Alida; or, Miscellaneous Sketches of Incidents During the Late American War.
Page 49
CHAPTER X.
"Dark gathering clouds involve the threat'ning skies, The billows heave with the impending gloom; Deep hollow murmurs from the cliffs arise, Ride on the blast, and urge the howling storm."
[Charlotte Smith: _Elegy I_:
Dark gathering clouds involve the threatening skies, The sea heaves conscious of the impending gloom, Deep, hollow murmurs from the cliffs arise; They come--the Spirits of the Tempest come!]
Several weeks passed away, and Theodore felt all that anxiety andimpatience which a separation from a beloved object can produce. Heframed a thousand excuses to visit Alida, yet he feared a visit might bepremature. He was, however, necessitated to make a journey to a distantpart of the country, after which he resolved to see her.
[_A&M_:
A fortnight passed, and Alonzo felt all that anxiety and impatience which a separation from a beloved object can produce. He framed a thousand excuses to visit Melissa, yet he feared a visit might be premature. He was, however, necessitated to make a journey to a distant part of the country, after which he resolved to see Melissa.]
He performed the business he went on, and was returning. It was towardevening, and the day had been uncommonly sultry for the autumnal season.A rising shower blackened the western hemisphere; the dark vapoursascended in folding ridges, and the thunder rolled at a distance.
[_A&M_:
He performed his business, and was returning. It was toward evening, and the day had been uncommonly sultry for the autumnal season. A rising shower blackened the western hemisphere; the dark vapor ascended in folding ridges, and the thunder rolled at a distance.]
Theodore saw he should be overtaken by the rain. He discovered anelegant seat about a hundred yards distant from the road; thither hehastened to gain shelter from the approaching storm.
[_A&M_:
Alonzo saw he should be overtaken. He discovered an elegant seat about one hundred yards distant from the road; thither he hastened to gain shelter from the approaching storm.]
The owner of the mansion met him at the door, and politely invited himin, while a servant stood ready to take his horse.
[_A&M_:
The owner of the mansion met him at the door, politely invited him to alight and walk in, while a servant stood ready to take his horse.]
He was ushered into a large apartment, genteelly furnished, where thefamily and several young ladies were sitting. As he glanced his eyehastily around the room, he thought he recognized a familiarcountenance. A hurried succession of confused ideas for a moment crossedhis recollection. In a moment he discovered that it was Alida.
[_A&M_:
He was ushered into a large room neatly furnished, where the family and several young ladies were sitting. As Alonzo glanced his eyes hastily around the room, he thought he recognized a familiar countenance. A hurried succession of confused ideas for a moment, crossed his recollection.--In a moment he discovered that it was Melissa.]
By this unexpected meeting they were both completely embarrassed. Alida,however, arose, and, in rather a confused manner, introduced Theodore tothe company as the friend of her brother.
[_A&M_:
By this unexpected meeting they were both completely embarrassed. Melissa, however, arose, and in rather a confused manner, introduced Alonzo, as the classmate of her brother, to the family of Mr. Simpson, and the company.]
The rain continued most part of the afternoon. Theodore was urged by thefamily, and consented to stay the night. A moonlight evening succeededthe shower, which invited the young people to walk in an adjoininggarden. Alida informed Theodore that the owner of the mansion was adistant relative of her father, who had two amiable daughters, not farfrom her own age. She had been invited there to pass a week, andexpected to return within two days. "And," she added, smiling, "perhaps,Theodore, we may have an opportunity once more to visit our favouritegrove, before winter entirely destroys the remaining beauties of thesummer."
[_A&M_:
The rain continued most part of the afternoon, Alonzo was invited, and consented to stay all night. A moon light evening succeeded the shower, which invited the young people to walk in an adjoining garden. Melissa told Alonzo that Mr. Simpson was a distant relative of her father; his family consisted of his wife, two amiable daughters, not far from Melissa's age, and one son, named William, about seventeen years old. She had been invited there to pass a week and expected to return within two days. And she added, smiling, "perhaps, Alonzo, we may have an opportunity once more to visit the bower on my prospect hill, before winter entirely destroys the remaining beauties of the summer."]
Theodore felt all the force of the remark. He recollected theconversation when they were last at the place she mentioned; and he wellremembered his feelings on that occasion.
[_A&M_:
Alonzo felt all the force of the remark. He recollected the conversation when they were last at the place she mentioned; and he well remembered his feelings on that occasion.]
"Great changes, indeed," he replied, "have taken place since we werelast there;--that they are productive of unexpected and unexampledhappiness to me, is due, Alida, to yourself alone."
