NRLF 
 
 B M 7ED =!Dfl 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA, 
 
 THE UNFEELING FATHER. 
 
 AMERICAN TALE. 
 
 Li every varied posture, place, and hour, 
 How widowed every thought of every joy ! 
 
 YOUNG. 
 
 BY DANIEL JACKSON, JR. 
 
 BOSTON: 
 
 FEINTED FOR THE PUBLISHERS. 
 1851. 
 
ST4GL 
 
Of V- 
 
 ;;.-, > JNLOS 
 
 r 1 S\/ 
 
 .. 
 
 PREFAbf 
 
 WHETHER the story of Alonzo and Me 
 lissa will generally please, the writer knows 
 not, if, however, he is not mistaken, it is 
 not unfriendly to religion and to virtue. - 
 One thing was aimed to be shown, that a 
 firm reliance on Providence, however the 
 affections might be at war with its dispen 
 sations, is the only source of consolation in 
 the gloomy hours of affliction ; and that gen 
 erally such dependence, though crossed by 
 difficulties and perplexities, will be crowned 
 with victory at last. 
 
 It is also believed that the story contains 
 no indecorous stimulants; nor is it filled 
 with unmeaning and inexplicated incidents 
 sounding upon the sense, but imperceptible 
 to the understanding. When anxieties 
 have been excited by involved and doubtfu. 
 events, they are afterwards elucidated b 
 the consequences. 
 
 876 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 The writer believes that generally he 
 has copied nature. In the ardent prospects 
 raised in youthful bosoms, the almost con 
 summation of their wishes, their sudden and 
 unexpected disappointment, the sorrows of 
 separation, the joyous and unlocked for 
 meeting in the poignant feelings of Alon- 
 zo, when, at the grave of Melissa, he poured 
 the feelings of his anguished soul over her 
 
 miniature by the "moon s pale ray;" 
 
 when Melissa, sinking on her knees before 
 her father, was received to his bosom as a 
 beloved daughter risen from the dead. 
 
 If these scenes are not imperfectly drawn, 
 they will not fail to interest the refined sen- 
 tiJities of the reader. 
 
 
AL.ONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 A T 
 
 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 de 
 signed 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 amusements of the 
 day, and in travelling through some parts of 
 the United States. 
 
 Edgar had a sister who, for some time, 
 had resided with her cousin at New-Lon- 
 jon. She was now about to return, and it 
 was designed that Edgar should go and at 
 tend her home. Previous to the day on 
 which he was to set out, he was unfortu 
 nately thrown from his horse, which so 
 much injured him as to prevent his prose- 
 1 * 
 
6 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 outing his intended journey : he therefore 
 invitee! Aionzo to supply his place \ which 
 invitation he readily accepted, and on the 
 day appointed set out for New-London, 
 where he arrived, delivered his introductory 
 letters to Edgar s cousin, and was received 
 with the most friendly politeness. 
 
 Melissa, the sister of Edgar^ was about six 
 teen years of age. She was. not what is es 
 teemed a striking beauty, but her appearance 
 was pleasingly interesting. Her iigure was 
 elegant ; her aspect was attempered with a 
 pensive mildness, which in her cheerful 
 moments would light up into sprightliness 
 and vivacity. Though on first impression, 
 her countenance was marked by a sweet and 
 thoughtful serenity, yet she eminently pos 
 sessed the power to 
 
 " Call round hor laughing eyes, in playful turns, 
 1 ho glance that lightens, and the smile that burns." 
 
 Her mind was adorned with those delicate 
 graces which are the first ornaments of fe 
 male excellence. Her manners were grace 
 ful without affectation, and her taste had been 
 properly directed by a suitable education. 
 
 Aionzo 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; al 
 though his aspect was tinged with melan 
 choly, yet he was naturally cheerful. His 
 disposition was of the romantic castj 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 7 
 
 For far heyond the pride and pomp of power, 
 He lov d the realms of nature to explore ; 
 With lingering gaze Edinian spring survey d ; 
 Morn s fairy splendours ; night s gay curtained shade,, 
 The high hoar cliff, the grove s honighting gloom, 
 The wild rose, widowed o er the mouldering tomb j 
 The heaven embosom d sun; the rainhow s dye, 
 Where lucid forms disport to fancy s eye ; 
 The vernal flower, mild autumn s purpling glow, 
 The summer s thunder and the winter s snow." 
 
 It was evening when Alonzo arrived at 
 the house of Edgar s cousin. Melissa was 
 at a ball which had been given on a matri 
 monial occasion in the town. Her cousin 
 waited on Alonzo to the ball, and introduc 
 ed him to Melissa, who received him with 
 politeness. She was dressed in white, em 
 broidered and spangled with rich silver lace; 
 a silk girdle, envvrought and tasseled with 
 gold, surrounded her waist; her hair was 
 unadorned except by a wreath of artificial 
 flowers, studded by a single diamond. 
 
 After the ball closed, they returned to the 
 house of Edgar s cousin. Melissa s part 
 ner at the ball was the son of a gentleman 
 of independent fortune in New-London. 
 rle was a gay young man, aged about twen 
 ty-five. His address was easy, his manners 
 rather voluptuous than refined ; confident, 
 but not ungraceful. He led the ton in 
 fashionable circles ; gave taste its zest, and 
 was quite a favorite with the ladies gen 
 erally. His name was Beauman. 
 
 Edgar s cousin proposed to detain Alonzo 
 and Melissa a few days, during which lime 
 
S ALONZO *JVD MELISSA. 
 
 they passed in visiting select friends and socia. 
 parties. Beauman as an assiduous attend 
 ant upon Melissa. He came one afternoon 
 to invite her to rid? out ; she was indispo 
 sed and excused herself. At evening she 
 proposed walking out with her cousin and 
 his lady; but they were prevented from 
 attending her by unexpected company. 
 Alonzo offered to accompany her. It was 
 one of those beautiful evenings in the month 
 of June, when nature in those parts of A- 
 merica is arrayed in her richest dress. They 
 left the town and walked through fields 
 adjoining the harbour. The moon shone 
 in full lustre, her white beams trembling 
 upon the glassy main, where skiffs and sails 
 of various descriptions were passing and 
 repassing. The shores of Long-Island and 
 the other islands in the harbour, appeared 
 dimly to float among the waves. The air 
 was adorned with the fragrance of surround 
 ing flowers ; the sound of instrumental music 
 ivafted from the town, rendered sweeter by 
 distance, while the whippoorwill s sprightly 
 song echoed along the adjacent groves. Far 
 ir the eastern horizon hung a pile of bra 
 zen clouds, which had passed from the north, 
 over which, the crinkling red lightning mo 
 mentarily darted, and at times, long pea!.? o.* 
 thunder were faintly heard. They walked 
 to a point of the beach, where stood a large 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 rock whose base was washed by every tide. 
 On this rock they seated themselves, and en 
 joyed a while the splendours of the scene 
 thje drapery of nature. " To this place, said 
 Melissa, have I taken many a solitary walk, 
 on such an evening as this, and seated on 
 this rock, have I experienced more pleasing 
 sensations than I ever received in the most 
 splendid ball-room." The idea impressed 
 the mind of Alonzo ; it was congenial with 
 the feeling of his soul. 
 
 They returned at a late hour, and the 
 next day set out for home. Beauman han 
 ded Melissa into the carriage, a.nd he, with 
 Kdgar s cousin and his lady, attended them 
 on their first day s journey. They put up 
 at night at the house of an acquaintance in 
 Branford. The next morning they parted* 
 Melissa s cousin, his lady and Beauman, 
 returned to New-London ; Alonzo and Me 
 lissa pursued their journey, and at evening 
 arrived at her lather s house, which was in 
 the westerly part of the state. 
 
 Me issa was received with joyful tender 
 ness by her friends. Edgar soon recovered 
 from his fall, and cheerfulness again assum 
 ed its most pleasing aspect in the family. 
 Edgar s father was a plain Connecticut far 
 mer. He was rich, and his riches had been 
 acquired by his diligent attention to busi 
 ness. He had loaned money, arid taken 
 
10 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 mortgages on lands and houses for securi 
 ties ; and as payment frequently failed, he 
 often had opportunities of purchasing the 
 involved premises at his own price. He 
 well knew the worth of a shilling, and how 
 to apply it to its best use; and in Casting 
 interest, he was sure, never to lose a far 
 thing. He had no other children except 
 Edgar and Melissa, on whom he doated. 
 Destitute of literature himself, he had pro 
 vided the means of obtaining it for his son, 
 and as he was a rigid presbyterian, he con 
 sidered that Edgar could no where figure so 
 well, or gain more eminence, than in the 
 sacred desk. 
 
 The time now arrived when Edgar and 
 Alon/o were to part. The former repaired 
 to New-York, where he was to enter upon 
 liis professional studies. The latter enter 
 ed in the olh ce of an eminent attorney in 
 his native town, which was about twenty 
 miles distant from the village in which liv 
 ed the family of Edgar ami Melissa. A- 
 lon/.o was tin; frequent guest of this family; 
 for though Edgar was absent, there was still 
 a cliarin which attracted him hither. If he 
 hud admired the manly virtues of the bro 
 ther, could he fa-il to adore the sublimer 
 graces of the sister? If all the sympathies 
 of thr most ardent friendship had been drawn 
 forth towards the former, must not the most 
 
ALONZO AND MEI.ISSA. H 
 
 tender passions of the soul be attracted by 
 the milder and more refined excellencies of 
 the other 1 
 
 Beauman had become the suitor of Me 
 lissa; but the distance of residence render 
 ed it inconvenient to visit her often. He 
 came regularly once in two or three months ; 
 of course Alonzo and he sometimes met. 
 Beauman had made no serious pretensions, 
 but his particularity indicated something 
 more than fashionable politeness. 
 
 His manners, his independent situation, 
 his family, entitled him to respect. " It is 
 not probable therefore that, he will be objec 
 tionable to Melissa s friends or to Melissa 
 herself," said Alonzo, with an involuntary 
 sigh. 
 
 But as Beauman s visits to Melissa became 
 more frequent, an increasing anxiety took 
 place in Alonzo s bosom. He wished her 
 to remain single ; the idea of losing her by 
 marriage, gave him inexpressible regret. 
 What substitute could supply the happy 
 hours he hn?d passed in her company ? What 
 charm could wing the lingering moments 
 when she was gone ? In the recess of his 
 studies, he could, in a few hours, be at the 
 seat of her father : there bis cares were 
 dissipated, and the troubles of life, real or 
 imaginary, on light pinions, fleeted away. 
 How different would be the scene when 
 
12 ALOPsZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 debarred from the unreserved friendship and 
 conversation of Melissa; And unreserved 
 it could not be, were she not exclusively 
 mistress of herself. But was there not 
 something of a more refiner! texture than 
 friendship in his predilection for the com 
 pany of Melissa ? If so, why not avow it ? 
 His prospects, his family, and of course his 
 pretensions might not be inferior to those 
 of Beauman. But perhaps Beauman was 
 preferred. His opportunities had been 
 greater ; he had formed an acquaintance 
 with her. Distance proved no barrier to 
 his addresses. His visits became more and 
 more frequent. Was it not then highly 
 probable that he had secured her affections? 
 Thus reasoned Alonzo, but the reasoning 
 tended not to allay the tempest which was 
 gathering in his bosom. He ordered his 
 horse, and was in a short time at the seat 
 of Melissa s father. 
 
 It was summer, and towards evening 
 when he arrived. Melissa was sitting by 
 the window when he entered the hall. She 
 arose and received him with a smile. "I 
 have just been thinking of an evening s 
 walk, said she, but had no one to attend 
 me, and you have come just in time to per 
 form that office. I will order tea immedi 
 ately, while you rest from the fatigues of 
 your journey." 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 13 
 
 When tea was served up, a sc rvant en 
 tered tlie room with a letter which he had 
 found in the yard. Melissa received it. 
 " Tis a letter, said she, which I sent by 
 Beauman, to a lady in New-London, and 
 the careless man has lost it." Turning to 
 Alonzo, " I forgot to tell you that your 
 friend Beauman has been with us a few 
 days ; he left us this morning." 
 
 " My friend !" replied Alonzo; hastily. 
 u ls he not your friend?" enquired Melissa. 
 
 " I heg pardon, madam," answered he, 
 a my mind was absent." 
 
 " He requested us to present his respects 
 to his friend Alonzo," said she. Alonzo 
 bowed and turned the conversation. 
 
 They walked out and took a winding 
 path which led along pleasant fields by a 
 gliding stream, through a little grove and 
 up a sloping eminence, which commanded 
 an extensive prospect of the surrounding 
 country ; Long Island, and the sound be 
 tween that and the main land, and the 
 opening thereof to the distant ocean. 
 
 A soft and silent shower had descended 
 a thousand transitory gems trembled upon 
 the foliage glittering the western ray. A 
 bright rainbow sat upon a southern cloud ; 
 the light gales whispered among the branch 
 es, agitated the young harvest to billowy 
 motion, or waved the tops of the distant 
 2 
 
14 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 deep green forest with majestic grandeur. 
 Flocks, herds, and cottages were scattered 
 over the variegated landscape. 
 
 Hiils piled on hills, receding, faded from 
 the pursuing eye, mingling with the blue 
 mist which hovered around the extreme 
 verge of the hori/on. u This is a most de 
 lightful scene," said Melissa. 
 
 " It is indeed, replied Alonzo; can New- 
 London boast so charming a prospect?" 
 
 Melissa. No yes ; indeed 1 can hardly 
 say. You know, Alonzo, how I am charm 
 ed with the rock at the point of the beach. 
 
 Alon/o. You told me of the happy hours 
 yon had passed at that place, Perhaps the 
 company which attended you there, gave 
 the scenery its highest embellishment. 
 
 Melissa. I know not how it happened; 
 but you are the only person who ever attend 
 ed me there. 
 
 Ylonzo. That is a little surprising. 
 
 Mel. Why surprising ? 
 
 A I. Where was Beauman ? 
 
 Mel. Perhaps he was not fond of soli 
 tude. Besides he was not always my Bcau- 
 man. 
 
 Al. Sometimes. 
 
 Mel. Yes, sometimes. 
 
 A I. And now always. 
 
 Mel. Not this evening. 
 
 AL He formerly 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 15 
 
 Mel. Well. 
 
 Al. And will boon claim the exclusive 
 privilege so to do. 
 
 Mel. That does not follow of course. 
 
 Al. Of course, if his intentions are sin 
 cere, and the wishes of another should ac 
 cord therewith. 
 
 Mel. Who am I to understand by anoth 
 er ? 
 
 Al. Melissa. [A pause ensued.] 
 
 Mel. See that ship, Alonzo, coming up 
 the sound; how she ploughs through the 
 white foam, while the breezes flutter among 
 the sails, varying with the beams of the sun. 
 
 Al. y>s, it is almost down. 
 
 Mel.^ What is almost down? 
 
 Al. The sun. Was not you speaking of 
 the sun, madam ? 
 
 Mel. Your mind is absent, Alonzo: I 
 was speaking of yonder ship. 
 
