CHAPTER VI.
And may each day returning, with it bring That peace that o'er the weary senses fling A calm content; where no alloy attends The pleasing intercourse of happy friends.
Albert, the brother of Alida, during his residence in New-York, hadformed an indissoluble friendship with a young gentleman who had latelygraduated at Columbia College. His name was Theodore. He was abouttwenty years of age: he had been esteemed an excellent student. Hisappearance was manly, open, and free. His eye indicated a nobleness ofmind; he was naturally cheerful, although his aspect was tinged withmelancholy, and his disposition was rather of the romantic cast. Hisfather was an eminent merchant in the city, and had long been engaged inthe various scenes of commerce. His son was designed for the law; but asthe students were allowed some vacant time after their graduation beforethey entered upon their professional studies, he thought to improve thisinterim in mutual friendly visits, mingling sometimes with selectparties in the amusements of the day, and in travelling through someparts of the United States.
The spring was advancing, and already began to shed its cheeringinfluences over the face of nature, when, after a long period of cloudsand darkness, the sun, with his illuminating beams, was chasing away thegloomy remains of winter, and recalling again to life and animation theinnumerable beauties of creation.
The day was fixed on when Alida was to return to her native residence.Albert was to attend her home, and he invited his friend Theodore toaccompany him. It was evening when they arrived at the house of Albert'sfather, where they found considerable company collected, as wascustomary on the celebration of his birth-day.
He received his children with gladness and joy, and Theodore withfriendly politeness.
"This meeting must be highly pleasing to you, miss," said Theodore toAlida, "after your long absence from home." "It is so, indeed," repliedshe, "and highly gratifying to my father, to meet here his children, andrelations, on the annual occasion of celebrating his birth-day, when weare honoured with so numerous a company of uncles, aunts, cousins,nephews, and nieces, that one would suppose we were connected with halfthe families in the state. And sometimes they do not all leave us, inseveral weeks afterwards, and regale themselves in riding about thecountry and visiting the neighbours in the vicinity."
In the course of the evening they were joined by a number from theneighbouring villages, and among the rest was the son of a gentleman whohad been long acquainted with the family. He was a gay young man; hisaddress was easy; his manners rather voluptuous than refined; confident,but not ungraceful.
He led the ton in fashionable circles, and was quite a favourite withthe ladies generally. His name was Bonville. He had seen Alida longbefore, but her additional graces since that time appeared far to exceedhis expectations.
Alida at sixteen displayed many pleasing attractions. Her height rose tothe majestic. She was tall and graceful, and her expressive featureswere adorned with hair of light auburn, which hung about her neck innatural ringlets; while her dark blue eyes, mingled at once the rays ofsprightly intelligence, and a pleasing affability.
She was arrayed on this occasion, in a dress of white muslin, richlyinwrought with needle-work. A silk embroidered sash surrounded herwaist, and she wore on her head a wreath of artificial flowers. Herelder sisters manifested their pleasure in beholding the artless,unadorned school-girl, metamorphosed to the interesting young lady offascinating manners and amiable deportment.
Social converse and rural amusements took up the greater part of theevening, when the general conversation of the gentlemen turned upon atopic in which they were all more or less interested, on what might bethe unhappy result of the present contest, in which the American nationwas engaged, which continued to engross their thoughts, and it was alate hour when the company separated.
Those who remained behind accompanied Alida on the next Sabbath to thevillage church, where they heard an able and sublime discourse deliveredby the parish minister; highly edifying to the understanding andimproving to the minds of the hearers.
This divine was fully competent in the possession of Christianprinciples and knowledge for his arduous calling, and had a happy talentof conveying them to others with effect, and communicating them inpersuasive eloquence, for the benefit and reformation of mankind.
His powers of intellect and sentiments were no less liberal andenlarged, than they were ingenious and elegant. His aspect was serene,and his manners were cheerful, and the unruffled calmness of his mindbore the same character of exalted excellence, and gave testimony of apeaceful bosom, rich in good works.
He manifested a lively interest in the welfare of his congregation, andby his genuine goodness and pious example made many proselytes.
It was his endeavour to unite the minds of the people in one interest,and excite them to be zealous in the common cause of Christianity, whereeach individual, acting for the benefit of the whole, would find theirown happiness blended with that of society in general, and be blessed inthe reciprocal communication of charity and benevolence.
Alida; or, Miscellaneous Sketches of Incidents During the Late American War. Page 9