CHAPTER I.
"Rien n'est si contagieux qui l'exemple; et nous ne faisons jamais de grand biens: ni de grand maux, qui n'en produisent de semblables."
The ancestry of Alida was of ancient date in English heraldry, some ofwhom emigrated to America a short time before the revolution, andsettled in the southern provinces, while her father fixed his abode inthe state of New-York.
In the calm retirement of the country, at a considerable distance fromthe bustle of the town, was situated his beautiful residence, which hadevery advantage in point of prospect that luxuriant nature could givewhen it is most lavish of its bounties.
The mind of its owner took particular delight in rural pleasures andamusements; in dissipating a part of his time in the innocent scenes ofrustic life, and in attending to the cultivation of his estate, whichwas large and extensive.
Here he would contemplate, in all their variety, the natural beauties ofcreation, when arrayed in its richest attire; in the inimitablesplendour of the surrounding scenery; or amuse himself in attendance todiversified employments, some of which, as pastimes, served the two-foldpurposes of recreation and amusement.
Thus his years glided on in the most harmonious tranquillity; where hiscares were dissipated alternately in the bosom of his family, and the"tumults of life, real or imaginary, fleeted away in a mutual confidenceand unreserved friendship."
Here he would accustom himself to rise at early dawn, and dwell withparticular pleasure on the morning scenery. The dappled, rosy-fingered,blushing morn, arrested his attention; those mild tints thatparticularly express the break of day, just awakening from repose; whenthe curtain of the night seems insensibly withdrawn, and the variedlandscape exhibits itself by degrees, while the colours of theatmosphere yet seem doubtful, and the scene imperfect to the view; whenthe darkness is not entirely fled, nor the light of the new day is fullyseen; when coolness sits upon the hills, and the dews hang tremblingupon every leaf; when the groves begin to resound with the murmurs ofwarbling melody, and the valleys echo with reverberated sounds.
How pleasing at such a time to adore in his works the wonders of theCreator. That period when the sun begins to diffuse his early rays, totip the mountains with light, and the breezes in the air mildlyprognosticate the soft blushes of the morning:
"For far beyond the pageantry of power. He lov'd the realms of Nature to explore; With lingering gaze Edenian spring survey'd-- Morn's fairy splendours--Night's gay curtain'd shade-- The heaven-embosom'd inn--the rainbow's dye, Where lucid forms appear to Fancy's eye; The vernal flower, mild Autumn's purpling glow. The Summer's thunder, and the winter's snow."
Or, when the evening approached, he would observe the twilight hour,which for a time hangs balanced between darkness and the pale rays ofthe western sky, communicating a solemn pleasure to every thing around.When evening began to throw her dusky mantle over the face of nature,and the warm glow of the summer sun had departed; when the stars wereglistening in the heavens, and the moon had already risen, shedding itspale lustre over the opposite islands "that appeared to float dimlyamong the waves, the twinkling fire-fly arose from the surroundingverdure, and illumined the meadow below with a thousand transient gems."The rustling breezes played among the trees of the wood, while the airwas filled with the fragrance of various flowers, and the sound ofmelodious music was wafted from the neighbouring village, renderedapparently more soft and sweet by the distance.
The buildings on the estate consisted of a large mansion-house,farm-house, and an ancient stone cottage that stood on the margin of thewater, shaded by willow trees, and surrounded by romantic scenery.
The charming appearance which nature threw around the place on which themansion-house was situated, was scarcely less interesting in winter thanin the more gay and verdant months of the summer season. The falling ofthe snow and hail, and the sparkling icicles hanging upon the woods andshrubbery, sometimes almost conveyed the idea of enchantment to theimagination of the spectator.
The view on all sides was magnificent. The bay, gently winding, glidedinto the river beyond, where ships, steamboats, and craft of everydescription, floated upon the waters, and gave interest to theappearance of several beautiful villages that were seen at a littledistance in the landscape.
This villa was separated about a mile from the flourishing village of----, where the many white buildings, some of which might be calledmagnificent, had a remarkably pleasing and picturesque appearance,forming a lively contrast with the evergreen trees with which they wereinterspersed.
The house of Alida's father was the seat of hospitality;--scenes offestivity would sometimes have place within its walls;--"music and mirthwould occasionally echo through its apartments." He was kind, generous,and benevolent; while his independence, assisted by a charitabledisposition, enabled him to contribute largely to the happiness ofothers. His manners were highly pleasing, his conversation wasinteresting, humorous, and instructive; and, although at this time hewas rather advanced in years, yet the glow of health still shone uponhis cheek and sparkled in his eye; and his fine expressive countenancestill gave lustre to a peculiar dignity and energy in his personalappearance.
It was now many years since he had made this delightful spot hisresidence. He had married early in life a lady of engaging manners, andcaptivating beauty, who was amiable, sensible, and pious, and whose mindwas a pattern of every female excellence, combined with a taste andjudgment that had been properly directed by a suitable education; whohad been taught to esteem no farther all the acquirements and qualitiesof which the human mind is capable than as they might be conducive toenable us to excel in the duties of the Christian religion, and cause usmore fully to experience "the blessings of the truth."
These parents had reared up all their family except Alida, theiryoungest child, who at this time was placed at a boarding-school, at thevillage of ----, where she was taught, in addition to the differentstudies belonging to a Christian education, the French and Italianlanguages.
Their elder daughters had married, and were settled at some distancefrom them, and their two sons were engaged in mercantile business inNew-York. It was their principal endeavour, as their thoughts oftenrevolved in anxious solicitude for the welfare and future happiness oftheir children, to unite their efforts to persuade them, and inculcatein their minds all that was praiseworthy, by the immediate influence oftheir own example, considering that the precepts which they taught them,however wise and good, would avail but little unassisted by the aid ofexample.
"Le mauvais usage que nous faisons de la vie, la deregle, et la rendmalheureuse."
It was their first care to exercise the minds of their children, in allthe important moral and religious duties; to be careful in due time toregulate their natural propensities; to render their dispositions mildand tractable; to inspire them with the love, respect, and implicitobedience due to parents, blended with a genuine affection for relationsand friends.
"To endeavour to form their first ideas on principles of rectitude,being conscious of the infinite importance of first impressions, andbeginning early to adhere to a proper system of education, that wasprincipally the result of their own reflections and particularobservations."
Their children were assembled annually to celebrate the birthday oftheir father, together with other social friends and acquaintances,consisting chiefly of those whose beneficent feelings were in accordancewith their own, in testifying their gratitude to their Creator for dailybenefits, blended with a thankful cheerfulness, which is the offspringof moral excellence.
O, Thou enthroned where perfect day, In brightest beams of glory, play Around thy radiant throne; Where angels strike celestial lyres, And seraphs glow with sacred fires, Address'd to thee alone.
Still may thy providential care, With blessings crown the circling year, Each human ill restrain: O, may thy truth inspire my tongue, And flow through all my varying song, And shine in every strain.
Give me the calm, the soft serene
, Of summer, when it glads the scene, And scatters peace around; Bless'd image of the happy soul. That does the heav'n-born mind control, While conscious joys abound.
That this may be my bounteous share, Ascends my ever constant prayer To Thee, all-perfect Mind! O, aid me in the gen'rous strife, Through each inconstant scene of life, To all thy ways resign'd.
Alida; or, Miscellaneous Sketches of Incidents During the Late American War. Page 4