 ^ Al. I beg pardon, madam. yes the 
 
 ship it -it bounds with rapid motion over 
 the waves. 
 
 A pause ensued. They walked leisurely 
 around the hill, and moved toward home. 
 
 Hie sun sunk behind the western .hills. 
 
 Twilight arose in the east, and floated along 
 Hie air. Darkness began to hover around 
 tJie woodlands and vallies. The beauties 
 of liit- landscape slowly receded. "This 
 reminds me of our walk at New-London," 
 
16 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 said Melissa. " Do you remember it ?" en 
 quired Alorizo. " Certainly I do," she re 
 plied, lt I shall never forget the sweet pen 
 sive scenery of my favourite rock." "Nor 
 I neither," said Alonzo with a deep drawn 
 sigh. 
 
 The next day Alonzo returned to his 
 studies ; but, different from his former visits 
 to Melissa, instead of exhilarating his spirits, 
 this had tended to depress them. He doubt 
 ed whether Melissa was not already en 
 gaged to Beauman. His hopes would per 
 suade him that this was not the case ; but 
 his fears declared otherwise. 
 
 It was some time before Alonzo renewed 
 his visit. In the interim he received a letter 
 from a friend in the neighbourhood of Me 
 lissa s father ; an extract from which follows : 
 ," We are soon to have a wedding here ; 
 you are acquainted with the parties Me 
 lissa D and Beauman. Such at least 
 
 is our opinion from appearances, as Beau- 
 mari is now here more than half his time. 
 You will undoubtedly be a guest. We had 
 expected that you would have put in your 
 claims, from your particular attention to the 
 lady. She is a fine girl, Alonzo." 
 
 " I shall never be a guest at Melissa s 
 wedding," said Alonzo, as he hastily paced 
 the room ; " but I must once again see her 
 before that event takes place, when 1 Jose 
 
ALONZO AND . IELISSA. 17 
 
 her forever." The next day he repaired 
 to her father s. He encji ired for Meiisynj 
 she was gone with a part)- to the shores >* 
 the sound, attended by Beaurna-n. At eve^ 
 in; they retuined. Beauoian and AJonzo 
 addressed each other with much seeming 
 cordiality. "You have deceived us, Alou- 
 70, said Melissa. We concluded you hai 
 forgotten the road to this place." 
 
 u \Vas not that a hasty conclusion ?" re 
 plied Alonzo. " I think not, she answered, 
 if yrnir long absence should be construed 
 into neglect. But we will hear your ex 
 IMISC, said she, smiling, by and by, and per- 
 hups pardon you." He thanked her for 
 her condescension. 
 
 The next morning Beauman set out for 
 New-London. Alonzo observed that he 
 look a tender leave of Melissa, telling her, 
 in a low voice, that he should have the hap 
 piness of seeing her again within two or 
 three weeks. After he was gone, as Me 
 lissa and Alonzo were sitting in a room a- 
 loiie, "Well, said she, am 1 to hear yoir 
 excuses r" 
 
 Alonzo. For what, madam ? 
 
 Mel. For neglecting your friends. 
 
 Alonzo. I hope it is not so considered, 
 madam. 
 
 Mel. Seriously, then, why have yoi 
 2* A 
 
18 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 stayed away so long ? Has this place no 
 charms in the absence of my brother ? 
 
 AI. Would my presence have added to 
 your felicities, Melissa ? 
 
 Mel. You never came an unwelcome 
 visiter here. 
 
 Al. Perhaps I might be sometimes in 
 trusive. 
 
 Mel. What times? 
 
 Al. When Beauman is your guest. 
 
 Mel. I have supposed you were on friend 
 ly terms. 
 
 Al. We are. 
 
 Mel. Why then intrusive ? 
 
 Al. There are seasons when friendship 
 must yield its pretensions to a superior 
 claim. 
 
 Mel. Perhaps I do not rightly compre 
 hend the force of that remark. 
 
 Al. Was /Beauman here, my position 
 might be demonstrated. 
 
 Mel. I think 1 understand you- 
 
 Al. And acknowledge my observation 
 to be just ? 
 
 Mel. (hesitating.) Yes I believe I must, 
 
 Al. And appropriate f 
 
 Melissa was silent 
 Al. You hesitate, Melissa, 
 She was still silent, 
 
 Al. Will you, Melissa, answer m* on 
 question f 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 19 
 
 Mel. (confused.) If it be a proper one 
 you are entitled to candour. 
 
 Al. Are you engaged to Beauman ? 
 
 Mel. (blushing.) He has asked me the 
 same question concerning you. 
 
 Al. Do you prefer him to any other? * 
 
 Mel. (deeply blushing, her eyes cast up 
 on the floor.) He has made the same en 
 quiry respecting you 
 
 Al. Has he asked your father s permis 
 sion to address you ? 
 
 Mel. That I have not suffered him yet 
 to do. 
 
 Al. Yet! 
 
 Mel. I assure you I have not. 
 
 Al. (taking her hand with anxiety.) Me 
 lissa, I beg you will deal candidly. I am 
 entitled to no claims, but you know what 
 my heart would ask. I will bow to your 
 decision. Beauman orAlonzo must relin 
 quish their pretensions. We cannot share 
 the blessing. 
 
 Mel. (her cheeks suffused with a varying 
 glow, her lips pale, her vohe tremulous, her 
 eyes still cast down.) My parents have in 
 formed me that it is improper to receive the 
 particular addresses of more than one. I 
 am conscious of my inadvertency, and that 
 the reproof is just. One therefore must be 
 dismissed. But (she hesitated.) 
 
 A considerable pause en ued. At length 
 
20 ALONZO JLND MELISSA. 
 
 Alonzo arose " I will not press you far 
 ther," said he ; " I know the delicacy of your 
 feeling, I know your sincerity ; I will not 
 therefore insist on your performing the pain- 
 5il task of deciding against me. Your con 
 Juct in every point of view has been discreet. 
 I could have no just claims, or if I had, your 
 heart must sanction them, or they would be 
 unhallowed and unjustifiable. I shall ever 
 pray for your felicity. Our affections are not 
 under our direction ; our happiness depends 
 on our obedience to their mandates. What 
 ever, then, may be my sutVerinirs, you are un- 
 blameable and irreproachable." He took 
 his hat in extreme agitation, and prepared 
 to take his leave. 
 
 Melissa had recovered in some degree 
 from her embarrassment, and collected her 
 scattered spirits. " Your conduct, Alonzo, 
 said she, is generous and noble. Will you 
 give yourself the trouble, and do me the 
 honour to sec me once more 1" 4i I will, 
 said he, at any time you shall appoint." 
 "Four weeks then, she said, from this day, 
 honour me with a visit, and you shall have 
 my decision, and receive my final answer." 
 " 1 will be punctual to the day," he replied, 
 and bade her adieu. 
 
 Alonzo s hours now winged heavily away. 
 His wonted cheerfulness fled ; he wooed the 
 silent and solitary haunts of" musing, mop- 
 
ALONZO 4ND MELISSA. 21 
 
 ing melancholy." He loved to wander 
 through lonely fields, or along the verge of 
 some lingering stream, " when dewy twilight 
 rob d the evening mild," or "to trace the 
 forest glen, through which the moon darted 
 her silvery intercepted ray." 
 
 He was fondly indulging a tender passion 
 which preyed upon his peace, and deeply 
 disturbed his repose. He looked anxiously 
 to the hour when Melissa was to make her 
 decision. He wished, yet dreaded the 
 event. In that he foresaw, or thought he 
 foresaw, a withering blight to his budding 
 hopes, and a final consummation to his fore 
 boding fears. He had pressed Melissa, per 
 haps too urgently, to a declaration. Had 
 her predilection been in his favour, would 
 she have hesitated to avow it 1 Her pa 
 rents had advised her to relinquish, and had 
 permitted her to retain one suitor, nor had 
 they attempted to influence or direct her 
 choice. Was it not evident, then, from her 
 confused hesitation and embarrassment, 
 when solicited to discriminate upon the sub 
 ject, that her ultimate decision would be in 
 favour of Beauman? 
 
 While Alonzo s mind was thus agitated, 
 he received a second letter from his friend 
 in the neighbourhood of Melissa. He read 
 the following clause therein with emotions 
 more easily to be conceived than expressed : 
 
22 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 "Melissa s wedding day is appointed. I 
 need not tell you that Beauman is to be the 
 happy deity of the hymeneal sacrifice. I 
 had this from his own declaration. He did 
 not name the positive day, but it is certainly 
 to be soon. You will undoubtedly, however, 
 have timely notice, as a guest. We must 
 pour a liberal libation upon the mystic altar, 
 Alonzo, and twine the nuptial garland with 
 wreaths of joy. Beauman ought to devote 
 a rich offering to so valuable a prize. He 
 has been here for a week, and departed for 
 New-London yesterday, but is shortly to 
 return." 
 
 "And why have ^ever doubted this e- 
 vent ? said Alonzo. What infatuation hath 
 thus led me on the pursuit of fantastic and 
 unreal bliss ? I have had, it is true, no posi 
 tive assurance that Melissa would favour my 
 addresses. But why did she ever receive 
 them ? Why did she enchantingly smile 
 upon me ? Why fascinate the tender powers 
 of my soul by that winning mildness, aid 
 the favourable display of those complicated 
 and superior attractions which she must have 
 known were irresistible ? Why did she not 
 spurn me from her confidence, and plainly 
 tell me that my attentions were untivnely 
 arid improper? And now she would have 
 me dance attendance to her decision in fa 
 vour of Beaumaa Insulting! Let Beaumau 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 23 
 
 and she make, as they have formed, this 
 farcical decision; I absolutely will never 
 attend it. But stop : I have engaged to see 
 her at an appointed time j my honour is 
 therefore pledged for an interview ; it must 
 take place. I shall support it with becom 
 ing dignity, and I will convince Melissa and 
 Beauman that I am not the dupe of their 
 caprices. But let me consider What has 
 Melissa done to deserve censure or reproach? 
 Her brother was my early friend : she has 
 treated me as a friend to her brother. She 
 was "unconscious^ of the flame which her 
 oil-arms had kindled in my bosom. Her 
 evident embarrassment and confusion on re 
 ceiving my declaration, witnessed her sur 
 prise and prior attachment.) What could 
 she do f To save herself the pain of a direct 
 denial, she had appointed a day when her 
 refusal may come in a more delicate and 
 formal manner and I must meet it." 
 
 At the appointed day, Alonzo proceeded 
 to the house of Melissa s father, where he 
 arrived late in the afternoon. Melissa had 
 retired to a little summer house at the end 
 of the garden; a servant conducted Alonzo 
 thither. She was dressed in a ilowingrobe 
 of white muslin, embroidered with a deep 
 fringe lace. Her hair hung loosely upon 
 her shoulders ; she was contemplating a 
 bouquet of flowers which she held in her 
 
21 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 hand. Alonzo fancied she never appeared 
 so lovely. She arose to receive him. "We 
 have been expecting you some time, said 
 Melissa; we were anxious to inform you, 
 that we have just received a letter from iny 
 brother, in which he desires us to present 
 you his most friendly respects, and complains 
 of your not writing to him lately so fre 
 quently as usual." Alonzo thanked her for 
 the information ; said that business prevent 
 ed him ; he esteemed him as his most val 
 uable friend, and would be more particular 
 in future. 
 
 "We have been thronged with company 
 for several days, said Melissa. Once a year 
 my father celebrates his birth day, when we 
 are honoured 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 Con 
 necticut. The last of this company took 
 their departure yesterday, and I have only 
 to regret, that I have for nearly a week, been 
 prevented from visiting my favourite hill, to 
 which you attended me when you was last 
 here. It is much improved since then : I 
 have had a little aibour built under the large 
 tree on its summit : you wiU have no ob 
 jection to view it, Alonzo ?" He assured 
 her he accepted the invitation with pleasure. 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 25 
 
 and towards evening they resorted to the 
 place and seated themselves in the arbour. 
 
 It was the beginning of autumn, and a 
 yellow hue was spread over the fading 
 charms of nature. The withering forest be 
 gan to shed its decaying foliage, which the 
 light gales pursued along the russet fields. 
 The low sun extended the lengthening 
 shadows ; curling smoke ascended from the 
 surrounding cottages. A thick fog crept a- 
 long 1 the vallies ; a gray mist hovered over 
 the tops of the mountains. The glassy sur 
 face of the sound glittered to the sun s de 
 parting ray. The solemn herds lowed in 
 monotonous symphony. The autumnal in 
 sects in sympathetic wafting, plaintively 
 predicted their approaching fate. " The 
 scene is changed since we last visited this 
 place, said Melissa ; the gay charms of sum 
 mer are beginning to decay, and must soon 
 yield their splendors to the rude despoil 
 ing hand of winter." 
 
 "That will be the case, said Alonzo, be 
 fore I shall have the pleasure of your com 
 pany here again." 
 
 Mel. That probably may be, though it 
 is nearly two months yet to winter. 
 
 Al. Great changes may take place with 
 in that time. 
 
 Mel. Yes, changes must take place ; but 
 3 
 
26 AI.VTO AND MELISSA. 
 
 nothing, I hope, to embitter present pros 
 pects. 
 
 Al. (peevishly.) As it respects your 
 self, I trust not, madam. 
 
 Mel. (tenderly.) And I sincerely hope 
 not, as it respects you, Alonzo. 
 
 Al. That wish, I believe, is vain. 
 Mel. Why so ominous a prediction ? 
 Al. The premises, from which it is 
 drawn, are correct. 
 
 Mel. Your feelings accord with the sea 
 son, Alonzo ; you are melancholy Shall 
 we return ? 
 
 Al. I ask your pardon, madam ; 1 know 
 I am unsociable. You speak of returning : 
 You know the occasion of my being here. 
 Mel. For the purpose of visiting your 
 friends, I presume. 
 Al. And no other ? 
 She made no reply. 
 
 Al. You cannot have forgotten your own 
 appointment, and consequent engagement ? 
 She made no answer. 
 Al. I know, Melissa, that you are inca 
 pable of duplicity or evasion. I have prom 
 ised, and now repeat the declaration, that 
 I will silently submit to your decision. This 
 you have engaged to make, and this is the 
 time you have appointed. The pains of pres 
 ent suspense can scarcely be surpassed by 
 the pangs of disappointment. On your part 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 27 
 
 you have nothing to fear. I trust you have 
 candidly determined, and will decide ex 
 plicitly. 
 
 Mel. (sighing.) I am placed in an ex 
 ceedingly delicate situation. 
 
 Al. I know you are ; but your own hon 
 our, your own peace, require that you should 
 extricate yourself from the perplexing em 
 barrassment. 
 
 Mel. I am sensible they do. It must 
 It shall be done. 
 
 Al. And the sooner it is done the better. 
 
 Mel. That I am convinced of. I now 
 know that I have been inadvertently indis 
 creet. I have admitted the addresses of 
 Beauman and yourself, without calculating 
 or expecting the consequences. You have 
 both treated me honourably, and with re 
 spect. You are both on equal grounds as to 
 your character and standing in life. With 
 Beauman I became first acquainted. As it 
 relates to him, some new arrangements 
 have taken place since you were here, 
 which 
 
 Al. (interrupting her, with emotion.) Ol 
 those arrangements I am acquainted. 
 
