Alida; or, Miscellaneous Sketches of Incidents During the Late American War.
Page 45
[Transcriber's Note:
The next several chapters--most of VII-XII, and much of VI and XIII--are taken from _Alonzo and Melissa_ (see Sources section), often verbatim.
Substitutions: Melissa = Alida; Alonzo = Theodore; Beauman = Bonville; Vincent and Mrs. Vincent = Raymond and Mrs. Raymond; Melissa's brother Edgar = Alida's brother Albert; Melissa's aunt has no equivalent, except as a walk-on. New London and New York are conflated into New York; the Revolutionary War is changed to the War of 1812.
In _Alonzo and Melissa_, the father is cruel and mercenary; the plot complications (all seen from Alonzo's point of view) are, as the title has it, "caused by the barbarity of an unfeeling father". Melissa's mother is alive throughout the novel, but she is such a doormat that her existence makes no difference to the plot.]
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.
[_A&M_ (opening paragraph):
In the time of the late revolution, two young gentlemen of Connecticut, who had formed an indissoluble friendship, graduated at Yale college in New Haven; their names were Edgar and Alonzo; Edgar was the son of a respectable farmer, Alonzo's father was an eminent merchant--Edgar was designed for the desk, Alonzo for the bar; but as they were allowed some vacant time after their graduation before they entered upon their professional studies, they improved this interim in mutual, friendly visits, mingling with select parties in the amusement of the day, and in travelling through some parts of the United States.]
[_A&M_:
Alonzo was about twenty one years old; he had been esteemed an excellent student. His appearance was manly, open and free--His eye indicated a nobleness of soul; although his aspect was tinged with melancholy, yet he was naturally cheerful. His disposition was of the romantic cast....]
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.
[_A&M_ (second paragraph):
Edgar had a sister who, for some time had resided with her cousin at New-London. She was now about to return, and it was designed that Edgar should go and attend her home: previous to the day on which he was to set out, he was unfortunately thrown from his horse, which so much injured him as to prevent his prosecuting his intended journey; he therefore invited Alonzo to supply his place.... ... It was evening when Alonzo arrived at the house of Edgar's cousin.]
He received his children with gladness and joy, and Theodore withfriendly politeness.
[_A&M_:
Her cousin waited on Alonzo to the ball, and introduced him to Melissa, who received him with 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."
[_A&M_:
"We have been thronged with company for several days, [said Melissa] once a year my father celebrates his birth day, when we are honored with so numerous a company of uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews and nieces, that were you present, you would suppose we were connected with half the families in Connecticut.]
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.
[_A&M_:
Melissa's partner at the ball was the son of a gentleman of independent fortune in New-London. He was a gay young man, aged about twenty five. His address 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.
[_A&M_:
He led the ton in fashionable circles; gave taste its zest, and was quite a favorite with the ladies generally. His name was Beauman.]
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.
[_A&M_:
Melissa, the sister of Edgar, was about sixteen years of age.]
[[The phrase "her height rose to the majestic" is widely quoted from Robertson's _History of Scotland_, describing Mary Queen of Scots.]]
[Mrs. Sherwood: _Lady of the Manor_:
her brown hair hanging in natural ringlets about her neck.... ... her eyes were dark blue, and sparkling with intelligence, and her head, before she was half a year old, was adorned with the most abundant ringlets of the richest auburn hair.]
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.
[_A&M_:
She was dressed in white embroidered and spangled with rich silver lace; a silk girdle, enwrought and tasseled with gold, surrounded her waist; her hair was unadorned except by a wreath of artificial flowers, studded by a single diamond.]
[_A&M_ (different scene):
She was dressed in a flowing robe of white muslin, embroidered with a deep fringe of lace.]
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.
[_NY Weekly_: Select Reflections On Education:
He who is conversant with the best Greek and Roman writers, with a Plato, a Xenophon, and a Cicero, must imbibe, if he be not deficient in the powers of intellect, sentiments no less liberal and enlarged than ingenious and elegant.]
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.