Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-10-06

sight of what Ia beautiful In nature
or the study Of what Is excellent
!. and sublime in the productions O
man, could always interest my
0 heart, and communicate elasticity
to my spirits. But am a blasted
tree the bolt has entered iny soul
and felt then that / should survive
, to exhibit, what | shall soon cease
to be,-a miserable spectacle oi
wrecked humanity, pitiable to 9TH
ers and abhorrent to myself.
We passed considerable period
at Oxford, rambling among its en-
virons, and endeavoring to identify
every spot W hich might relate to
the most anirnating epoch OF En-
glish history. Our little voyages OF
discovery were often prolonged by
the successive objects that presented
themselves. We visited the tomb
of the illustrious Hampden, and the
field on which that patriot fell. For
moment my soul was elevated
from its debasing and miserable
fears to contemplate the divine
ideas of liberty and self-sacrifice, of
which the sights were the monu-
ments and the remembfances. For
an instant dared to shake off my
chains, and look around me with n
free and lofty spirit but the iron
had eaten into my flesh, and sank
again, trembling and hopeless into
my miserable self
| We left Oxford with regret, and
proceeded to Matlock, which was
our next place of rest. The country
in the neighborhood of this village
resembled to a greater degree the
scenery of Switzerland but every
thing is on a lower scale, and the
green hills want the crown of dis
tant white Alps, which always at
tend on the piny mountains of my
native country. We visited the
wondrOus cave, and the little cabi-
nets of natural history, where the
curiOsities are disposed of in the
same manner as in the collections at
Servox and Chamonix. The latter
name made me tremble, when pro-
nouneed by Henry; and L fastened
to quit Matlock, with which that
terrible scene was thus associated.
From Derby still journeying
northward, we passed two months
in Cumberland and Westmoreland.
/ could now almost fancy myself
among the Swiss mountains. The
/ little patches OF snow which yet
fingered on the northern sides Of
the mountains, the lakes, and the
dashing of the rocky streams, were
All familiar and dear sights to me.
Here also we made some acquaint-
ances, who almost contrived to
cheat me. into happiness. The
delight of Clerval was proportion
ately greater than mine his mind
expanded in the company of men
of talent, and he found in his own
nature greater capacities and re-
sources than he could have imag.
ined himself to have possessed
while he associated with his inferi-
ors. az could pass my life here"
said he to me; .sand Lainong these
mountains should scarcely regret
Switzerland and the Rhine.n ID
But he found that travellers life
! is one that includes much pain
amid its enjoyments. His feelings
are forever on the stretch, aud when
he begins to sink into repOse, he
finds himself Obliged to quit that on
which he rests in pleasure for some
thing new, whichagain engages his
attention, and which he also for
sakes for other novelties. so7uF
We had scarcely visited the vari-
Gus lakes 81 Cumberland and West
mOreland, and conceived an affec-
ton for some Of its inhabitants,
when the period of our appointment
with our Scotch friend approached,
/ lnTf 40
my own part was not sorry. had
now neglected iuy promise for some
time, and i feared the effects OF the
demons na disappointment. ,ld He
might remain in Switzerland, and
'wreak his vengeance on my rela-
tives. This idea pursued me, and
tormented me at every moment
from which might otherwise have
snatched repose and peace. i wait
ed for my letters with feverish inn
patience If they were delayed, /
was miserable, and overcome by
Thousand fears and when they ar
rived, and saw the superscription
of Elizabeth or my father, / hardly
dared to read and ascertain my fate.
Sometimes / thought that the fiend
followed inc, and might expedite
my reinissness by numbering my
companion. When these thoughts
possessed me, | would not quit
Henry for a moment, but followed
him as his shadow, to protect him
from the fancied rage of his destroy
er. felt as II committed some
crime, the consciousness of which
haunted me. / was guiltless, but
had indeed drawn a horrible curse
upon my head, AS mortal as that of
crime. t s..l-.Y eHn
visited Edinburgh with languid
eyes and mind and yet that city
might have Interested the most un-
fortunate being. Clerval did not
like il 50 well AS Oxford for the
antiquity OF the latter city was moro
pleasing to him. But the beauty
and regularity of the new town of
Edinburgh, its romantic castle and
its envirOns, the most delightful in
the world, Arthur's Seat, st. Ber-
nard's Well, and the Pentland Hills,
compensated him for the change,
and filled him with cheerfulness
and admiration. But was impa-
tient to arrive at the termination OF
my journey.
We left Edinburg in week, pas
sed through Coupar, St. Andrews,
and along the banks Of the Tay, to
Perth, where our friends expected
US. But was In no mood to laugh |
and talk with strangers, or enter
into their feeling or plans with the
good humor expected from guest,
and accordingly i told Clerval that
/ wished to make the tour of Scot
land alone. "Do you,'' said /, ten
joy yourself, and let this be our
rendezvous. may be absent a
month or two, but do not interfere
with my motions, entreat you;
leave me to peace and solitude for a |
short time, and when 1 return
hope 1t will be with a lighter heart,
more congenial to your own tenn
Henry wished to dissuade me,
but seeing me bent on this plan,
ceased TO demonstrate. He entreat-
ed me to write often. 81 had rather
be with yOu," he said, ''in your
solitary rambles, than with these
Scotch people, whom l do not
know; hasten, then, my dear
friend, to return, that / may again
feel myself somewhat at home,
which / cannot do i'm your absence"
Having parted from my friend,
determined TO visit some remote