 Mel. (surprised.) By what means were 
 you informed thereof? 
 
 Al. I received it from a friend in your 
 neighbourhood. 
 
 A considerable pause endued. 
 
28 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 Al. You see, Melissa, I am prepared for 
 the event. She was silent. 
 
 Al. I have mentioned before, that, what 
 ever be your decision, no impropriety can 
 attach to you. 1 might not, indeed, from 
 various circumstances, and from the infor 
 mation I possess, I perhaps should not, have 
 given you farther trouble on the occasion, 
 had it not been from your own direction 
 and appointment. And I am now willing 
 to retire without further explanation, with 
 out giving you the pain ot an express deci 
 sion, if you think the measure expedient. 
 Your declaration can only be a matter of 
 form, the consequence of which I know, 
 and my proposition may save your feelings. 
 
 Mel. No, Alonzo ; my reputation de 
 pends on my adherence to my first deter 
 mination ; justice to yourself and to Beau- 
 man also demand it. After what has pass 
 ed, I should be considered as acting capri 
 ciously and inconsistently, should I depart 
 from it. Beauman will be here to-morrow, 
 and 
 
 Al. To-morrow, madam ? 
 
 Mel. He will be here to-morrow, and 
 you must consent to stay with us until that 
 time ; the matter shall then be decided. 
 
 Al. I yes it shall be as you say, ma 
 dam. Make your arrangements as you 
 please. 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 29 
 
 Evening had now spread her dusky man 
 tle over the face of nature. The stars glis 
 tened in the sky. The breeze s rustling 
 wing was in the tree. The "slitty sound" 
 of the low murmuring brook, and the far off 
 water-fall, were faintly heard. The twink 
 ling fire-fly arose from the surrounding ver 
 dure and illuminated the air with a thou 
 sand transient gleams. The mingling dis 
 cordance of curs and watch-dogs echoed in 
 the distant village, from whence the fre 
 quent lights darted their palely lustre thro 
 the gloom. The solitary whippoonvills sta 
 tioned themselves along the woody glens, 
 the groves and rocky pastures, and sung a 
 requiem to departed summer. A dark cloud 
 was rising in the west, across whose gloomy 
 front the vivid lightning bent its forky spires. 
 
 Alonzo and Melissa,>moved slowly to the 
 village; she appeared enraptured with the 
 melancholy splendours of the evening, but 
 the other subject engaged the mental atten 
 tion of Alonzo. 
 
 Beauman arrived the next day. He gave 
 his hand to Alonzo with seeming warmth of 
 friendship. If it was reciprocated, it must 
 have been affected. There was no altera 
 tion in tne manners and conversation of 
 Melissa : her conversation, as usual, was 
 sprightly and interesting. After dinner she 
 retired, and her father requested Alonzo 
 3* 
 
30 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 and Beauraan to withdraw with him to a 
 private room. After they were seated, the 
 old gentlemen thus addressed them : 
 
 ." I have called you here, gentlemen, to 
 perform my duty as a parent to my daugh 
 ter, and as a friend to you. You are both 
 suitors to Melissa ; while your addresses 
 were merely formal, they were innocent ; 
 but when they became serious they were 
 dangerous. Your pretensions I consider 
 equal, and between honourable pretenders, 
 who are worthy of my daughter, I shall riot 
 attempt to influence her choice. That 
 choice, however, can rest only on one : she 
 has engaged to decide between you. I am 
 come to make, in her name, this decision. 
 The following are my terms : No quarrel 
 or difficulty shall arise between you, gen 
 tlemen, in consequence of her determina 
 tion. Nothing shall go abroad respecting 
 the affair ; it shall be ended under my roof. 
 As soon as I have pronounced her declara 
 tion, you shall both depart and absent my 
 house for at least two weeks, as it would be 
 improper for my daughter to see either of 
 you at present: after that period I shall be 
 happy to receive your visits." Alonzo and 
 Beauman pledged their honour to abide im 
 plicitly by these injunctions. Her father 
 then observed "This, gentlemen, is all I 
 require. I have observed that 1 considered 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 31 
 
 your pretensions equal: so lias my daugh 
 ter treated them. You have botli made 
 professions to her ; she has appointed a 
 time to answer you. That time has arri 
 ved, and I now inform you that she has de 
 cided in favour of Alonzo." 
 
 The declaration of Melissa s father burst 
 upon the mental powers of Beauman, like 
 a sudden and tremendous clap of thunder 
 on the deep and solemn silence of night. 
 Unaccustomed to disappointment, he had 
 calculated on success. His addresses to the 
 ladies had ever been honourably received. 
 
 Melissa was the first whose charms were 
 capable of rendering them sincere. He was 
 not ignorant of Alonzo s attention to her : 
 it gave him however but little uneasiness. 
 He believed that his superior qualifications 
 would eclipse the pretensions of his rival. 
 He considered himself a connoisseur in 
 character, especially in the character of the 
 ladies. He conformed to their taste; he 
 flattered their foibles, and obsequiously 
 bowed to the minutia of female volatility. 
 He considered himself skilled in the lan 
 guage of the heart ; and he trusted that from 
 his pre-eminent powers in the science of 
 affection, he had only to see, to sue and to 
 conquer. He had frankly offered iiis hand 
 to Melissa, and pressed her for a decisive an 
 swer. This from time to time &he suspen- 
 
32 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 ded, and finally appointed a day to give 
 him and Alonzo a determinate answer, 
 though neither knew the arrangements 
 made with the other. 
 
 Finding, however, the dilemma in which 
 she was placed, she had previously consult 
 ed her parents. Her father had no objec 
 tion to her choosing between two persons 
 of equal claims to affluence and reputation ; 
 this choice she had made, and her father 
 was considered the most proper person to 
 pronounce it. 
 
 When Beauman had urged his suit to 
 Melissa, he supposed that her hesitations, 
 delays and suspensions, were only the ef 
 fects of maiden diffidence and timidity. He 
 had no suspicions of her ultimately reject 
 ing it; and when she finally named the day 
 of decision, he was confident she would 
 decide in his favour. These sentiments he 
 had communicated to the person who had 
 written to Alonzo, intimating that Melissa 
 had fixed a time which was to crown his 
 happiest wishes. 
 
 He had listened therefore attentively to 
 the words of Melissa s father, momentarily 
 expecting to hear himself declared the fa 
 vourite choice of the fair. 
 
 What then must have been his disappoint 
 ment when the name of Alonzo was pro 
 nounced instead of his own ! The highly fin- 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 3.1 
 
 ished scene of pleasure and future prosper 
 ity which his ardent imagination had depic 
 ted, had vanished in a moment. The rain 
 bow glories which gilded his youthful hori 
 zon, had faded in an instant the bright sun 
 of his early hopes had set in mournful dark 
 ness. The summons of death would not 
 have been more unexpected, or more shock 
 ing to his imagination. 
 
 Very different were the sensations which 
 inspired the bosom of Alonzo. He had not 
 even calculated on a decision in his own fa 
 vour. He believed that Beauman would be 
 the choice of Melissa. She had told him 
 that the form of decision was necessary to 
 save appearances : with this form he com 
 plied because she desired it, not because he 
 expected the result would be in his favour. 
 He had not therefore attended to the words 
 of Melissa s father with that eagerness which 
 favourable anticipations commonly produce. 
 B:it when his name was mentioned; when 
 he found he was the choice the happy 
 favourite of Melissa s affection, every tender 
 passion of his soul became interested, and 
 was suddenly aroused to the refinements of 
 sensibility. Like an electric shock, it rean 
 imated his whole frame, and vibrated every 
 nerve of his heart. The glooms which 
 hung about his mind were dissipated, and 
 
 B 
 
34 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 the bright morning of joy broke in upon his 
 soul. 
 
 Thus were the expectations of Alonzo 
 and Beauman disappointed how different 
 ly, the sequel has shown. 
 
 Melissa s father retired immediately after 
 pronouncing the declaration j the two young 
 gentlemen also soon after withdrew. Alon 
 zo saw the tempest which tore the bosom 
 of his rival, and he pitied him from his heart. 
 
 A fortnight passed, and Alonzo felt all 
 that anxiety and impatience which a sepa 
 ration from a beloved object can produce. 
 He framed a thousand excuses to visit Me 
 lissa, yet he feared a visit might be prema 
 ture. He was, however, necessitated to 
 make a journey to a distant part of the coun 
 try, after which he resolved to see Melissa. 
 He performed his business, and was return 
 ing. It was toward evening, and the day 
 had been uncommonly sultry for the autum 
 nal season. A rising shower blackened the 
 western hemisphere ; the dark vapour as 
 cended in folding ridges, and the thunder 
 rolled at a distance. Alonzo saw he should 
 be overtaken. He discovered an elegant 
 seat about one hundred yards distant from 
 the road ; thither he hastened to gain shel 
 ter from the approaching storm. The own 
 er of the mansion met him at the door, po 
 litely invited Lira to alight and walk in, 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 35 
 
 while a servant stood ready to take his horse. 
 He was ushered into a large room neatly 
 furnished, where the family and several 
 young ladies were sitting. As Alonzo glanc 
 ed his eyes hastily around the room, h* 
 thought he recognized a familiar counte 
 nance. A hurried succession of confused 
 ideas for a moment crossed his recollection. 
 In a moment he discovered that it was Me 
 lissa. By this unexpected meeting they 
 were both completely embarrassed. Melis 
 sa, however, arose, and in rather a confused 
 manner, introduced Alouzo, as the class 
 mate of her brother, to the family of Mr. 
 Simpson and the company. 
 
 The rain continued most part of the after 
 noon. 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 gar 
 den. Melissa told Alonzo that Mr. Simp 
 son 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 addej, smiling, " per 
 haps, Alonzo, we may have an opportunity 
 once more to visit the bower on my pros 
 pect hill, before winter entirely destroys the 
 
36 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 remaining beauties of the summer." Alon 
 zo felt all the force of the remark. He re 
 collected the conversation when they were 
 last at the place she mentioned ; and he 
 well remembered his feelings on that occa 
 sion. 
 
 " Great changes, indeed, he replied, have 
 taken place since we were last there : that 
 they are productive of unexpected and unex 
 ampled happiness to me, is due, Melissa, to 
 you alone." Alonzo departed the next 
 morning, appointing the next week to visit 
 Melissa at her father s house. 
 
 Thus were the obstacles removed which 
 presented a barrier to the united wishes of 
 Alonzo and Melissa* They Lad 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 un- 
 propitious event which might thwart their 
 future union. All the time that Alonzo 
 could spare from his studies was devoted to 
 Melissa, and their parents began to calculate 
 on cjoining their hands as soon as Alonzo s 
 professional term of study was completed. 
 
 The troubles which gave rise to the dis 
 sertation of England from America had al 
 ready commenced, which broke out the en 
 suing spring into actual hostilities, by the 
 
ALONZO AND MEL SSA. 3? 
 
 battle at Lexington, followed soon after by 
 the battle at Bunker Hill. The panic and 
 general bustle which took place in Ameri 
 ca on these events, is yet well remembered 
 by many. They were not calculated to im 
 press the mind of Melissa with the most 
 pleasing sensations. She foresaw that the 
 burden of the war must rest on the Ameri 
 can 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 gloo 
 my. Alonzo and she frequently discoursed, 
 and they agreed to form the mystic union 
 previous to any wide separation. 
 
 One event tended to hasten this resolu 
 tion. 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 con 
 cluded it best to hasten his marriage with 
 Melissa. She consented to the proposition, 
 and their parents made the necessary ar 
 rangements for the event. They had even 
 fixed upon the place which was to be the 
 4 
 
33 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 future residence of this happy couple. It 
 was a pleasantly situated village, surround 
 ed by rugged elevations, which gave an air 
 of serenity and seclusion to the valley they 
 encircled. On the south arose a spacious 
 hill, which was ascended by a gradual ac 
 clivity ; its sides and summit interspersed 
 with orchards, arbours, and cultivated fields. 
 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 extend 
 ed over a soil, at one time swelling into 
 craggy elevations, and at another spreading 
 itself into vales of the most enchanting ver 
 dure. To the north it extended over a vast 
 succession of mountains, wooded to their 
 summits.^ and throwing their shadows over 
 intervales 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.* A rivulet which 
 rushed from the hills, formed a little lake 
 on the borders of the village, which be.auti- 
 fully reflected the cottages from its transpar 
 ent bosom. Amidst a cluster of locusts and 
 weeping willows, rose the spire of the church, 
 in the ungarnished decency of Sunday neat 
 ness. Fields, gardens, meadows, and pas- 
 
 Some who read this description will readily recognize thd 
 village hare described. 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 39 
 
 lures were spread around the valley, and on 
 the sides of the declivities, yielding ia 
 their season the rich flowers, fruits and foli 
 age of spring, summer and autumn. The 
 inhabitants of this modern Auvernum 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 fcw. 
 
 Such was the place for the residence of 
 Alonzo and Melissa. They had visited the 
 spot, and were enraptured with its pensive, 
 .romantic beauties. A site was marked out 
 whereon to erect their family mansion. It 
 was on a little eminence which sloped grad 
 ually to the lake, in the most pleasant part 
 of the village. " 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 ilowers. In summer, we 
 will gather strawberries in yonder fields, or 
 whortleberries from the adjacent shrubbery. 
 1 he breezes of fragrant morning, and the 
 sighs of the evening gale, \?ill be mingled 
 with the songs of the thousand various bird 
 which frequent the surrounding groves. 
 We will gather the bending fruits of autumn, 
 and we will listen to the hoarse voice of 
 
40 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 winter, its whistling winds, its driving 
 snow, and rattling hail, with delight." 
 
 The bright gems of joy glistened in the 
 eyes of Melissa, With Alonzo she antici 
 pated approaching happiness, and her bo 
 som beat in rapturous unison. 
 
 Winter came on ; it rapidly passed away. 
 Spring advanced, and the marriage day was 
 appointed. 
 
 The spring opened with the din of prep 
 aration throughout America for defensive 
 war. It now was found that vigorous mea 
 sures must be pursued to oppose the tor 
 rent which was preparing to overwhelm the 
 colonies, which had now been dissevered 
 from the British empire, by the declaration 
 of independence. The continental army 
 was now raising, and great numbers of A- 
 merican youth volunteered in the service 
 of their country. A large army of rein 
 forcements was soon expected from England 
 to land on our shores, and "the confused 
 noise of the warriors, and garments rolled 
 in blood," were already anticipated. 
 
 Alonzo had received a commission in a 
 regiment of militia, and was pressed by sev 
 eral young gentlemen of his acquaintance, 
 who had entered the army, to join it also. 
 He had an excuse. His father was a man 
 in extensive business, was considerably past 
 the prime of life, had a number of agents 
 
AhONZO AND MELISSA. 41 
 
 and clerks under him, but began to gro\v 
 unable to attend to the various and bur- 
 thensome duties and demands of a mercan 
 tile life. 
 