[_A&M_:
"Great changes, indeed, (he replied) have taken place since we were last there; that they are productive of unexpected and unexampled happiness to me, is due, Melissa, to you alone."]
Theodore departed next morning, appointing the next week to visit Alidaat her father's house. Thus were the obstacles removed which hadpresented a barrier to their united wishes. They had not, it is true,been separated by wide seas, unfeeling parents, nor, as yet, by therigorous laws of war; but vexations, doubts, and difficulties had thusfar attended them, which had now happily disappeared, and theycalculated on no unpropitious event which might thwart their futurehappiness.
[_A&M_:
Thus were the obstacles removed which presented a barrier to the united wishes of Alonzo and Melissa. They had not, it is true, been separated by wide seas, unfeeling parents, or the rigorous laws of war; but troubles, vexations, doubts and difficulties, had thus far attended them, which had now disappeared, and they calculated on no unpropitious event which might thwart their future union.]
All the hours that Theodore could spare from his studies were devoted toAlida; and their parents began to calculate on joining their hands assoon as his professional term of study was completed.
[_A&M_:
All the time that Alonzo could spare from his studies was devoted to Melissa, and their parents began to calculate on joining their hands as soon as Alonzo's professional term of study was completed.]
Hostilities that had previously commenced with England had been followedby several battles. "The panic and general bustle which prevailed atthis time, will yet be remembered by many." These circumstances were notcalculated to impress the mind of Alida with the most pleasantsensations. She foresaw that the burden of the war must rest on theAmerican youth, and she trembled in anticipation for the fate ofTheodore. He, with others, should it continue, must take the field indefence of his country. The effects of such a separation were dubiousand gloomy. Theodore and herself frequently discoursed on the subject,and they agreed to form the mystic union previous to any wideseparation.
[_A&M_:
The troubles which gave rise to the disseveration of England from America had already commenced, which broke out the ensuing spring into actual hostilities, by the battle at Lexington, followed soon after by the battle at Bunker Hill. The panic and general bustle which took place in America on these events, is yet well remembered by many. They were not calculated to impress the mind of Melissa with the most pleasing sensations. She foresaw that the burden of the war must rest on the American youth, and she trembled in anticipation for the fate of Alonzo. He, with others, should the war continue, must take the field, in defence of his country. The effects
of such a separation were dubious and gloomy. Alonzo and she frequently discoursed, and they agreed to form the mystic union previous to any wide separation.]
[[The phrase "actual hostilities" was used earlier.]]
One event tended to hasten this resolution: The attorney inwhose office Theodore was engaged received a commission in thenew-raised American army, and marched to the lines near Boston. Hisbusiness was therefore suspended, and Theodore returned to the house ofhis father. He considered that he could not remain long a mere spectatorof the contest, and that it might soon become his duty to take thefield, therefore concluded to hasten his marriage with Alida. Sheconsented to the proposition, and their parents made the necessaryarrangements for the event.
[_A&M_:
One event tended to hasten this resolution. The attorney in whose office Alonzo was clerk, received a commission in the new raised American army, and marched to the lines near Boston. His business was therefore suspended, and Alonzo returned to the house of his father. He considered that he could not long remain a mere spectator of the contest, and that it might soon be his duty to take the field; he therefore concluded it best to hasten his marriage with Melissa. She consented to the proposition, and their parents made the necessary arrangements for the event.]
The place was fixed upon which was to be their future residence. It wasa pleasantly situated eminence, commanding an extensive prospect. Onthe west, forests unevenly lifted their rude heads, with here and therea solitary field, newly cleared, and thinly scattered with cottages. Tothe east, the eye extended over a soil at one time swelling into woodyelevations, and at another spreading itself into vales of the mostenchanting verdure. To the north it extended to the palisades, woodedto their summits, and throwing their shadows over intervals of equalwilderness, till at length the eye, wandering far beyond, was arrestedin its excursions by the blue mist which hovered over the distantmountains, more grand, majestic, and lofty. The inhabitants around weremild, sociable, moral, and diligent. The produce of their own fieldsgave them the most of what was necessary, and they were happily freefrom all dissipation and luxury.
[_A&M_:
They had even fixed upon the place which was to be the future residence of this happy couple. It was a pleasantly situated village.... On the west, forests unevenly lifted their rude heads, with here and there a solitary field, newly cleared, and thinly scattered with cottages. To the east, the eye extended over a soil, at one time swelling into craggy elevations, and at another spreading itself into vales of the most enchanting verdure. To the north it extended over a vast succession of mountains, wooded to their summits, and throwing their shadows over intervals of equal wilderness, till at length it was arrested in its excursions by the blue mists which hovered over mountains more grand, majestic and lofty.... The inhabitants of this modern Avernum were mostly farmers. They were mild, sociable, moral and diligent. The produce of their own flocks and fields, gave them most of their food and clothing. To dissipation they were strangers, and the luxuries of their tables were few.]
