Alida; or, Miscellaneous Sketches of Incidents During the Late American War.

by Frank V. Webster

  CHAPTER XIV.

  "See, winter comes," and boisterous on its way, See darkening clouds obscure the cheerful day; Its hollow voice is muttering in the gale, While chilling hail and snow the earth assail.

  [[The phrase in quotation marks is from Thomson's _Seasons_ (see second paragraph, below).]]

  Some length of time had elapsed since the family had been settled in thecity, and the cool breezes of autumn had changed to the hoarse murmuringgales of winter. No sound scarcely was heard except blustering winds, ortheir whistling murmurs around the angles of the mansion, blended withthe more slow, monotonous cadence of the advancing waves of the Hudson.

  The evenings were cold, dark, and gloomy, except when the resplendentrays of the moon's mild lustre was seen dispensing its light andcheering influence, dissipating, in a material degree, the dreariness ofthe evenings of this inclement season. Winter had commenced, "sullen andsad, with all his rising train." "Vapours, and clouds, and storms,"succeeded each other. Instead of copious showers of rain, snow and icewere spread over the pavement in heavy masses.

  [Thomson: _Seasons_: Winter, first three lines:

  See, Winter comes, to rule the varied year; Sullen and sad, with all his rising train; Vapours, and Clouds, and Storms....]

  One evening as a storm was approaching, and the winds blew tremendously,and the snow began to fall in abundance, Where now, thought Alida, isTheodore? though the cold may pierce and storms molest him, yet there isno friend to sympathise with him in his distress, or to mitigate theheaviness of his cheerless hours, and shed the rays of gladness over histroubled mind.

  [Robert Bloomfield: _The Farmer's Boy; a Rural Poem_ (1798, quoted from 1820): Winter:

  _Him_, though the cold may pierce, and storms molest, Succeeding hours shall cheer with warmth and rest; Gladness to spread, and raise the grateful smile,]

  How great the contrast is now with his former fortunes, how severe hisafflictions! He feels not so much the loss of wealth, but he sighs forthe smiles of former associates and friends. She looked upon her finger,there was the ring he had given her in happier days. This she vowed tokeep and cherish, through every trial and affliction. It was Theodore'slast gift. Where was he now? What dangers he may have encountered, andwhat hardships endured! and what might he not yet have to suffer, ereshe should behold him again, if indeed she ever should.

  She had not heard from him in a long time. He had promised to write--whywas he not faithful to his promise?

  [The Merchant's Daughter:

  How great the contrast-- how severe her afflictions! She felt not the loss of wealth, she sighed not for the smiles of former associates.... She looked upon her finger, there was the plain gold ring-- the only one of all her jewels that she had not parted with-- she vowed she would keep and cherish it through every trial and affliction-- it was George's last gift. Where was he now? What dangers he must have encountered, what hardships endured; and what might he not yet have to suffer before he returned, if indeed he ever should return-- she had not heard from him in a long time; and when he last wrote he was ignorant of her father's failure. Would he be faithful to his plight in this reverse of fortune?]

  Thus meditated Alida. At length she articulated in a calmer tone, andher feelings became more composed.

  Infinite Ruler of events! Great Sovereign of this ever-changingworld! Omnipotent Controller of vicissitudes! Omniscient Dispenser ofdestinies! In thy hands are all things terrestrial, and the conditionof our lives are at thy disposal. The beginning, the progression, andthe end is thine. Unsearchable are thy purposes!-- mysterious thymovements!-- inscrutable thy operations! Thy will must be done. Tobow in submission to thy decrees, is right:-- for we are unable toscrutinize the past, and incompetent to explore the future.

  [_A&M_ (Alonzo speaking):

  Infinite Ruler of all events; Great Sovereign of this ever changing world! Omnipotent Controller of vicissitudes! Omniscient Dispenser of destinies! The beginning, the progression, the end is thine. Unsearchable are thy purposes! mysterious thy movements! inscrutable thy operations! An atom of thy creation, wildered in the mazes of ignorance and woe, would bow to thy decrees. Surrounded with impenetrable gloom, unable to scrutinize the past, incompetent to explore the future--]

  Alida had lived retired since she had been in town, although in themidst of gay scenes of every description. The acquaintance she had madewere few. Her second mother had no relatives there, except her sister'schildren, which formed a principal part of her society.

  [[_Alida_ page 105 (chapter XIII), referring to Alida's "second mother", says that "her many excellent qualities had endeared her to numerous friends and acquaintances".]]

  Her oldest nephew was about twenty-five years of age. The personalappearance of Mr. Bolton was highly prepossessing. He was particularlydistinguished for his genuine politeness, affability, and witticism.