 Alon/o was his only son; his assistance 
 therefore became necessary until, at least, 
 his father could bring his business to a close, 
 which he was now about to effect. Alonzo 
 stated these facts to his friends; told them 
 that on every occasion he should be ready 
 to My to the post of danger when his coun 
 try was invaded, and that as soon as his fath 
 er s arluirs should be settled, he would, if 
 necessary, willingly join the army. 
 
 The day now rapidly approached when 
 Alon/.o was to make Melissa his own. Pre 
 parations for the hymeneal ceremcny were 
 making, and invitations had already gone 
 abroad. Kdgar, 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 con 
 summation of the nuptials, before lie set out 
 for the camp. Letters recently received 
 from him, informed that lie expected to be 
 at his father s in three or four days. 
 
 About three weeks previous to the ap 
 pointed marriage day, Alon/.o and Melissa 
 one afternoon rode out to the village which 
 had been chosen for their future residence. 
 Their carriage stopped at the only inn in the 
 4* 
 
42 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 place, and from thence they walked around 
 this modern Vaucluse, charmed with the se 
 cluded beauties of its situation. They pass 
 ed a iittie time at the spot selected for their 
 habitation ; they projected the structure of 
 the buildings, planned the gardens, the ar 
 tificial groves, the walks, the mead, the 
 fountains, and the green retreat of the sum 
 mer house, and they already saw, in antici 
 pation, the various domestic blessings and 
 felicities with which they were to be sur 
 rounded. 
 
 They took lea at the inn, and prepared to 
 return. It was at the latter end of the 
 month of May, and 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 groves, 
 the air was freshened by light western bree- 
 zes, bearing upon their wings all the en 
 trancing odours of the season. Around the 
 horizon, electric clouds raised their brazen 
 summits, based in the black vapour of ap 
 proaching night. 
 
 They slowly ascended the hill south of 
 the town, where they paused a few mo 
 ments to enjoy the splendours of the even 
 ing scene. This hill, which commanded a 
 
AIONZO AND MELISSA. 43 
 
 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. Alonzo at 
 tended Melissa to her father s, and the next 
 day returned home. 
 
 His father had been absent for three or 
 four days to one of the commercial seaports, 
 on business with some merchants with whom 
 he was connected in trade. He returned 
 the next day after Alonzo got home : his 
 aspect and his conversation were marked 
 with an assumed and unmeaning cheerful 
 ness. At supper he ate nothing, discours 
 ed much, but in an unconnected and hurri 
 ed manner, interrupted by long pauses, in 
 which he appeared to be buried in contem 
 plation. 
 
 After supper, he asked Alonzo if it were 
 not possible that his marriage with Melissa 
 could be consummated within a few days. 
 Alonzo, startled at so unexpected a ques 
 tion, replied, that such a proposal would be 
 considered extraordinary, perhaps impropei: 
 besides, when Melissa had fixed the day, 
 she mentioned that she had an uncle who 
 lived near Charleston, in South Carolina, 
 whose daughter was to pass the summer 
 with Melissa, and was expected to arrive be 
 fore the appointed day. It would he said, 
 
44 ALONZO AND MELISSA, 
 
 be a delicate point for him to requi-t her to 
 anticipate the nuptials, unless he conld give 
 some cogent reasons for so doing ; and at 
 present he was not apprised that any such 
 existed. His father, after a few moments 
 hesitation, answered, " I have reasons, 
 which, when told" here he stopped, sud 
 denly arose, hastily walked the room in 
 much vissible agony of mind, and then re 
 tired to his chamber. 
 
 Alonzo and his mother were much amaz 
 ed at so strange a proceeding. They could 
 form no conjecture of its cause or its conse 
 quence. Alonzo passed a sleepless night. 
 His father s slumbers were interrupted. He 
 would frequently start up in the bed, then 
 sink in restless sleep, with incoherent mut- 
 terings, and plaintive moans. In the morn* 
 ing, when he appeared at breakfast, his 
 countenance wore the marks of dejection 
 and anguish. 
 
 He scarcely spoke a word, and after th/i 
 table was removed, he ordered a!l to with 
 draw except his wife and Alonzo ; when, 
 with emotions that spoke the painful feel 
 ings of his bos^m, he thus addressed them: 
 
 " For more than forty years I have toiled 
 early and late to acquire independence and 
 ease for myself and my family. To accom 
 plish this, I became connected with some 
 English importing merchants in a seaport 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. *5 
 
 town, and went largely into the English 
 trade. Success crowned our endeavours ; 
 on balancing our accounts two years ago, 
 we found that our expectations were an 
 swered, and that we were now sufficiently 
 wealthy to close business, which some pro 
 posed to do ; it wa^, however, agreed to 
 make one effort more, as some favourable 
 circumstances appeared to offer, in which 
 we adventured very largely, on a fair calcu 
 lation of liberal and extensive proceeds. 
 
 " Before returns could be made, the war 
 came on, embarrassments ensued, and by 
 indubitable intelligence lately received, we 
 rind that our property in England has been 
 sequestered ; five of our ships, laden with 
 English goods, lying in English harbours, 
 and just ready to sail for America, have been 
 seized as lawful prizes. Added to this, 
 three vessels from the Indies, laden with is 
 land produce, have been taken on their 
 homeward bound voyage, and one lost on 
 her return from Holland. This wreck of 
 fortune I might have survived, had I to sus 
 tain only my equal dividend of the loss : but 
 of the merchants with whom I have been 
 connected, not one remains to share the fate 
 of the event ; all have absconded or secret 
 ed themselves. To attempt to compound 
 with my creditors would be of little avail ; 
 my whole fortune will not pay one fourth 
 
46 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 of the debts ; so that, compound or not, the 
 consequence to me is inevitable ruin. 
 
 u To abscond would not secure me, as 
 most of my remaining property is vested in 
 real estate. And even if it would, I could 
 not consent to it : I could not consent to ban 
 ish myself from my country ; to flee like a 
 felon ; to skulk from society with the base 
 view of defrauding my creditors. No, I 
 have lived honestly, and honestly will 1 die. 
 By fair application and long industry my 
 wealth has been obtained ; and it shall nev 
 er justly be said, that the reputation of my 
 latter days was stained with acts of base 
 ness and meanness. I have notified and 
 procured a meeting of the creditors, and 
 have laid the matters before them. Some 
 appeared favourable to me ; others insinua 
 ted that we were all connected in fraudu 
 lent designs, to swindle our creditors. This 
 I repelled with becoming spirit, and was in 
 consequence threatened with immediate 
 prosecution. Whatever may be the eVent, 
 I had some hopes that your happiness, A- 
 lonzo, might yet be secured. Hence I pro 
 posed your union with Melissa, before our 
 misfortunes should be promulgated. Your 
 parents are old ; a little will serve the resi 
 due of their days. With your acquirements 
 you may make your way ia life. I shall 
 have no property to give you ; but I wouh 
 
AL V NJ50 AND MELISSA. 47 
 
 /still wish yo i to secure that which you prize 
 far above, and without which, both honours 
 and emoluments are unimportant and worth 
 less." 
 
 At this moment a loud rap at the door 
 interrupted the discourse, and three men 
 w r ere ushered in, which proved to be the 
 sheriff" and his attendants, sent by the more 
 inexorable creditors of Alonzo s father and 
 company, to level on the pioperty of the for 
 mer, which orders they faithfully executed, 
 by ieizing the lands, tenements and furni 
 ture, and finally arresting the body of the 
 old gentleman, which was soon released by 
 his friendly neighbours becoming bail for 
 his appearance ; but the property was soon 
 after sold at public vendue, at less than half 
 its value, and Alonzo s father and mother 
 were compelled to abandon the premises, 
 and take shelter in a little hut, belonging 
 to a neighbouring farmer, illy and tempora 
 rily furnished by the gratuitous liberality of 
 a few friends. 
 
 We will not stop the reader to moralize 
 on this disastrous event. The feelings of 
 the family can better be conceived than de 
 tailed. Hurled in a moment from the lofty 
 summit of affluence to the low and barren 
 vale of poverty ! Philosophy came to the 
 aid of the parents, but who can realise the 
 feelings of the son! Thus suddenly cut 
 
48 ALON7O AND MELISSA. 
 
 short of his prospects, not only of future 
 inde^en deuce, but even of support, what 
 would be the event of his suit to Melissa, 
 and stipulated marriage ? Was it not prob 
 able that her father would now cancel the 
 contract ? Could she consent to be his 
 wife in his present penurious situation ? 
 And indeed, could he himself consent to 
 make her his wife, to make her miserable ? 
 
 In this agitated frame of mind he receiv 
 ed a "letter from his friend in Melissa s 
 neighbourhood, requesting him to come im 
 mediately to his house, whither he repair 
 ed the following day. This person had ever 
 been the unchanging friend ofAlonzojhe 
 had heard of the misfortunes of his fami 
 ly, and he deeply sympathized in his dis 
 tress. He had lately married and settled 
 in life: his name was Vincent. 
 
 When Alonzo arrived at the house of his 
 friend, he was received with the same dis 
 interested ardour he ever had been in the 
 day of his mosi; unbounded prosperity. 
 After being seated, Vincent told him that 
 the occasion of his sending for him was to 
 propose the adoption of certain measures 
 which he doubted not might be considered 
 highly beneficial as it respected his future 
 peice and happiness. "Your family mis 
 fortunes, continued Vincent, 1 ave reached 
 the ears of Melissa s father. I know the 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 49 
 
 old gentleman too well to believe JIG will 
 consent to receive you as his son-in-law, 
 under your present embarrassments. Mon 
 ey is the god to which he implicitly bows. 
 The case is difficult, but not insurmounta- 
 ble. You must first see Melissa ; she is now 
 in the next room. I will introduce you in ; 
 converse with her, after which 1 will lay 
 my plan before you." 
 
 Alonzo entered the room ; Melissa was 
 sitting by a window which looked into a 
 pleasant garden, and over verdant meadows 
 whose tall grass waved to the evening 
 breeze. Farther on, low rallies spread their 
 umbrageous thickets, where the dusky shad 
 ows of night had begun to assemble. 
 
 On high hills beyond, the tops of lofty 
 forests, majestically moved by the billowy 
 gales, caught the sun s last ray. Fleecy 
 summer clouds hovered around the verge of 
 the western horizon, spangled with silvery 
 tints or fringed with the gold of evening. * . 
 
 A mournfully murmuring rivulet purled 
 at a little distance from the garden, on the 
 borders of a small grove, from whence the 
 American wild dove wafted her sympathet 
 ic moaning to the ear of Melissa. She sat 
 leaning on a small table by the window, 
 which was thrown up. Her attention was 
 fixed. She did not perceive Vincent and 
 Alonzo ?.s they entered. They advanced 
 5 C 
 
50 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 towards her. She turned, started, and a- 
 rose. With a melancholy smile, and tremu 
 lous voice, a I supposed, she said, that it 
 was Mrs. Vincent who was approaching, as 
 
 she has just left the room." Her counte 
 nance appeared dejected, which, on seeing 
 Alonzo, lighted up into a languid sprightli- 
 ness. It was evident she had been weeping. 
 Vincent retired, and Alonzo and Melissa 
 seated themselves by the window. " I have 
 
 broken in upon your solitude, perhaps, too 
 unseasonably, said Alonzo. It is however, 
 the fault of Vincent : he invited me to 
 walk into the room, but did not inform me 
 that you were alone." "Your presence was 
 sudden and unexpected, but not unseasona 
 ble, replied Melissa. I hope that you did 
 not consider any formality necessary in your 
 visits, Alonzo." 
 
 Alonzo. I once did not think so. Now 
 I know not what to think I know not how 
 to act. Yen have heard of the misfortunes 
 of my father s family, Melissa ? 
 
 Mel. Yes ; I have heard the circum 
 stances attending that event an event in 
 which no one could be more deeply inter 
 ested, except the immediate sufferers, than 
 myself. 
 
 Al. Your father is also acquainted with 
 my present situation ? 
 Mel. He is. 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 51 
 
 Al. How did he receive the intelligence? 
 
 Mel. With deep regret. 
 
 Al. And forbade you to admit my ad 
 dresses any longer ? 
 
 Mel. No, not absolutely. 
 
 Al. If even in an unqualified or indirect 
 manner, it is proper I should know it. 
 
 Mel. It certainly is. Soon after we re 
 ceived the intelligence of your family mis 
 fortunes, my father came into the room 
 where I was sitting ; " Melissa, said he, 
 your conduct has ever been that of a dutiful 
 child ; mine, of an indulgent parent. My 
 first, my ultimate wish, is to see my chil 
 dren, when settled in life, happy and hon 
 ourably respected. For this purpose, I have 
 bestowed on them a proper education, and 
 design suitably to apportion my property be 
 tween them. On their part, it is expected 
 they will act prudently and discreetly, es 
 pecially in those things which concern their 
 future peace and welfare. The principal 
 requisite to ensure this is a proper connex 
 ion in marriage." Here my father paused 
 a considerable time, and then continued 
 " I know, my child, that your situation is a 
 very delicate one. Your marriage day is 
 appointed ; it was appointed under the fair 
 est prospects ; by the failure of Alonzo s 
 father, those prospects have become deeply 
 darkened, if not totally obliterated. 
 
52 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 " To commit your fortune through life, to 
 a person unable to support you, would be 
 hazardous in the extieme. The marriage 
 day can at least be suspended ; perhaps 
 something more favourable inay appear. 
 At any rate, I have too much confidence in 
 your discretion, to suppose that you will, by 
 any rash act, bring either poverty or re 
 proach upon yourself or your connexions." 
 Thus spake my father, and immediately 
 withdrew. 
 
 " In our present dilemma, sai3 Alonzo, 
 what is proper to be done ?" 
 
 It is difficult to determine, replied Me 
 lissa. Should my father expressly forbid 
 our union, he will go all lengths to carry his 
 commands into effect. Although a tender 
 parent, he is violent in his prejudices, and 
 resolute in his purposes. I would advise 
 you to call at my father s house tomorrow, 
 with your usual freedom. Whatever may 
 be the event, I shall deal sincerely with you. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Vincent are now my only 
 confidants. From them you will be ena 
 ble to obtain information, should I be de 
 barred from seeing you. I am frequently 
 here ; they told me they expected you, but 
 at what day was not known. Mrs. Vincent 
 has been my friend and associate from my 
 earliest years. Vincent you know. In 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 53 
 
 In them we can place the utmost confi 
 dence. My reliance on Providence, 1 
 trust, will never be shaken ; but my fu 
 ture prospects, at present, are dark and 
 gloomy." 
 
 " Let us not despair, answered Alonzo ; 
 perhaps those gloomy clouds which now ho 
 ver around us, will yet be dissipated by the 
 bright beams of joy. Innocence and vir 
 tue are the cares of Heaven. There lies my 
 hope. To-morrow, as you propose, I will 
 call at you father s." 
 
 Melissa now prepared to return home j a 
 whippoorwill tuned its nightly song at a 
 little distance ; but the sound, late so cheer 
 ful and sprightly, now passed heavily over 
 their hearts. 
 
