extensive, and his general knowl-
edge of bellies lettres literature was re-
markable for one 50 young. From his
pen flowed graceful rhymes, and from
his lips sweetvoice, af1luent Of words
that bewitched all who came in con-
tact with his handsome face, as deli.
icate 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, q younger brother, and
three sisters he spent the ensuing sum-
mer in the interior of England, and at
Litchfield he made or renewed an &C.
quaintance with the family of Thomas
Seward, canon of the cathedral there,
and living in the Bishops palace. His
house was the center of a literary cir
Gle in that neighborhood, composed of
such young men as Thomas Darwin,
author of 'sThe Botanic Garden;"
William Harley, who wrote about
1.-The Tears Of Penelope Sir Brooke
Boothby, author of "Triumphs of
Temper" Pichard Lowell Edgeworth,
tho fofh0r of Aorio rrk1
novelist, and Thomas Day, whose
delightful story of ''Sandford and Mer-
tom charmed young England almost
hundred years ago as much as did
Gro inson Crusoe''-'sa book,' wrote
Leigh Hunt, which I shall always re-
member and always be grateful for"
These were then only young aspirants
Tor literary fame, an almost nebulous
galaxy, Of which Anna, 4 daughter of
Canon Seward, was the Upright partic-
ular 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,
els absolutely execrable.'' The grace
and beauty of her person. and her rare
conversational powers made her very
attractive.
It.was in this circle, and especially
in the company of Anna Seward, that
young Andre spent delightful sum-
mer. Canon Seward had in his family.
as his ward, young lady named Ho-
nora Sneyd, a daughter of dear, de-
parted friend. Her blue eyes, golden
hair, graceful person, slight hectic
flush on her cheek that heightened the
brilliancy of her charming features
her sweetness of temper, and her vi
vacity of manner won the heart of
young Andre. The maiden was equal
ly impressed by Andres mind and per.
son. It was clear case of "love at
first sight" and not many days had
passed by when they were solemnly
affianced. Andres love for Honora in
spired his first effort to delineate the
human face. He painted two minia-
ture likenesses of her, one of which he
gave to Miss Seward, and the other he
kept for his own consolation during
absence from her. This he carried in
his bosom until the latest hour Of his
life.
Miss Seward was delighted, and tried
to speedily light the torch of Hymen,
but wiser counselors interposed. The
extreme youth of the lovers made
their nuptials then undesirable. They
might ''marry in haste and repent at
leisure" and so time was given them
by the parent and guardian for repent
ance before marriage by long sepa-
ration.