Alida Part 46

The beauty and mildness of the present season, the copious showers, that caused the earth to abound with teeming verdure; all of which drew the contemplative genius insensibly to consider the benevolent purposes, for which all these varieties are called forth in such abundance, to excite the grat.i.tude of man, and furnish a perpetual source of pleasure and delight. "And can we," said Alida, "who are conscious of deriving our existence from a Being of such infinite goodness and power, properly entertain other prospects than those of happiness, when we experience so many blessings daily, to excite our thankfulness."

[_NY Weekly_: Contemplation:

.... To consider the benevolent purposes for which he called forth this variety and mult.i.tude of being, that comes under our cognizance, must be a perpetual source of comfort. A rational creature, that is conscious of deriving its existence from a being of infinite goodness and power, cannot properly entertain any prospect but of happiness.]

Mr. More expatiated on the pleasure there must be in pa.s.sing a tranquil life with a beloved object, turning his insidious eyes towards Alida as he spoke; he seemed to say, that she was the being, with whom he could be able to realize all the exalted ideas he entertained of such a life; and to point out beauties, and furnish amus.e.m.e.nt, to a refined taste like hers, would be to him one of the highest pleasures he could possibly 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.

[_Children of the Abbey_:

to point out beauties to a refined and cultivated taste like hers would be to him the greatest pleasure he could possibly experience.

Seated sometimes on the brow of a shrubby hill, as they viewed the scattered hamlets beneath, he would expatiate on the pleasure he conceived there must be in pa.s.sing a tranquil life with one lovely and beloved object: his insidious eyes, turned towards Amanda, at these minutes seemed to say, she was the being who could realize all the ideas he entertained of such a life....]

On the contrary, she was evidently much embarra.s.sed at this declaration.

She remained silent, and looked upon him with a degree of pity mingled with regret; then casting down her eyes, she appeared greatly confused.

She could not make any returns in his favour, and the amiable Alida felt extremely sorry to give pain or uneasiness to the friend and school companion of an only brother. She had received him with complacency on that account, which had served to increase his ill-fated partiality. She felt that she could not give one word of encouragement, yet she did not wish to drive him to despair.

[_NY Weekly_: The Fatal Mistake:

.... That amiable Almena received me with the sweetest complacency, as the friend of her brother.... Edward's penetration soon discovered the ill hid partiality....

.... neither should she wish to throw me into despair....]

The band of music now began to play in the garden. They commenced with the celebrated air of the Star-Spangled Banner, and continued playing different pieces for the s.p.a.ce of several hours.

As soon as the music ceased, they left the garden to return home, and all the people now apparently thronged out of the gates with as much avidity as they had entered them some hours before. When they arrived at the dwelling of Alida, they found that the time had whiled away, and that the evening had progressed to a late hour.

On his way home the mind of Mr. More was absorbed in the following reflections. "When I told her my affection, the blush was diffused over her cheek--and the tear of sensibility started in her eye. She evinced her regard by silent expressions, which she has shown repeatedly in many proofs of interested friends.h.i.+p, accompanied by the softness of her winning manners, and the engaging mildness of her disposition. Bonville is her declared admirer--but he may not be a favoured one. Should he meet with her approbation at any future time, would not his own fate be wretched, and the universe would become a blank deprived of the society of Alida, shaded over with the deepest tints of darkness and melancholy."

CHAPTER XXIII.

O let me view, in annual succession, my children, friends, and relatives. Those that in friends.h.i.+p's bonds are linked together by ties of dear remembrance.

The scene was highly animated, and the days were delightfully pleasant, when Alida returned with her parents to the country. The showers of April had cleared the atmosphere and revived the earth with a lively gaiety. The ice in the bay and river had melted away, and the steamboat had again began its course. The rumbling water-fall was again heard at the mill, the pensive stream stole its way through the forest, reflecting from its lucid bosom the light cloud which dwelt in the air--floating on the gentlest zephyrs. The hills and mountains teemed with verdure, and the serpentine valleys were shaded by a friendly foliage. All nature flourished, grew, and expanded, calling forth e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.ns of grat.i.tude and piety, and boldly declaring that a celestial Being overshadows us with his providence.

[_Alida_ page 131 (chapter XVI):

while the gentle murmuring of the water-fall at the mill, with its rumbling cadence over the dam, was heard at a little distance.]

As soon as the family were settled in the country, the parents of Alida made preparation to call the children together in commemoration of their father's birthday. When the time arrived for the celebration of this festive scene, the morning arose with every beauty that could bid fair for a cheerful day, and the company a.s.sembled at an early hour. Bonville was among those who arrived from the village. He appeared in excellent spirits, as if some new thought had entered his mind, which had given him new hopes of success. He informed Alida, in the course of the afternoon, that he had received intimation from a friend in England, that Theodore was now living in London. After hazarding many conjectures respecting him, he then ventured to add that he hoped he had not met there any new object, to cause him to become forgetful of former friends.

[The Story of an Unfortunate Young Lady (in _The Lady's Miscellany_, 1811):

The morning of my unhappy existence arose with every beauty that could bid fair for a cheerful day.]

Displeasure was manifest in the countenance of Alida, at this suspicion, although she feared it might be true. Theodore had promised to be faithful in a correspondence, and he certainly might have found opportunities, since the happy change of affairs in the country, to make some communications to his friends, if he had been so disposed. Again she thought, as they had been separated by parental authority, that it might have its influence to cause him to become altogether forgetful; and her spirits now sunk under the idea of Theodore's inconstancy.

