Alida; or, Miscellaneous Sketches of Incidents During the Late American War.
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CHAPTER XXIX.
Could I trace back the time, a distant date, since my ancestors traversed these fields, and held possession of this wide domain.
The melancholy event had taken place, and Albert had lost his father.His heavy and heartfelt affliction could not at this time be alleviated,and his mind was involved in gloom and sadness, which he endeavoured invain to dissipate.
He was now deprived of the kind hand of a parent, who had used hisendeavours to lead him in the way he should go, from his infancy: andassisted him with a kindly advice, and supplied him with a timelyexperience, and in the wisdom of whose salutary council, he could now nolonger repose.
He felt himself deprived of this kind assistant, whose precepts had beenhis guide ever since the first dawning irradiations of reason had beganto appear, to enlighten his mind, and with the eye of vigilance watchedover him, endeavouring to trace out his good or evil propensities, andto point to the particular advantages on the one hand, and the banefuleffects on the other, and to train his ideas to whatever was mostcommendable, and praiseworthy.
Albert had ever evinced a disposition pleasing to parental hopes andwishes, and flattering to a fond father's most sanguine anticipations.He was ever cheerful in complying with whatever he considered his duty,and conformable to the will of his interested parent.
He now revolved in his mind, and reflected what had heretofore been hisparticular wishes. It had long been the wish of his parent, that heshould close his business in New-York, and settle himself on thepaternal estate. He, therefore, was diligent in his endeavours to dothis, as soon as his spirits would in any wise allow him to attend tothese affairs, and at the commencement of the ensuing spring, he happilyterminated his business in the city, and returned to the country.
The remembrance of his father for a long interval of time was in everyobject around and about the mansion, in which he was established, andreminded him of his bereavement, and he was affected with sorrowfulmeditations, and a borrowed serenity was manifested in his appearance.
He reflected on his present condition,--he would say, how desultory isthe happiness of man, he lays plans of permanent felicity, when thewhirlwind of affliction arrives, and destroys the towering edifice ofcreative hope, and his schemes of contentment are changed todisappointment and wo.
He had taken possession of the paternal estate, which had for some yearsbeen the wish of his father. Like him he was fond of rural pleasures andamusements, and to dissipate care amid the diversified scenes of rusticlife, afforded him satisfaction and pleasure.
To contemplate the inimitable works of Creation, was to him no lesspleasing than instructive. Where so many objects arrest the attention,and afford abundance of entertainment, equally calculated to raise inthe human breast the most unfeigned offerings of wonder, gratitude andpraise to the great Dispenser of benefits to mankind, and the Author ofuniversal existence.
The magnificence of the celestial, and the curiosity and variety of thevegetable world, that have properties which, if accurately seen, yieldinconceivable astonishment to the eye of the beholder, and confess alikethe happy influence of the Deity. It charms in all the genial warmth andsoftness of spring, when the earth teems with a matchless splendour,when its green hues and universal verdure come forth in all theirpristine elegance and enchanting attractions, which constantly affordedthe contemplative mind of Albert, an inexhaustible variety ofentertaining and useful lessons.
In the meantime his new station in life called him to newresponsibilities, and a new field of action, unknown to him before,presented itself, wherein he must act in many different capacities. Hewas naturally of a domestic turn of mind, and had always declinedentering into the constant routine of engagements, to which the mostpart of the fashionable world, more or less, subject themselves. Heavoided all excess and extravagance, in every respect, in which peopleof this description lose the greater part of their time. He wasextremely fond of walking, as he considered gentle exercise the bestmedicine of life, and he passed much of his time in strolling over thefields or in the forest glen, amid the green wood shade, wrapped up insolitary reflection.
When the sun was gilding the western hemisphere, and the day shone inall the mildness of the season, enveloped in serious thought andreverie, Albert walked forth among the surrounding shades. "Happy, yefreeborn sons of Columbia," said he, "liberty and plenty now bless yourdomestic retirements,--War, devastation and wide-wasting rapine havefled your peaceful shores. No dread of destruction to disturb youruninterrupted tranquillity; the exercise of laudable industry can againbring home to each family competency and repose." The clear cerulean skyadded a soft beauty to the adjacent landscapes, as he listlesslywandered along the beach. The idle murmuring of the waves upon the sandyshore, the confused gabbling of the waterfowl, and the near view of thefull-spread vessel majestically advancing over the white-capped billows,that advanced and receded in gentle monotony, tended to soothe the lonebosom to calmness and quietude.
The day ended, and calm evening drew on. The silver rays of thefull-orbed moon shed a majesty on each surrounding object. The sceneappeared in solemn grandeur; the dusky forest reflected a yellowradiance; and the rolling wonders of the heavens glittered over thehead, while awful stillness reigned, interrupted only by the strains ofthe night-bird, whose melodious notes served to soothe the heart toharmony.
Albert returned home with a leisurely step, his feelings were raised indevotional gratitude to that beneficent Being, on whom we depend forevery present and future felicity, and who had surrounded us with somany blessings, that conspire to compose the mind to calmness andserenity.