  He inherited a considerable patrimony from his grandfather, which provedto be a disadvantage, as it prevented him from applying himself to anyparticular occupation. Since his aunt's marriage, and his acquaintancewith Alida, his visits had become frequent, accompanied with partialattention; though on her part, indifference was visible, as his earnestassiduities, were altogether unexpected, and implied a thing she had notthought of.

  No one had as yet observed his growing fondness and predilection forAlida, except her father, to whom it was by no means pleasing. Thehabitual idleness of this young gentleman, caused him in a great measureto pass over the consideration of his many excellent qualities.

  Among those, with whom Alida had become acquainted during her residencein the city, was the son of an old friend of her father's. Thisgentleman had place among the merchants in Broadway, and who, by a longcourse of industrious trading had amassed a handsome competency. Therewas something peculiar in his air and manner, which distinguished himamong the men of business.

  Speak of a person of commanding aspect, tall, slender, and majestic;quick in step, fluent in speech, with large light blue eyes, and lighthair, approaching a little to the yellow. That was Mr. More. There was aneatness and uniformity in his appearance and dress. He might have beenknown by his blue suit, white vest, and cambric handkerchief. He waspolite and agreeable, and by his associates, he was much esteemed as anacquaintance. His judgment was mature in regard to his business. Hemanaged his affairs with prudence and economy, and still stood firm amidthe shock of failures around him.

  [The Merchant's Daughter (describing the young lover):

  George Gilmore was the son of an old friend of the family....]

  [The Merchant's Daughter (describing the merchant):

  Mr. Alstyne was a merchant in New York, who, by a long course of industrious trading had amassed a handsome competency. There was a something in his air and manner which distinguished him in Wall street--speak of a man about fifty years of age, stout, not corpulent; quick in step, fluent in speech, with a lively black eye, and dark hair slightly silvered on the temples,--that was Mr. Alstyne. There was a neatness and uniformity too, in his dress--he might have been known by his blue coat, white marseilles vest, black pantaloons, and linen cambric napkin....]

  Though his means were ample, his expenditures were not extravagant;every thing about him partook of the convenient and useful. Suitablyfree from the fashion mania which sometimes attack young people like anepidemic, he preferred rational pleasures, and the company of a fewyoung men of liberal views and sentiments, to the empty display andunsubstantial show, which wins the smile of moneyed plebians.

  [The Merchant's Daughter:

  Though his means were ample, his expenditures were moderate: every thing around him was neat and plain, and intended only for use. Free from the fashion-mania which at that time attacked certain people like an epidemic, he preferred comfort and ease at his own fireside, and the company of a few friends to the empty display, and unsubstantial show which win the smile of moneyed plebeia
ns.

  His general deportment, his countenance and manner, discovered a mindand disposition, that had always been accustomed to unremittingindulgence. He was ardent in friendship; possessing a heart of thekeenest sensibility, with a scrupulous regard for the feelings ofothers. He had been much in female society--in company with the amiableand intelligent. Still he had never seen any one that he thought waspossessed of congenial feelings, or whose mind would assimilate with hisown.

  [The Merchant's Daughter:

  He married, when young, a lady of congenial feelings....]

  When he became acquainted with Alida, his sensations were awakened to anew influence;--that he did not attempt to banish from his mind. Henever before had seen any one he thought so worthy of esteem, or socalculated to inspire him with lasting friendship. "The kindness, andsincerity of her heart, speaks in her artless manner," said he, (as hewas one evening returning home from her father's.) "She delights the oldand captivates the young. Yet her beauty is not so dazzling at firstglance, but every day that she is seen, the more her features charm, themore her manners please. Innocence dwells in the silvery curls of herlight auburn hair, that waves over her shoulders in simple elegance. Shehas been reared with proper care and attention, and educated not toshine in a ball-room, but with a soft soothing friendship, to dissipateennui and gloom, and make the happiness of the domestic circle."

  [The Merchant's Daughter:

  the sincerity of her artless smile delighted the old and captivated the young. Her face was of the grecian mould, -- beautiful, yet her beauty was not so dazzling as at a first glance to hold the gazer in thrall -- but every day that she was seen, the more her features charmed, the more her manners pleased. The fresh bloom of health sported on her cheek, and innocence dwelt in the rich curls of her dark hair, that waved over a pure and stainless neck. In every motion of her sylph-like form was gayety and unaffected grace. She was reared with tender care, and educated not to shine in a ball-room, or flirt at a "rout," but to make a frugal housewife....]