Bonville continued to speak of him with indifference, observing attentively how Alida was affected. He inquired earnestly if she had ever received any intelligence from him, during his absence, (as he thought he might have written to her brother.) She answered him in the negative. He expressed his surprise, and after giving many dark intimations of his perfidy, he changed the subject.

[_Alida_ page 125 (chapter XV):

He then gave some dark intimations against his general character....]

Alida was before this extremely pensive and thoughtful, and these injurious insinuations of Theodore, increased her dejection. She once firmly believed she had a friend she could lean upon under all circ.u.mstances, and his falsity appeared to her now confirmed. A kind of gloomy superst.i.tion pervaded her mind, an anxious foreboding of future evil, which all her pious reflections and reasoning powers could not wholly control. She endeavoured to repress these painful sensations, when in the presence of her parents; but the eyes of her father frequently rested on her in filial anxiety. Her brother likewise would often observe her innate sadness, and whatever his thoughts might be as to the cause, he was still reserved, and forebore to name any thing to his sister.

Although Bonville was sometimes conscious of his injustice towards Theodore, and felt ashamed of his conduct, he was still determined to proceed with reiterated calumnies, to the ear of Alida, with the hope to ensure to himself her hand before Theodore would probably return to America.

L' innocenza a e costretta a sofferire, talvolta le piu crudeli persecuzioni; ma, con vergogna e con danno della calumnia e della malvagita, alla fine pur ne trionfa.

[Francesco Soave: "Federigo Lanucci" (here taken from _Novelle morali_, 1837):

"L'innocenza e costretta a sofferire talvolta le piu terr ibili persecuzini; ma con vergogna e con danno della calunnia, e della malvagita, alla fine pur ne trionfa."]

The appearance of Bonville was imposing to look upon, his countenance illumined by seeming sincerity and candour, no one could retain an idea for any length of time, that was altogether detrimental. To a treacherous heart, he joined a frankness of manner which amused and interested every one in his favour. Though no one was ever more careless of his veracity, yet he carried the appearance of authenticity in all he said. He had never been used to restraint or disappointment, by the silly indulgence of his parents, and seemed confident that he should succeed in all his particular wishes, and thought that all obstacles could be surmounted by his own machinations and management.

The evening was drawing near its close by a round of innocent amus.e.m.e.nts, when a letter was handed Alida from her father, that he had received from a friend in the city. It contained the unwelcome and unexpected news of the death of Mr. Bolton, who arrived at Savannah at an unfavourable season of the year, at a period when an epidemic fever prevailed. He caught the infection, and a few days terminated the existence of this amiable and accomplished youth. He was pious, benevolent and charitable. He possessed a wisdom firm and unchangeable, strictly adhering to the principles of the church and the Christian religion, and was steadfast in his opinions against all opposition. He was deeply regretted by a numerous acquaintance. His aunt mourned the loss of her favourite nephew, and Alida's father likewise deplored his premature death, although he had thought proper to oppose his wishes.

[Transcriber's Note:

Chapters XXIV-XXVII are taken from _Travels in North America_ (see Sources section).

Ellipses (....) represent longer omissions, generally two or more full sentences; shorter omissions are retained. In particular, _Alida_ omits all pa.s.sages having to do with either American Indians or religious communities. Aside from omitted material, most quotations are verbatim except for changes of person (from "I" or "we" to "Alida" or "the group").

The dramatic date of these chapters is summer 1815, or ten years before Karl Bernhard's visit. Note in particular the references to the Erie Ca.n.a.l and to the Superintendent of West Point.]

CHAPTER XXIV.

There she might read in nature's page the wonders of Creation, almighty power, infinite wisdom and unbounded might. There truths that entertain, reward the searching mind, and onward lead inquiring thought. The curious wonders still unfold, and rise upon the view. The mind rejoicing, comments as she reads, and raises still to the Almighty Power increasing homage.

[_NY Weekly_: The School of Nature (introductory poem: Theodosia):

"------------ Nature spreads An open volume; where, in ev'ry page, We read the wonders of Almighty Pow'r, Infinite Wisdom, and unbounded Love.

Here sweet instruction, entertaining truths, Reward the searching mind, and onward lead Enquiring Thought: new beauties still unfold, And op'ning wonders rise upon the view.

The Mind, rejoicing, comments as she reads; While through th' inspiring page Conviction glows, And warms to praise her animated pow'rs."]

The summer was past its meridian, and had shed abroad its warmest influences, and enriched the various scenes of nature with the luxuriance and beauty of its foliage. In the meantime, Alida departed again from her father's house for the city, to join a party composed of gentlemen and matrons, Albert her brother, with several young ladies, who all left the port of New-York for the Falls of Niagara. Her pensive mind became cheered and animated as the gallant steamer left the sh.o.r.es of the city and moved majestically over the smooth face of the Hudson.

The morning was extremely beautiful, and she surveyed with a new and alleviating pleasure, the various and extensive prospect of the surrounding country. The scenery on the river at this season surpa.s.sed all description, and exhibited a landscape worthy to relate in history.

The borders of the river beautifully interspersed with cottages, villages, and large flouris.h.i.+ng towns, elegant country-seats, with grounds tastefully laid out, which afforded to the eye of the traveller a novel and enchanting appearance. They arrived about sunset at the city of Albany, and took lodgings at Cruttenden's boarding-house, on an eminence near the Capitol or State-house.