 When Alonzo returned, Vincent imfold- 
 ed the plan he had projected. u JN T o soone^ 
 said he, was I informed of your misfortunes, 
 than I was convinced that Melissa s father 
 would endeavour to dissolve your intended 
 union with his daughter. I have known 
 him many years, and however he may dote 
 on hs children, or value their happiness, 
 he will not hesitate to sacriiice his other 
 feelings to the acquirement of riches. It 
 appeared that you had bat one resource left. 
 You acd Melissa aro now united by the 
 most sol emn ties by every rite except those 
 which are merely ceremonial. These I 
 
54 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 would advise you to enter into, and trust to 
 the consequences. Mrs. Vincent has pro 
 posed the scheme to Melissa; but implicitly 
 accustomed to filial obedience, she shudders 
 at the idea of a clandestine marriage. But 
 when her father shall proceed to rigorous 
 measures, she will, I think, consent to the 
 alternative. And this measure, once adopt 
 ed, her father must consent also ; or, ii not, 
 you secure your own happiness, and, what 
 you esteem more, that of Melissa." 
 
 " But you must be sensible of my inabili 
 ty to support her as she deserves, replied 
 Alonzo, even should she consent to it." 
 
 The world is before you, answered Vin 
 cent; you have friends, you have acquire 
 ments which will not fail you. In a coun 
 try like this, you can hardly fail of obtain- 
 iag a competency, which, with the other 
 requisites, will ensure your independence 
 and felicity." 
 
 Alonzo informed Vincent what had been 
 agreed upon between Melissa and himself, 
 respecting his visiting IIPT on the morrow ; 
 " after which, he said, we will discourse fur 
 ther on the subject." 
 
 The next day Alonzo repaired to the 
 house of Melissa s father. As he approach 
 ed he sa,w Melissa sitting in a shady recess 
 at one end of the garden near which the 
 road passed. She was leaning with her 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 55 
 
 head upon her hand, in a pensive posture ; 
 a deep dejection was depicted upon her fea 
 tures, which enlivened into a transient glow 
 as soon as she saw Alonzo. She arose, met 
 him, and invited him into the house. 
 
 Alonzo was received with a cool reserve 
 hy all except Melissa. Her father saluted 
 him with a distant and retiring bow, as he 
 passed with Melissa to her room. As soon 
 as they were seated, a maiden aunt, who 
 had doubled her teens, outlived many of her 
 supers, and who had lately come to reside 
 with the family, entered, and seated herself 
 by the window, alternately humming a tune 
 and impudendy staring at Alonzo, withou< 
 speaking a word, except snappishly, to contra 
 diet Melissa in any thing she advanced, which 
 the latter passed off with only a faint smile. 
 
 This interruption was not of long contin 
 uance. Melissa s father entered, and re 
 quested the two ladies to withdraw, which 
 was instantly done. He then addressed A- 
 
 lonzo as follows : "When I gave consent 
 
 for you to marry my daughter, it was on 
 the conviction that your future resources 
 would be adequate to support her honoura 
 bly and independently. Circumstances 
 have since taken place, which render this 
 point extremely doubtful. Parental duty 
 and affection demand that I should know 
 your meariS arid prospects before I sanction 
 
66 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 a proceeding which may reduce my child 
 to penury and to want." 
 
 He paused for a reply, but Alonzo was 
 silent. He continued " You yourself must 
 acknowledge, that to burthen yourself with 
 the expense of a family; to transfer a wo 
 man from affluence to poverty, without e- 
 ven an object in view to provide for either, 
 would be the height of folly and extrava 
 gance. 5 Again he paused, but Alonzo was 
 still silent. He proceeded " Could you, 
 Alonzo, suffer life, when you see the wife 
 of your bosom, probably your infant chil 
 dren, pining in misery for want of bread ? 
 And what else have you to expect if you 
 marry in your present situation ? You 
 have friends and well wishers ; but which 
 of them will advance you four or five thou 
 sand pounds, as a gratuity ? My daughter 
 must be supported according to her rank 
 and standing in life. Are you enabled to 
 do this ? If not, you cannot reasonably 
 suppose that I shall consent to your mar 
 rying her. You may say that your acquire 
 ments, your prudence, and your industry, 
 will procure you a handsome support. This 
 well may do in single life ; but "to depend 
 on these for the future exigencies of a fam 
 ily, is hazarding peace, honour and reputa 
 tion, at a single game of chance. If, there 
 fore, you have no resources or expectation 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 57 
 
 but such as these, your own judgment \vill 
 teach you the necessity of immediately re 
 linquishing all pretensions to the haiid of 
 Melissa" and immediately left the room. 
 
 Why was Alonzo speechless through the 
 whole of this discourse? What reply could 
 lie have made ? What were the prospects 
 before him but penury, want, misery, and 
 woe! Where, indeed, were the means by 
 which Melissa was to be shielded from pov 
 erty, if connected with his fortunes. The 
 idea was not new. but it came upon him 
 with redoubled anguish. He arose and 
 looked around for Melissa, but she was not 
 to be seen. He left the house, and walked 
 slowly towards Vincent s. At a little dis 
 tance he met Melissa, who had been stroll 
 ing in an adjoining avenue. He informed 
 her of all that had passed; it was no more 
 than they both expected, yet it was a shock 
 their fortitude could scarcely sustain. Dis 
 appointment seldom finds her votaries pre 
 pared to receive her. 
 
 Melissa told Alonzo, ihat her father s de 
 terminations were unchangeable ; that his 
 sister (the before mentioned maiden lady) 
 held a considerable influence over him, and 
 dictated the concerns of the family; and 
 that from her, there was nothing to hope in 
 their favour. Her mother, she said, was 
 her friend, but could not contradict the 
 
58 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 will of her father. Her brother would be 
 at home in a few days ; how he would act 
 on this occasion she was unable to say : but 
 were he even their friend he would tave 
 but feeble influence with her father and 
 aunt. "What is to be the end ~o these 
 troubles, continued Melissa, it is impossible 
 to foresee. Let us trust in the mercy of 
 heaven and submit to its dispensations." 
 
 Alonzo and Melissa, in their happier days, 
 had, when absent, corresponded by letters. 
 This method it was now thought best to 
 relinquish. It was agreed that Alonzo 
 should come frequently to Vincent s, where 
 Melissa would meet him as she could find 
 opportunities. Having concluded on this, 
 Melissa returned home, and Alonzo to the 
 house of his friend. 
 
 Vincent, after Alonzo had related the 
 manner of his reception at Melissa s fath 
 er s, urged the plan he had projected of 
 a private marriage. Alonzo replied, that 
 even should Melissa consent to it, which he 
 much uoubted, it must be a measure of the 
 last resort, and adopted only when all oth 
 ers became fruitless. 
 
 The next morning Alonzo returned to the 
 hut where his aged parents now dwelt. Hia 
 bosorn throbbed with keen angujsh. His 
 own fate, unconnected with that of Melissa, 
 he considered of little consequence. But 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 59 
 
 their united situation tortured his soul. 
 What was to become of Melissa, what of 
 himself, what of his parents ! "Alas, said 
 Alonzo, I now perctive what it is to want 
 the good things of this life." 
 
 Alonzo s father was absent when he arri 
 ved, but returned soon after. A beam of 
 joy gleamed upon his withered countenance 
 as he entered the house. "Were it not, 
 \lonzo, for your unhappy situation, said he, 
 we should once more be restored to peace 
 and comfort. A Yew persons who were in 
 debted to me, finding that I was to be sac 
 rificed by my unfeeling creditors, reserv r ed 
 those debts in their hands, and have n:/w 
 paid me, amounting to something more 
 than five hundred pounds. With this I 
 have purchased a small, but well cultivated 
 farm, with convenient tenements. I have 
 enough left to purchase what stock and 
 other materials I need ; and to spare some 
 for your present exigencies, Alonzo." 
 
 Alonzo thanked his father for his kind 
 ness, but told him that from his former 
 liberality he had yet sufficient for his wants, 
 and that he should soon find business which 
 would amply support him. " But your af 
 fair with Melissa, asked his father, how is^ 
 that likely to terminate?" " Favourably, I 
 h. "e, sir," answered Alonzo. He could not 
 
60 f ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 consent to disturb the tranquillity of his pa 
 rents by reciting his own wretchedness. 
 
 A week passed away. Alonzo saw hi? 
 parents removed to their little farm, which 
 was to be managed by his father and a hir 
 cd man. He saw them comfortably seated; 
 he saw them serenely blest in the calm 
 pleasures of returning peace, and a ray of 
 joy illuminated his troubled bosom. 
 
 " Again the youth his wonted life rognin d," 
 
 A transient ctparkle in his eye obtain d, 
 
 A bright, impassion d cheering glow, express d 
 
 The pleas d sensation of his tender breast : 
 
 But. soon dark glooms the feeble smiles o erspread j 
 
 Like morn s gay hues, the fad in? splendours fled ; 
 
 Returning anguish froze his feeling soul, 
 
 Deep sighs burst forth, and tears began to roll." 
 
 He thought of Melissa, from whom he 
 had heard nothing since he last saw her. 
 He thought of the difficulties which sur 
 rounded him. He thought of the barriers 
 which were opposed to his happiness and 
 the felicity of Melissa, and he set out for 
 the house of Vincent. 
 
 Alonzo arrived at the residence of Vin 
 cent near the close of the day. Vincent 
 and his lady were at tea with several young 
 ladies who had passed the afternoon with 
 Mrs. Vincent. Alonzo cast an active 
 glance around the company, in hopes to 
 find Melissa, but she was not there. He 
 was invited and accepted a seat at table. 
 A.fter tea Vincent led him into an adjoining 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 61 
 
 room. " You have come in good time, 
 said he. Something must speedily be done, 
 or you lose Melissa forever. The day 
 after you were here, her father received a 
 letter from Beauman, in which, after men 
 tioning the circumstance of your father s 
 insolvency, he hinted that the consequence 
 would probably be a failure of her proposed 
 marriage with you, which -might essentially 
 injure the reputation of a lady of her stand 
 ing in life ; to prevent which, and to place 
 her beyond the reach of calumny, he offer 
 ed to marry her at any appointed day, pro 
 vided he had her free consent. 
 
 " As Beauman, by the recent death of 
 his father, had been put in possession of a 
 splendid fortune, the proposition allured her 
 father, who wrote him a complaisant an 
 swer, with an invitation to his house. 
 He then strove to extort a promise from 
 Melissa, that she would break off all con 
 nexion with you, see you no more, and ad 
 mit the addresses of Beauman. 
 
 "To this she could not consent. She ur 
 ged, that by the consent of her parents she 
 was engaged to you by the most sacred ties, 
 That to her father s will she had hitherto 
 yielded implicit obedience, but that hastily 
 to break the most solemn obligation, formed 
 and sanctioned by his approbation and di 
 rection, was what her conscience would not 
 G 
 
62 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 permit her to do. Were he to command 
 her to live single, life might be endured; 
 but ,o give her hand to any except you, 
 would be to perjure those principles of truth 
 and justice which he himself had ever 
 f taught her to hold most inviolable. Her 
 father grew outrageous ; charged her with 
 disobedience, with a blind inconsiderate 
 perverseness, by which she would bring 
 ruin upon herself, and indelible disgrace up 
 on her fa-mily. She answered only with 
 her tears. Her mother interposed, and en 
 deavoured to appease his anger; but he 
 spurned her from him, and rushed out of 
 the room, uttering a threat that force should 
 succeed persuasion, if his commands were 
 not obeyed. To add to Melissa s distress, 
 Beauman arrived at her father s yesterday ; 
 and I hope, in some measure to alleviate it. 
 Edgar, her brother, came this morning. 
 Mrs. Vincent has dispatched a message to 
 inform Melissa of your arrival, arid to desire 
 her to come here immediately. She will 
 undoubtedly comply with the invitation, if 
 not prevented by something extraordinary. 
 I should have written you had I not hourly 
 expected you." 
 
 Mrs. Vincent now came to the door of 
 the room and beckoned to her husband, 
 who went out, but immediately returned, 
 leading j n Melissa after which he retired. 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 63 
 
 11 Oh, Alonzo !" was all she could say, and 
 burst into tears. Alonzo led her to a seat, 
 gently pressed her hand, and mingled his 
 tears with hers, but was unable to speak.- 
 Recovering at length, he begged her to mo 
 derate her grief. " Where, said he, is your 
 fortitude and your firmness, Melissa, which 
 I have so often seen triumphing over afflic 
 tion ?" Her extreme anguish prevented a 
 reply. Deeply affected and alarmed at the 
 storm of distress which raged in her bosom, 
 he endeavoured to console her, though con 
 solation was a stranger to his o\vn breast. 
 " Let us not, Melissa, said he, increase our 
 flood of affliction by a tide of useless sorrow. 
 Perhaps more prosperous days are yet in 
 reserve for us; happiness may yet be ours." 
 " Never, never ! she exclaimed. Oh, what 
 will become of me !" " Heaven cannot de 
 sert you, said Alonzo ; as well might it de 
 sert its angels. This thorny and gloomy 
 path may lead to fair fields of light and ver 
 dure. Tempests are succeeded by calms ; 
 wars end in peace ; the splendours of the 
 brightest morning arise on the wings of 
 blackest midnight. Troubles will not al 
 ways last. Life at most is short. Death 
 comes to the relief of the virtuous wretch 
 ed, and transports them to another and bet 
 ter world, where sighing and sorrows cease, 
 
64 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 and the tempestuous passions of life are 
 known no more." 
 
 The rage of grief which had overwhelm 
 ed Melissa began now to subside, as the 
 waves of the ocean gradually cease their 
 tumultuous commotion, after the turbulent 
 winds are laid asleep. Deep sobs and long 
 drawn sighs succeeded to a suffocation of 
 tears. The irritation of her feelings had 
 caused a more than usual glow upon her 
 che^k, which faded away as she became 
 composed, until a livid paleness spread it 
 self over her features. Aloiizo feared that 
 the delicacy of her constitution would fall 
 a sacrifice to the sorrow which preyed upon 
 her heart, if not speedily alleviated ; but 
 alas ! where were the means of alleviation ? 
 
 She informed him that h_er father had 
 that evening ordered her to become the 
 wife of Beaumau. He told her that her 
 disobedience was no longer to be borne. 
 " No longer, said he, will I tamper with 
 your perverseness : you are determined to 
 be poor, wretched and contemptible. I will 
 compel you to be rich, happy, and respect 
 ed. You suffer the Jack-a-lantcrn fancy) to 
 lead you into swamps and quagjiires, when, 
 did you but follow the fair light of reason, 
 it would conduct you to honour and real 
 felicity. There are happiness and misery 
 at your choice. 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 65 
 
 " Marry Beauman, and you will roll in 
 your coach, flaunt in your silks ; yourfurni- 
 ture and your equipage are splendid, your 
 associates are of the first character, and 
 your father rejoices in your prosperity. 
 
 " Marry Alonzo, you sink into obscurity, 
 are condemned to drudgery, poorly fed, 
 worse clothed, and your relations and ac 
 quaintances shun and despise you. The 
 comparison I have here drawn between 
 Beauman and Alonzo is a correct one ; for 
 even the wardrobe of the former is of more 
 value than the whole fortune of the latter. 
 