Such was the site marked out for the residence of Theodore and Alida.They visited the spot, and were enraptured with its pensive, romanticbeauties.
[_A&M_:
Such was the place for the residence of Alonzo and Melissa. They had visited the spot, and were enraptured with its pensive, romantic beauties.]
"Here," said Theodore, "we will one day pass our time in all thefelicity of mind which the chequered scenes of life will admit. In thespring, we will roam among the flowers; in summer, we will gatherstrawberries in yonder fields, or raspberries from the adjacentshrubbery. The breezes of fragrant morning and the sighs of the eveninggale will be mingled with the songs of the various birds which frequentthe surrounding groves. We will gather the bending fruits of autumn, andwill listen with pleasure to the hoarse, murmuring voice of winter--itswhistling winds, its driving snow and rattling hail--with delight."
[_A&M_:
"Here, (said Alonzo, one day to Melissa) will we pass our days in all that felicity of mind which the chequered scenes of life admit. In the spring we will rove among the flowers. In summer we will gather strawberries in yonder fields, or whortleberries from the adjacent shrubbery. The breezes of fragrant morning, and the sighs of the evening gale, will be mingled with the songs of the thousand various birds which frequent the surrounding groves. We will gather the bending fruits of autumn, and we will listen to the hoarse voice of winter, its whistling winds, its driving snow, and rattling hail, with delight."]
The bright gems of joy glistened in the eyes of Alida as Theodoredescribed this pleasing scene of anticipation.
[_A&M_:
The bright gems of joy glistened in the eyes of Melissa. With Alonzo she anticipated approaching happiness, and her bosom beat in rapturous unison.]
Winter came on; it rapidly passed away. Spring advanced, and themarriage day was appointed. Preparations for the hymenial ceremony weremaking, and invitations had already gone abroad. Albert was particularlysent for, and all was approaching to readiness for this happy event.
[_A&M_:
Winter came on; it rapidly passed away--Spring advanced, and the marriage day was appointed. ... Preparations for the hymeneal ceremony were making, and invitations had already gone abroad. Edgar, the brother of Melissa, had entered the army in the capacity of chaplain. He was soon expected home, where he intended to tarry until the consummation of the nuptials, before he set out for the camp.]
[[The omitted text, concerning Alonzo's military plans, will be used later in _Alida_.]]
Theodore and Alida again promenaded to the spot which had been chosenfor their habitation; they projected the structure of the buildings,planned the gardens, the artificial groves, the walks, and the greenretreat of the summer-house; and already they realized in imaginationthe various domestic blessings and felicities with which they were to besurrounded.
[_A&M_:
About three weeks previous to the appointed marriage day, Alonzo and Melissa one afternoon rode out to the village which had been chosen for their future residence.... they projected the structure of the buildings, planned the gardens, the artificial groves, the walks, the mead, the fountains and the green retreat of the summer house, and they already saw, in anticipation, the variousdomestic blessings and felicities with which they were to be surrounded.]
Nature was adorned with the bridal ornaments of spring; the radiant sunwas sinking behind the groves, casting his sable shades over the valley,while the retiring beams of day adorned the distant eastern eminenceswith yellow lustre; the birds sung melodiously in the grove; the air wasfreshened by light western breezes, bearing upon their wings all theentrancing odours of the season; while around the horizon clouds raisedtheir brazen summits, based in the black vapour of approaching night;and as its darkening shades were advancing, Theodore and Alida returnedhome. They seated themselves awhile on the piazza, to contemplate thesplendours of the evening, and to witness the beauties of one of themost picturesque draperies painted in the landscape of nature.
[_A&M_:
... nature was adorned in the bridal ornaments of spring; the sun was sunk behind the groves, which cast their sombre shades over the valley, while the retiring beams of day adorned the distant eastern eminences with yellow lustre. The birds sung melodiously in the grove, the air was freshened by light western breezes, bearing upon their wings all the entrancing odors of the season. Around the horizon clouds raised their brazen summits, based in the black vapor of approaching night.
They slowly ascended the hill south of the town, where they paused a few moments to enjoy the splendors of the evening scene. This hill, which commanded a prospect of all the surrounding country, the distant Sound, and the adjacent towns and villages presented to the eye, on a single view, perhaps one of the most picturesque draperies painted by nature.]