Alida; or, Miscellaneous Sketches of Incidents During the Late American War.
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CHAPTER XXII.
Behold the beauteous scene, to fill the mind with wonder and delight;--the varied land and water prospect;-- from whence the arm of Commerce sends her store, to nations far remote;-- adjacent to a city, that's wealthy, large, and flourishing.
The genial warmth of the air had now animated anew the magnificence ofnature's works, and the verdant scenery of spring decked the landscapewith all its resplendent colouring and variety. As the season advanced,all classes of people had recourse to their favourite walk on theBattery, either for pleasure, or as an alleviation from the toils andcares of business. This healthy promenade drew together a number of thecitizens in the morning, but many more resorted there in the evening,and a numerous throng here regaled themselves, and rested from the busy,bustling occupations of the day;--and at the same time were spectatorsof the most splendid scene imaginable. When the sun had gone downbeneath a clear horizon, and the moon had risen in silent majesty,dispensing her light over the unruffled face of the Hudson, decoratedwith a numerous sail, representing an inimitable landscape, sublime andbeautiful.
Alida walked out one evening, and repaired thither, attended by Mr.More. It was six o'clock when they reached the Battery, and a numerousconcourse of people had already collected there. The mild rays of thesetting sun were just visible above the horizon, and cast a soft lustreover the adjacent landscape, when they entered Castle-Garden tocontemplate more nearly the surrounding scenery.
They seated themselves here, while they discoursed on the beauties ofnature, and the wonders of creation,--descanting on the goodness andbounty of that ineffable Being, from whom all our blessings flow;--thecontinual succession of so many various objects, to fill the mind withrapture and enthusiasm, and strike us with veneration and awe.
The beauty and mildness of the present season, the copious showers, thatcaused the earth to abound with teeming verdure; all of which drew thecontemplative genius insensibly to consider the benevolent purposes, forwhich all these varieties are called forth in such abundance, to excitethe gratitude of man, and furnish a perpetual source of pleasure anddelight. "And can we," said Alida, "who are conscious of deriving ourexistence from a Being of such infinite goodness and power, properlyentertain other prospects than those of happiness, when we experience somany blessings daily, to excite our thankfulness."
Mr. More expatiated on the pleasure there must be in passing a tranquillife with a beloved object, turning his insidious eyes towards Alida ashe spoke; he seemed to say, that she was the being, with whom he couldbe able to realize all the exalted ideas he entertained of such a life;and to point out beauties, and furnish amusement, to a refined tastelike hers, would be to him one of the highest pleasures he couldpossibly experience. When he declared to her his esteem and affection,with his native sincerity, he seemed to be convinced, at the same time,that she was favourably disposed towards him.
On the contrary, she was evidently much embarrassed at this declaration.She remained silent, and looked upon him with a degree of pity mingledwith regret; then casting down her eyes, she appeared greatly confused.She could not make any returns in his favour, and the amiable Alida feltextremely sorry to give pain or uneasiness to the friend and schoolcompanion of an only brother. She had received him with complacency onthat account, which had served to increase his ill-fated partiality. Shefelt that she could not give one word of encouragement, yet she did notwish to drive him to despair.
The band of music now began to play in the garden. They commenced withthe celebrated air of the Star-Spangled Banner, and continued playingdifferent pieces for the space of several hours.
As soon as the music ceased, they left the garden to return home, andall the people now apparently thronged out of the gates with as muchavidity as they had entered them some hours before. When they arrived atthe dwelling of Alida, they found that the time had whiled away, andthat the evening had progressed to a late hour.
On his way home the mind of Mr. More was absorbed in the followingreflections. "When I told her my affection, the blush was diffused overher cheek--and the tear of sensibility started in her eye. She evincedher regard by silent expressions, which she has shown repeatedly in manyproofs of interested friendship, accompanied by the softness of herwinning manners, and the engaging mildness of her disposition. Bonvilleis her declared admirer--but he may not be a favoured one. Should hemeet with her approbation at any future time, would not his own fate bewretched, and the universe would become a blank deprived of the societyof Alida, shaded over with the deepest tints of darkness andmelancholy."