 " I give you now two days to consider 
 the matter; at the end of that time I shall 
 expect your decision, and hope you will de 
 cide discretely. But remember that you 
 become the wife of Beauman, or you are 
 no longer acknowledged as my daughter. * 
 
 " Thus, said Melissa, did my father pro 
 nounce his determination, which shook my 
 frame, and chilled with horror every nerve 
 of my heart, and immediately left me. 
 
 " My aunt added her taunts to his severi 
 ties, and Beauman interfered with his ill- 
 timed consolation. My mother and Edgar, 
 ardently strove to allay the fever of my 
 soul, and mitigate my distress. But the 
 stroke was almost too severe for my nature. 
 Habituated only to the smiles of my father, 
 how could I support his frowns ? Accus- 
 6* D 
 
66 ALONZO AIND MELISSA- 
 
 tomed to receive his blessings alone, how 
 could I endure his sudden malediction." 
 
 Description would fail in painting the sen 
 
 sations of Alonzo s bosom, at this recital of 
 
 woe. But he endeavoured to mitigate her 
 
 sorrows by the consolation of more cheer- 
 
 1 ing prospects and happier hours. 
 
 Vincent and his lady now came into the 
 I room. They strenuously urged the propriety 
 and the necessity of Alonzo and Melissa s 
 entering into the bands of wedlock immedi 
 ately. u The measure would be hazardous," 
 remarked Melissa. "My circumstances" 
 said Alonzo. "Not on that account, inter 
 rupted Melissa, but my father s displeas 
 ure " " Will be the same, whether 
 
 you marry Alonzo, or refuse to m-arry Beau- 
 man," replied Vincent. Her resolution ap 
 peared to be staggered. 
 
 " Come here, Melissa, to-morrow eve 
 ning, said Mrs. Vincent; mean time you 
 will consider the matter, and then deter 
 mine." To this Melissa assented, and pre 
 pared to return home. 
 
 Alonzo walked with her to the gate which 
 opened into the yard surrounding her fa 
 ther s house. It was dangerous for him to 
 go farther. Should he be discovered with 
 Melissa, even by a domestic of the family, 
 it must increase the persecutions against he;. 
 They parted. Alonzo ^tood at the gate, 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 67 
 
 gazing anxiously after Melissa as she walk 
 ed up the long winding avenue, bordered 
 with the odour-flowing lilac, and lofty elm, 
 her white robes now invisible, now dimly 
 seen as she turned the angles of the walk, 
 until they were totally obscured, mingling 
 with the gloom arid darkness of the night. 
 " Thus, said Alonzo, thus fades the angel of 
 peace from the visionary eyes of the war 
 worn soldier, when it ascends in the dusky 
 clouds of early morning, white he slumbers 
 on the field of recent battle. "-With mourn 
 ful forebodings he returned to the house of 
 Vincent. He arose after a sleepless nights 
 and walked into an adjoining lield. He 
 stood leaning in deep contemplation against 
 a tree, when he heard quick footsteps be 
 hind him. He turned, and saw Edgar ap 
 proaching : in a moment they were in each 
 other s arms, and mingled tears. They re 
 turned to Vincent s and conversed largely 
 on present affairs. li I have discoursed with 
 my father on the subject, said Edgar. 1 
 have urged him with every possible argu 
 ment to relinquish his determination : I fear, 
 however, he is inflexible. 
 
 "To assuage the tempest of grief which 
 rent Melissa s bosom was my next object, 
 and in this I trust I have not been unsuc 
 cessful. You will see her this evening, and 
 will find her more calm and resigned. You, 
 
68 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 Alonzo, must exert your fortitude.^ The 
 ways of Heaven are inscrutable, but tliey 
 are right. 
 
 " We must acquiesce in its dealings. We 
 cannot alter its decrees. Resignation to 
 its will, whether merciful or afflictive, k-oas 
 J x>f those eminent virtues which adorn the 
 good man s character, and ever find a bril 
 liant reward in the regions of unsullied 
 splendour, far beyond iroubleand the tomb." 
 Edgar told Alonzo that circumstances 
 compelled him that day to depart for the 
 army. I would advise you, said he, to re 
 main here until your affair comes to some 
 final issue. It must, I think, ere long, be 
 terminated. Perhaps you and my sister 
 may yet be happy." 
 
 Alonzo feelingly expressed his gratitude 
 to Edgar. He found in him that disinteres 
 ted friendship, which his early youth had 
 experienced. Edgar the same day depart 
 ed for the army. 
 
 In the afternoon Alonzo received a note 
 from Melissa s father, requesting his imme 
 diate attendance. Surprised at the inci 
 dent, he repaired there immediately. The 
 servant introduced him into a room where 
 
 Melissa s father and aunt were sitting. 
 
 " Hearing you were in the neighbourhood, 
 said her father, I have sent for you, to make 
 a proposition, which after what has taken 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 69 
 
 place, I think you cannot hesitate to comply 
 with. The occurrence of previous circum 
 stances may lead you to suppose that my 
 daughter is under obligations to you, which 
 may render it improper for her to form 
 marriage connections with any other. What 
 ever embarrassments your addresses to her 
 may have produced, it is in your power to 
 remove them; and if you are a man of hon 
 our you will remove them. You cannot 
 wish to involve Melissa in your present pen 
 urious condition, unless you wish to make 
 her wretched. It therefore only remains for 
 you to give me a writing, voluntarily resign 
 ing all pretensions to the hand of my daugh 
 ter; and if you wish her to be happy, hon 
 ourable, and respected in this life, this I say 
 you will not hesitate to do." 
 
 A considerable pause ensued. Alonzo at 
 length replied, "I cannot perceive any par 
 ticular advantage that can accrue from such 
 a measure. It will neither add nor dimin 
 ish the power you possess to command obe 
 dience to your will, if you are determined 
 to command it, either from your daughter, 
 
 or your servant." 
 
 " There, brother," bawled the old maid, 
 half squeaking through her nose, which was 
 well charged with rappee, " did nt I tell you 
 so? I knew the fellow would not come to 
 terms no more than will your refractory 
 
70 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 daughter. This love fairly bewitches such 
 foolish, crack-brained youngsters. But say 
 
 Mr. , what s your name, addressing 
 
 herself to Alonzo, will love heat the oven ? 
 will love boil the pot? will love clothe the 
 
 back ? will love " 
 
 "You will not, interrupted Melissa s 
 father, speaking to Alonzo, it seems, consent 
 to my proposition? 1 have then, one de 
 mand to make, which of right you cannot 
 deny. Promise me that you will never see 
 my daughter again, unless by my permis 
 sion." 
 
 "At the present moment I shall promise 
 you nothing," replied Alonzo, with some 
 warmth. 
 
 "There again, said the old maid, just so 
 Melissa told you this morning, when you 
 requested her to see him no more. The 
 fellow has fairly betwattled her. I wish I 
 had him to deal with. Things wasn t so 
 when I was a girl ; I kept the rogues at a 
 distance, I ll warrant you. I always told 
 you, brother, what would come of your in 
 dulgence to your daughter. And I should 
 not wonder if you should soon find the girl 
 had eloped, and your desk robbed in the 
 bargain." 
 
 Alonzo hastily arose : " I suppose, said 
 lie, my presence can be dispensed with." 
 
 " Well, young man, said Melissa s father, 
 
ALOKZO AND MELISSA. 71 
 
 since you will not comply with any over 
 tures I make ; since you will not accede to 
 any terms I propose, remember, sir, I now 
 warn you to break off all communication 
 and correspondence with my daughter, and 
 to relinquish all expectations concerning 
 her. I shall" never consent to marry my 
 daughter" to a beggar." 
 
 "Beggar!" involuntarily exclaimed Alon- 
 zo, and his eyes flashed in resentment But 
 he recollected that it was the father of Me 
 lissa who had thus insulted him, and he sup 
 pressed his anger. He rushed out of the 
 house, and returned to Vincent s. He had 
 neither heard nor seen any thing of Melissa 
 or Beauman. 
 
 Night came on, and he ardently and im 
 patiently expected Melissa. He anticipa 
 ted the consolation her presence would be 
 stow. Edgar had told him she was more 
 composed. He doubted \vhether it were 
 proper to excite anew her distress by rela- 
 ing his interview with her father, unless she 
 was app raised of it. The evening passed 
 on, but Melissa came not. Alonzo grew 
 restless and uneasy. He looked out, then 
 at his watch. Vincent and his lady assured 
 him that she \vould soon be there. He pa 
 ced the room. Still he became more impa 
 tient. He walked out on the way where 
 she was expected to come. Sometimes he 
 
72 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 advanced hastily ; at others he moved slow 
 ly; then stood motionless, listening in breath 
 less silence, momentarily expecting to dis 
 cover her white form approaching through 
 the gloom, or to hear the sound of her foot 
 steps advancing amidst the darkness. Shape 
 less objects, either real or imaginary, fre 
 quently crossed his sight, but, like the unre 
 al phantoms of night, they suddenly passed 
 away, and were seen no more. At length 
 he perceived a dusky white form advancing 
 in the distant dim obscurity. It drew near; 
 his heart beat in quick succession ; his fond 
 hopes told him it was Melissa. The object 
 came up, and hastily passed him, with a 
 " good night, sir." 
 
 It was a stranger in a white surtout. A- 
 lonzo hesitated whether to advance or to 
 eturn. It was possible, though not proba 
 ble, that Melissa might have come some 
 other way. He hastened back to Vincent s 
 she had not arrived. " Something extra 
 ordinary, said Mrs. Vincent, has prevented 
 her coming. Perhaps she is ill." Alonzo 
 shuddered at the suggestion. He looked at 
 his watch ; it was half past eleven o clock. 
 Again he hastily sallied out, and took the 
 road to her father s. 
 
 The night was exceedingly dark, and il 
 luminated only by the feeble glimmering of 
 the twinkling stars. When he came with- 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 73 
 
 in sight of the house, and as he drew near 
 no lights were visible all was still and si 
 lent. He entered the yard, walked up the 
 Avenue, and approached the door. The fa 
 miliar watch-dog, which lay near the thresh 
 old, fawned upon him, joyfully whining and 
 wagging his tail. "Thou still knowest me, 
 Curlo .v, said Alonzo ; thou hast known me 
 in better days ; I am now poor and wretch 
 ed, but thy friendship is the same." A sol 
 emn stillness prevailed all around, interrupt 
 ed only by the discordance of the nightly 
 insects, and the hooting of the moping owl 
 from the neighbouring forest. The dwell 
 ing was shrouded in darkness. In Melis 
 sa s room no gleam of light appeared. "They 
 are all buried in sleep, said Alonzo, deeply 
 sighing, ana I have only to return in disap 
 pointment." 
 
 He turned and walked towards the street; 
 carting his eyes back, the blaze of a candle 
 caught his sight. It passed rapidly along 
 through the lower looms, now gleaming, 
 now intercepted, as the walls or the win 
 dows intervened, and suddenly disappeared. 
 Alonzo gazed earnestly a few moments, and 
 hastily returned back. No noise was to be 
 heard, no new objects were discernible. 
 He "clambered over the garden wall, and 
 went around to the back side of the house. 
 Here all wa solemn and silent as in front. 
 7 
 
74 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 Immediately a faint light appeared through 
 one of the chamber windows; it grew bright 
 er ; a candle entered the chamber ; the sash 
 was flung up, and Melissa seated herself at 
 the window." 
 
 The weather was sultry, she held a fan in 
 her hand ; her countenance, though stamp 
 ed with deep dejection, was marked with 
 serenity, but pale as the drooping lily of the 
 valley. Alonzo placed himself directly un 
 der the window, and in a low voice called 
 her by name. She started wildly, looked 
 out, and faintly cried, " Who s there ?" He 
 answered, " Alonzo." " Good heavens, 
 she exclaimed, is it you, Alonzo ? I was 
 disappointe a in meeting you at Vincent s this 
 evening ; my father will not suffer me to 
 go out without attendants. I am now con 
 stantly watched and guarded." 
 
 " Watched and guarded ! replied Alonzo: 
 At the risque of my life I will deliver you 
 from the tyranny with which you are op 
 pressed." 
 
 " Be calm, Alonzo, said she, I think it 
 vill not last long. B Gaum an will soon de 
 part, after which there will undoubtedly be 
 some alteration. Desire Mrs. Vincent to 
 come here to-morrow ; I believe they will 
 let me see her. I can, from time to time, 
 inform you of passing events, so that you 
 may know what changes take place. I am 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 75 
 
 placed under the care of my aunt, who suf 
 fers me not to ste-p ou-t of her sight. We 
 pass the night in an adjoining chamber 
 from whence, after she had fallen asleep, I 
 fctole out, and went down with a design of 
 walking in the garden, but found the doors 
 all locked and the keys taken out. I re 
 turned and raised this window for fresh air. 
 Hark ! s-aid she ; my aunt calls me. She 
 has waked and misses me. I must fly to 
 her chamber. You shall hear mo^e from 
 me to-morrow by Mrs. Vincent, Alonzo," 
 So saying, she let down the window sash, 
 and retired. 
 
 Alonzo withdrew slowly from the place, 
 and repassed the way he came. As he 
 jumped back over the garden wall, he found 
 a man standing at its foot, very near him : 
 after a moment s scrutiny he perceived it to 
 be Beauman. " What, my chevalier, said 
 he to Alonzo, such an adept in the amor 
 ous science already ? Hast thou then elu 
 ded the watchful eyes of Argus, and the 
 vigilance of the dragon!" 
 
 " Unfeeling and impertinent intruder ? 
 retorted Alonzo, seizing hold of him ; is it 
 not enough that an innocent daughter must 
 endure a merciless parent s persecuting 
 hand, but must thou add to her misery by 
 thy disgusting interference!" 
 
 " Quit thy hold, tarquin, said Beauman. 
 
76 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 Art thou determined, after storming the for 
 tress, to murder tl>e garrison ?" 
 
 " Go, said Alonzo, quitting him ; go sir, 
 you are unworthy of my anger. Pursue thy 
 grovelling schemes. Strive to force to yoin 
 arms a lady who abhors you, and were i< 
 not on one account, must ever continue to 
 despise and hate you." 
 
 "Alonzo, replied Beauman, I percc-ive thou 
 knowest me not. You and I were rivals 
 in our pursuit the hand of Melissa. Wheth 
 er from freak or fortune, the preference 
 was given to you, and I retired in silence. 
 From coincideDce of circumstances, her 
 father has now been induced to give the 
 preference to me. My belief was, that 
 Melissa would comply with her father s will, 
 especially after her prospects of connect 
 ing with you were cu-t off by the events 
 which ruined your fortune. You, Alonzo, 
 have yet, I find, to learn the character of 
 women. It has been my particular study. 
 Melissa, now ardently impassioned by first 
 impressions, irritated by recent disappoint 
 ment, her passicns delicate and vivid, her 
 affections animated and unmixed, it would 
 be strange, if she could suddenly relinquish 
 primitive a f taehments founded on such pre 
 mises, without a struggle. But remove 
 her from your presence for one year, with 
 only distant and uncertain prospects of see- 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 77 
 
 ing you again, admit me as the substitute in 
 your absence, and she accepts my hand as 
 f ?ely as she would now receive yours. I 
 haa no design it was never my wish to 
 marry her without her consent. That I 
 believe I shall yet obtain. Under existing 
 circumstances, it is impossible but that you 
 must be separated for some considerable 
 time. Then, when cool deliberation suc 
 ceeds to the wild vagaries, the electric fire 
 of frolic fancy, she will discover the danger 
 ous precipice, the deadlf abyss to which 
 her present conduct and inclinations lead. 
 She will see that the blandishments, with- 
 out the possessions of life, must fade and 
 die. She will discriminate between the 
 shreds and the trappings of taste. She will 
 prefer indifference and splendour to love 
 and a cottage. 
 
 "At present I relinquish all further per- 
 suit ; to-morrow I return to New-London. 
 When Melissa, from calm deliberation and 
 the advice of friends, shall freely consent 
 to yield me her hand, 1 shall return to re 
 ceive i t. I came from my lodgings thif 
 evening to declare these intentions to her 
 father: but it being later th-an I was aware 
 of, the family had gone to rest. I was a- 
 bout to return, when I saw alight from the 
 chamber window, which soon withdrew. I 
 stood a moment by the garden wall, when 
 
78 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 you approached and discovered me." So 
 saying, he bade Alonzo good night, and 
 walked hastily away. " I find he knows 
 not the character of Melissa," said Alonzo, 
 and returned to Vincent s. 
 
 The next Jay Alonzo told the Vincents 
 of all that had passed, and it was agreed 
 that Mrs. Vincent should visit at Melissa s 
 father s tha-t afternoon. She went at a-u 
 early hour. Alonzo s feelings were on the 
 rstek until she returned, which happened 
 much sooner than was expected ; when she 
 gave him and Vincent the following infor 
 mation : 
 
 "When I arrived there, said she, I found 
 Melissa s father and mother alone, her mo 
 ther was in tears, which she endeavoured 
 to conceal. Her father soon withdrew. After 
 some conversation I enquired for Melissa. 
 The old lady burst into tears, and informed 
 me that this morning Melissa s aunt (the 
 old maid) had invited her to ride out with 
 her. A carriage was provided, which, af 
 ter a large trunk had been placed therein, 
 drove off with Melissa and her aunt ; that 
 Melissa s father had just been informing 
 her that he had sent their daughter to a 
 distant part of the country, where she was 
 to reside with a friend until Alonzo should 
 depart from the neighbourhood. The rea 
 son of this sudden resolution was his being 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 79 
 
 informed by Beauman, that notwithstand 
 ing his precaution, Melissa and Alonzo had 
 an interview the last evening. Where she 
 was sent to, the old lady could not tell, but 
 she was convinced that Melissa was not ap 
 prised of the design when she consented to 
 go. Her aunt had heretofore been living 
 with the relatives of the family in various 
 parts of the state." 
 
 Alonzo listened to Mrs. Vincent s rela 
 tion with inexpressible agitation. He sat 
 silent a few moments; then suddenly start 
 ing up, " I will find her if she be on the 
 earth!" said he, and in spife of Vincent s 
 attempts to prevent him, rushed out of the 
 house, flew to the road, and was soon out 
 of sight. 
 
 Melissa had not, indeed, the most distant 
 suspicion of the designs of her father and 
 aunt. The latter informed her that she 
 was going to take a morning s ride, and in 
 vited Melissa to accompany her, to which 
 she consented. She did not even perceive 
 the trunk which was fastened on behind the 
 carriage. They were attended by a single 
 servant. They drove to a neighbouring 
 town, where Melissa had frequently atten 
 ded her father and mother to purchase ar 
 ticles of dress, &c. where they alighted at 
 a friend s house, and lingered away the 
 time until dinner j after which, they pre- 
 
80 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 pared, as Melissa supposed, to return, but 
 found, to her surprise, after they had enter 
 ed the carriage, that her aunt or lered the 
 driver to proceed a different way. She ask 
 ed her aunt if they were not going home. 
 " Not yet," said she. Melissa grew unea 
 sy ; she knew she was. to see Mrs. Vincent 
 that afternoon ; she knew the disappoint 
 ment which Aionzo must experience, if she 
 was absent. She begged her aunt to re 
 turn, as she expected the company of some 
 ladies that afternoon. " Then they -must 
 be disappointed, child," said her aunt. 
 Melissa knew it was in vain to remonstrate; 
 she supposed her aunt was bent on visiting 
 some of her acquaintance, and she remain 
 ed silent. 
 
 They arrived at another village, and a- 
 ligkted at an inn, where Melissa and her 
 aunt tarried, while the servant was ordered 
 out by the latter on some business unknown 
 to Melissa. When they again got into the 
 carnage she perceived several large packa 
 ges and bundles, which had been deposited 
 there since they left it. She enquired of 
 her aunt what they contained. " Articles 
 for family use, child," she replied, and or 
 dered the driver to proceed. 
 
 They passed along winding and solitary 
 paths, into a bye road which led through 
 an unfrequented wood, that opened into a 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 81 
 
 rocky part of the country bordering on the 
 Sound. Here they stopped at the only 
 house in view. It was a miserable hut, 
 built of logs, and boarded with skbs. 
 They alighted from the carriage, and Melis 
 sa s aunt, handing the driver a large bunch 
 of keys, " remember to do as I have told 
 you," said she, and he drove rapidly away. 
 It was with some difficulty they got into the 
 hut, as a meagre cow, with a long yoke on 
 her neck, a board before her eyes, and a 
 cross piece on her horns, stood with her 
 head in the door. On one side of her were 
 four or five hal-f starved squeaking pigs, on 
 the other a flock of gaggling geese. 
 
 A s they entered the door, a woman who 
 sat carding wool jumped up, " La me ! she 
 
 cried, here is Miss D , welcome here 
 
 again. How does madam do ?" dropping 
 a low curtsey. She was dressed in a linsey 
 woolsey short gown, a petticoat of the same, 
 her hair hanging about her ears, and bare 
 foot. Three dirty, ragged children were 
 playing about the floor, and the furniture 
 was of a piece with the building. " Is my 
 room in order? 7 enquired Melissa s aunt. 
 " It hasn t been touched since madam was 
 here," answered the woman, and immedi 
 ately stalked away to a little back apart 
 ment, which Melissa and her aunt entered. 
 It was small, but neatly furnished, and con- 
 
 E 
 
82 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 tained a single bed. This appendage had 
 been concealed from Melissa s view, as it 
 was the opposite side of the house from 
 whence she alighted. "Where is John ?" 
 asked Melissa s aunt. " My husband is in 
 the garden, replied the woman ; I will call 
 him," and out she scampered. John soon 
 appeared, and exhibited an exact counter 
 part of his wife. " What does madam 
 please to want ?" said he, bowing three or 
 four times. " I want you John," she an 
 swered, and immediately stepped into the 
 other room, and gave some directions, in a 
 low voice, to him and his wife. "La me ! 
 said the woman, madam a nt a going to 
 live in that doleful place ?" Melissa could 
 not understand her aunt s reply, but heard 
 her give directions to " first hang on the tea 
 kettle." This done, while John and his 
 wife went out, Melissa s aunt prepared tea 
 in her own room. In about an hour John 
 and his wife returned, and gave the same 
 bunch of keys to Melissa s aunt, which she 
 had given to the servant who drove the 
 carriage. 
 
 Melissa was involved in inscrutable mys 
 tery respecting these extraordinary pro 
 ceedings. She conjectured that they bo 
 ded her no good, but she could not pene 
 trate into her aunt s designs. She fre 
 quently looked out, hoping to see the car- 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 83 
 
 nage return, but was disappointed. When 
 tea was made ready, she could neither eat 
 nor drink. After her aunt had disposed of 
 a dozen cups of tea, and an adequate pro 
 portion of biscuit, butter and dried beef, 
 she directed Melissa to prepare to take a 
 walk. The sun was low j they proceeded 
 through fields, in a foot path, over rough 
 and uneven ways, directly towards the 
 Sound. They walked about a mile, when 
 they came to a large, old fashioned, castle- 
 like building, surrounded by a high, thick 
 wall, and almost totally concealed on all 
 sides from the sight, by irregular rows of 
 large locusts and elm trees, dry prim* hed 
 ges, and green shrubbery. The gate which 
 opened into the yard, was made of strong 
 hard wood, thickly crossed on the outside 
 with iron bars, and filled with old iron 
 spikes. Melissa s aunt unlocked the gate, 
 and they entered the yard, which was over 
 grown with rank grass and rushes : the ave 
 nue which led to the house was almost in 
 the same condition. The house was of re 
 al Gothic architecture, built of rude stone, 
 with battlements. 
 
 The doors were constructed in the same 
 
 The hotniik Ml name of this shrub is not recollected. Mi. re 
 wore formerly a <*ivnt mimhiT ofjirim he-ilges in New-England, 
 end .->t!icr jm-ts >t Am TIC:!. What is mot remarkable r, that 
 they nil dit-c! th- year ;HVVKJI;S t^ i. icr commencement of me A 
 nurica .i war. 
 
S4 . ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 manner as the gate at which they entered 
 the yard. They unlocked the door, which 
 creaked heavily on its hinges, and went in. 
 They ascended a flight of stairs, wound 
 through several dark and empty rooms, till 
 they came to one which was handsomely 
 furnished, with a tire hurning on the hearth. 
 Two beds were in the room, with tables 
 and chairs, and other conveniences for 
 house keeping. "Here we are safe, said 
 Melissa s aunt, as I have taken care to lock 
 all the doors and gates after me ; and here, 
 Melissa, you are in the mansion of your an 
 cestors. Your great grand father, who 
 came over from England, built this house in 
 the earliest settlements of the country, and 
 here he resided until his death. The rea 
 son why so high and thick a wall was built 
 round it, and the doors and gates so strong 
 ly fortified, was to secure it against the In 
 dians, who frequently committed depreda 
 tions on the early settlers. Your grand 
 father came in possession of this estate after 
 his father s death : it fell to me by will, 
 with the lands surrounding it. The house 
 has sometimes been tenanted, at others not. 
 It has now been vacant for a few years. 
 The lands are rented yearly. John, the 
 person from whose house we last came, is 
 my overseer and tenant. I had a small 
 room built, adjoining that hut, where I gen- 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 85 
 
 erally reside for a week when I come to re 
 ceive my rerrts. I have thought frequently 
 of fitting up this place for my future resi 
 dence, but circumstances have hitherto hin 
 dered my carrying the scheme into effect, 
 and now, perhaps, it will never take place. 
 " Your perverseness, Melissa, in refusing 
 to comply with the wishes of your friends, 
 has induced us to adopt the method of 
 bringing you here, where you are to remain 
 until Alonzo leaves your neighbourhood, at 
 least. Notwithstanding yeur father s in 
 junctions and my vigilance, you had a clan 
 destine interview with him last night. So 
 we were told by Beauman this morning, 
 before he set off for New- London, who dis 
 covered him at your window. It therefore 
 became necessary to remove you immedi 
 ately. You will want for nothing. John 
 is to supply us with whatever is needful. 
 You will not be long here ; Alonzo will soon 
 be gone. You will think differently ; re 
 turn home, marry Beauman, and become a 
 lady." 
 
 " My GoJ! exclaimed Melissa, is it pos 
 sible my father can be so cruel ! Is he so 
 unfeeling as to banish me from his house, 
 and confine me within the walls of a prison, 
 like a common malefactor?" She flung 
 herself on the bed in a state little inferior 
 to distraction. Her aunt told her it was 
 
86 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 all owing to her own obstinacy, and because 
 she refused to be made happy and went 
 to pre paring supper. 
 
 Melissa heard none of her aunt s obser 
 vations; she lay in a stupifying agony, in 
 sensible to all that passed. When supper 
 was ready, her aunt endeavoured to arouse 
 her. She started up, stared around her 
 with a wild agonizing countenance, but 
 spoke not a w r ord. Her aunt became alarm 
 ed. She applied stimulants to her tem 
 ples and forehead, and persuaded her to 
 take some cordials. She remained seem 
 ingly insensible through the night : just at 
 morning, she fell into a slumber, interrupt 
 ed by incoherent meanings, convulsive start- 
 iugs, long drawn sighs, intermitting sobs, 
 and by frequent, sudden and restless turn 
 ings from side to side. At length she aj 
 peared to be in a calm and q-jiet sleep 
 about an hour. About sunrise she awoke 
 her aunt sat by her bed side. She gazed 
 languidly about the room, and burst into 
 tears. She w T ept a long time ; her aunt 
 strove to console her, for she truly began 
 to tremble, lest Melissa s distress should 
 produce her immediate dissolution. To 
 wards night, however, she became more 
 calm and resigned; but a slight fever suc 
 ceeded, which kept her confined for several 
 days, afte~ which she slowly recovered. 
 
 ap- 
 
 for 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 87 
 
 John cr.me frequently to the house to re 
 ceive the commands of Melissa s aunt, and 
 brought such things as they wanted. Her 
 aunt also sometimes went home with him, 
 leaving the keys of the house with Melissa, 
 but locking the gate and taking the key of 
 that with her. She generally returned be 
 fore subset. When Melissa was so far re 
 covered as to walk out, she found that th-e 
 house was situated on an eminence, about 
 one hundred yards from the Sound. The 
 yard was large and extensive. Within the 
 enclosure was a spacious garden, now over 
 run with brambles and weeds. A few me- 
 dinical and odoriferous herbs were scattered 
 here and there, and a few solitary flowers 
 overtopped the tangling briars below ; but 
 there was plenty of fruit on the shrubbery 
 and trees. The out buildings were gener 
 ally in a ruinous situation. The cemetery 
 was the most perfect, as it was built of 
 hewn stone and marble, and had bes^ with 
 stood the ravages of time. The rooms in 
 the house were mostly empty and decaying: 
 the maul building was firm and strong, as 
 was also the extended wall which enclosed 
 ihe whole. She found that although her 
 aunt, when they first arrived, had led her 
 through several upper rooms to the cham 
 ber they inhabited, yet there was from 
 thence a direct passage to the hail. 
 
88 ALOSZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 The prospect was not disagreeable. 
 West, all was wilderness, from which a 
 brook wound along a little distance from 
 the garden wall. North, were the uneven 
 grounds she had crossed when she carne 
 there, bounded by distant groves and hills. 
 East, beautiful meadows and fields, arrayed 
 in flowery green, sloped to salt marshes or 
 sandy banks of the Sound, or ended in the 
 long white beaches which extended far into 
 the sea. South, was the Sound of Long 
 Island. 
 
 Melissa passed much of her time in trac 
 ing the ruins of this antiquated pUce, in 
 viewing the white sails as they passed up 
 and down the Sound, and in listening to the 
 songs of the thousand various birds which 
 frequented the garden and the forest. She 
 could have been contented here to have 
 buried her afflictions, and for ever to retire 
 from the world, could Alonzo but have re- 
 sided^within those walls. " What will he 
 think has become of me," she would say, 
 while the disconsolate tear glittered in her 
 eye. Her aunt had frequently urged her to 
 yield to her father s injunctions, regain her 
 liberty, and marry Beauman ; and she eve 
 ry day became more solicitous and imperti 
 nent. A subject so hateful to Melissa some 
 times provoked her to tears ; at other her 
 keen resentment. She therefore, when the 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 89 
 
 Weather was fair, passed much of her time 
 in the garden and adjoining walks, wishing 
 to be as much out of her aunt s company as 
 possible. 
 
 One day John carae there early in the 
 morning, and Melissa s aunt went home 
 with him. The day passed away, hut she 
 did not return. Melissa sat up until a late 
 hour of the night, expecting her ; she went 
 to the gate, and found it was fast locked, 
 returned, locked and bolted the doors of the 
 house, went to bed and slept as soundly as 
 she had done since her residence in the old 
 mansion. " I have at least, she s:dd, esca 
 ped the disgusting curtain-lecture about 
 marrying Beauman." 
 
 The next day her annt returned. " I was 
 quite concerned about you, child, said she ; 
 how did you sleep ?" " Never better, she, 
 answered, since I have been here." "I had 
 forgotten, said her aunt, that my rents be 
 come due this week. I was detained until 
 late by some of my tenants ; John was out, 
 and I dare not return in the night alone. I 
 must go back to-day. It will take me a 
 week to settle my business. If I am obli 
 ged to stay out again I will send one of 
 
 John s daughters to sleep with you." 
 
 " You need not give yourself that trouble, 
 replied Melissa; I am under no apprehen 
 sion of staying here alone ; nothing can get 
 
90 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 into or out of these premises." WelL y 
 
 thou hast wonderful courage, child, said her 
 aimt ; but I shall be as frequently here as 
 possiljle, and as soon as my business is set 
 tled, I shell be absent no more." So say 
 ing, she bade Melissa good morning, and set 
 off for her residence at the dwelling of John. 
 
 She did not return in two days. The 
 second night of her absence, Melissa was 
 sitting in her chamber reading, when she 
 heard a noise as of several people trampling 
 in the yard below. She arose, cautiously 
 raised the window, and looked out. It was 
 extremely dark; she thought she might 
 have been discovered. 
 
 Her aunt came the next day, and told hei 
 she was obliged to go into the country to 
 collect some debts of those to whom she 
 had rented lands : she should be gone a few 
 days, and as soon as she returned should 
 come there. " The keys of the house, said 
 she, I shall leave with you. The gate I 
 shall lock, and leave that key with John, 
 who will come here as often as necessary, 
 to assist you, and see if you want any thing." 
 She then went off, leaving Melissa not dis 
 satisfied with the prospect of her absence. 
 
 Melissa amused herself in evenings by 
 reading in the few books her aunt had 
 brought there, and in the day, in walking 
 around the yard and garden, or in travers- 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 91 
 
 ing the rooms of the antique building. In 
 some, were the remains of ancient furniture, 
 others were entirely empty. Cobwebs and 
 mouldering walls were the principal orna 
 ments left. 
 
 One evening as she was about retiring to 
 rest, she thought she heard the same tramp 
 ling noise in the yard, as on a former occa 
 sion. She stepped softly to the window, 
 suddenly raised it, and held out the candle. 
 She listened and gazed with anxious solici 
 tude, but discovered nothing more. All 
 was silent; she shut the window, and in a 
 short time went to bed. 
 
 Some time in the night she was suddenly 
 awakened by a sharp sound, apparently 
 near her. She started in a trembling pa 
 nic, but endeavoured to compose herself 
 with the idea, that something had fallen 
 from the shelves. As she lay musing upon 
 the incident, she heard loud noises in the 
 rooms below, succeeded by an irregular and 
 confused number of voices. ; and presently 
 after, footsteps ascending the stairs which 
 led to her chamber. She trembled ; a cold 
 chilly sweat run down her race. Directly 
 the doors below opened and shut with a 
 quick and violent motion. And soon after 
 she was convinced that she distinctly heard 
 a whispering in her room. She raised her 
 self up in the bed and cast inquisitive eyes 
 
92 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 towards her chamber door. All was dark 
 ness no new object was visible no sound 
 \vas IK ard, and she again lay down. 
 
 Her mind was too much agitated and a- 
 larmed to sleep. She had evidently heard 
 sounds, footsteps and voices in the house, 
 and whisperings which appeared to be in 
 her room. The yard gate was locked, o/ 
 which John had the key. She was confi 
 dent that no person could ascend or get 
 aver the wall of the enclosure. But if that 
 were practicable, how was it possible that 
 any human being could enter the house ? 
 She had the key of every door, and they 
 were all fast locked, and yet she had heard 
 ihem furiously open and shut. A thought 
 darted into her mind, was it not a plan 
 which her aunt had contrived in order to 
 frighten her to a compliance with her wish 
 es? But then how could she enter the 
 house without keys ? This might be done 
 with the use of a false key. But from 
 whence did the whisperings proceed, which 
 appeared close to her bedside ? Possibly 
 it might be conveyed through the key-hole 
 of her chamber door. These thoughts tend 
 ed in some degree, to allay her fears ; 
 they were possibilities, at least, however 
 improbable. 
 
 As she lay thus musing, a hand, cold as 
 the icj ringers of death, grasped her arm, 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 93 
 
 which lay on the outside of the bed clothes. 
 She screamed convulsively, and sprang up 
 in the bed. Nothing was to be seen no 
 noise was heard. She had not time to re 
 flect. She ilew out of the bed, ran to the 
 fire, and lighted a candle. Her heart beat 
 rapidly. She cast timid glances around the 
 room, cautiously searching every corner, 
 and examining the door. All things were 
 in the same state she had left them when 
 she went to bed. Her door was locked in 
 the same manner ; no visible being was in 
 the room except herself. She sat down, 
 pondering on these strange events. Was 
 it not probable that she was right in her 
 first conjectures respecting their being the 
 works of her aunt, and effected by her a- 
 gents and instrumentality ? All were pos 
 sible, except the cold hand which had gras 
 ped her arm. Might no; this be the effect 
 of a terrified and heated imagination 1 Or 
 if false keys had been made use of to enter 
 the rooms below, might, they not also he 
 used to enter her chamber? But could her 
 room be unlocked, persons enter, approach 
 her bed, depart and re-lock the door, whi e 
 she was awake, without her hearing them ? 
 She knew she could not go to sleep, and 
 she determined not to go to bed again th t ~,t 
 night. She took up a book, but her spirits 
 had been too much disordered by the past 
 
94 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 scenes to permit her to read. She looked 
 out of the window. The moon had arisen 
 and cast a pale lustre over the landscape. 
 She recollected the opening and shutting of 
 the door perhaps they were still open 
 The thought was alarming She opened 
 her chamber door, and with the candle in 
 her hand, cautiously descended the stairs, 
 casting an inquisitive eye in every direction, 
 and stopping frequently to listen. She ad 
 vanced to the door ; it was locked. She 
 examined the others ; they were in the same 
 situation. She turned to go up stairs, when 
 a loud whisper echoed through the hall ex 
 pressing "away! away!" She flew like 
 lightning to her chamber, relocked the door 
 and Hung herself, almost breathless, into a 
 chair. 
 
 As soon as her scattered senses collected, 
 she concluded that whatever had been in 
 the house was there still. She resolved tc 
 go out no more until day, which soon be- 
 
 - gan to discolour the east with a fainter blue, 
 then purple streaks, intermingled with a 
 
 . dusky whiteness, ascended in pyramidical 
 columns the zenith; these fading slowly 
 away, the eastern horizon became fringed 
 with the golden spangles of early morn. A 
 spot of ineffable brightness succeeded, and 
 immediatelv the sun burst over the verge 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 95 
 
 of creation, deluging the world in a flood of 
 unbounded right and glory. 
 
 As soon as the morning had a little ad 
 vanced, Melissa ventured out. She pro 
 ceeded with hesitating steps, carefully scru 
 tinizing every object which met her sight. 
 She examined every door; they were all 
 fast. She critically searched every room, 
 closet, &,c. above and below. She then 
 took a light and descended into the cellar 
 here her inquisition was the same. Thus 
 did she thoroughly and strictly examine and 
 search every part of the house from the gar 
 ret to the cellar, but could find nothing al 
 tered, changed, or removed ; no outlet, no 
 signs of there having been any being in the 
 house the evening before, except herself. 
 
 She then unlocked the outer door and 
 proceeded to the gate, which she found 
 locked as usual. She next examined the 
 yard, the garden, and all the out houses. 
 
 Nothing could be discovered of any per 
 son having been recently there. She next 
 walked around by the wall, the whole cir 
 cle of the enclosure. She was convinced 
 that the unusual height of the wall rendered 
 it impossible for any one to get over it. It 
 was constructed of several tier of hewed 
 timbers, and both sides of it were as smooth 
 as glass. On the top, long spikes were 
 thickly driven in, sharpened at both ends. 
 9 
 
96 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 It was surrounded on the outside by a, deep 
 wide moat, which was nearly filled with 
 water. Over this moat was a draw-bridge, f 
 on the read leading to the gate, which was 
 drawn up, and John had the key. 
 
 Tire events of the past night, therefore, 
 remained inscrutable. It must be that her 
 aunt was the agent who had managed this 
 extraordinary machinery. 
 
 She found John at the house when she 
 returned. " Does madam want any thing 
 to-day?" asked he. " Has my aunt return 
 ed r" enquired Melissa. " Not yet," he 
 replied. " How long has she been gone r" 
 she asked. "Four days, replied Jonn, after 
 counting his ringers, and she will not be 
 back under four or five more." li Has the 
 key of the gate been constantly in your 
 possession ?" asked she. " The key of the 
 gate and draw-bridge, he replied, have not 
 been out of my possession for a moment 
 since your aunt has been gone." " Has any 
 person been to enquire for me or my aunt, 
 she enquired, since I have been here r" 
 11 No, madam, said he, not a single person." 
 Melissa knew not what to think ; she could 
 not give up the idea of false keys perhaps 
 her aunt had returned to her father s. Per 
 haps the draw-bridge had been let down, . 
 the gate opened, and the house entered by 
 means of false keys. Her father would as 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 97 
 
 soon do this as to confine her in this solita 
 ry place ; and he would go all lengths to 
 induce her, either by terror, persuasion or 
 threats, to relinquish Alonzo and marry 
 Beauman. 
 
 A thought impressed her mind which 
 gave her some consolation. It was possible 
 to secure the premises so that no per 
 son could enter even by the aid of false 
 keys. She asked John if he would assist 
 her that day. " In anything you wish, mad 
 am," he replied. She then directed him 
 to go to work. Staples and iron bars were 
 found in different parts of the building, with 
 which he secured the doors and windows, 
 so that they could be opened only on the 
 inside. The gate, which swung in, was se 
 cured in the same manner. She then ask 
 ed John if he was willing to leave the key 
 of the gate and the draw-bridge with her. 
 " Perhaps I may as well," said he; " for if 
 you bar the gate and let down the bridge, I 
 cannot get in myself until you let me in." 
 John handed her the keys. " When I 
 come," said he, {< I will halloo, and you must 
 let me in." This she promised to do, and 
 John departed.* 
 
 That night Melissa let down the bridge, 
 
 * Of the place where Melissa was confined, as described in the 
 foregoing nag-cs, scarce a trace now remains. By the events of 
 the revolution, the premises fell into other hands. The man 
 sion, out houses aa-J walls were torn down, the cemetery level- 
 
 9 
 
98 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 locked and barred the gate, and the doors 
 and windows of the house : she also went 
 again over all parts of the building, strictly 
 searching every place, though she was well 
 Convinced she should find nothing extraor- 
 Jinary. She then retired to her chamber, 
 seated herself at a western window, and 
 watched the slow declining sun, as it leisure 
 ly sunk behind the lofty groves. Pensive 
 twilight spread her misty mantle over the 
 landscape ; the western horizon glowed 
 with flie spangles of evening. Deepening 
 glooms advanced. The last beam of day 
 laded from the view, and the world was en 
 veloped in night. The owl hooted solemn 
 ly in the forest, and the whippoorwill sung 
 cheerfully in the garden. Innumerable 
 stars glittered in the armament, interming 
 ling their quivering lustre with the pale 
 splendours of the milky way. 
 
 Melissa did not retire from the window 
 until late ; she then shut it and withdrew 
 within the room. She determined not to 
 go to bed that night. If she was to be vi 
 sited by beings, material or immaterial, she 
 chose not again to encounter them in dark 
 ness, or to be surprised when she was a- 
 
 Icd, the moat filled up; the locuotsand elm trees were cut down; 
 all obstructions were removed, and the yard and garden con- 
 vort-jd into a beautiful meadow. An elegant farm-house is now 
 erectinl 0:1 the place where John s hut then stood and tho 
 ucigiiriouriiGoJ is thinly settled. 
 
ALONZ-O AND MELISSA. 99 
 
 sleep. But why should she fear ? She 
 kimv of none she had displeased except he* 
 father, her aunt and Beauman. If by any 
 of those the late terrifying scenes had been 
 wrought, she had now effectually precluded 
 a recurrence thereof, for she was well con 
 vinced that no human being could now en 
 ter the enclosure without her permission. 
 But if supernatural agents had been the ac 
 tors, what had she to fear from them? The 
 night passed away without any alarming 
 circumstances, and when daylight appeared 
 she flung herself upon the bed, and slept 
 until the morning was considerably advan 
 ced. She now felt convinced that her for 
 mer conjectures were right ; that it was 
 her auntj her father* or botb, who ha.l cau 
 sed the alarming sounds she had heard, a 
 repetition of which had only been prevent 
 ed by the precautions she had taken. 
 
 When she awoke, the horizon was ovei- 
 clouded, and it began to rain. It continu 
 ed to rain until towards evening, when it 
 cleared away. She w<ent to the gate, and 
 found all things as she had left them : She 
 returned, fastened the doors as usual, ex 
 amined all parts of the house, and again went 
 ing ^ ery drowsy, and convinced that she 
 Ivus safe and secure, she went to bed ; leav- 
 
100 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 ing, however, two candles burning in the 
 room. As she, for two nights, had been de 
 prived of her usual rest, she soon fell into a 
 slumber. 
 
 She had not long been asleep before she 
 was suddenly aroused by the apparent re 
 port of a pistol, seemingly discharged close 
 to her heed. Awakened so instantaneous 
 ly, her recollection, for a time, was confu 
 sed and imperfect. She was only sensible 
 of a strong, sulphureous scent : but she soon 
 remembered that she had left two candles 
 burning, and every object was now shroud 
 ed in darkness. This alarmed her exceed 
 ingly. What could have become of the 
 candles ? They must have been blown out 
 or taken away. Whatfwas the sound she 
 
 had just heard ? What the sulphureous 
 
 stench which had pervaded the room ? 
 
 While she was thus musing in perplexity, a 
 broad flash like lightning, transiently iliu- 
 minated the chamber, followed by a long, 
 loud, and deep roar, which seemed to sl^ake 
 the building to its centre. It did not ap 
 pear like thunder ; the sounds seemed to 
 fee in the rooms directly over her head. 
 Perhaps, however, it was thunder. 
 
 Perhaps a preceding clap had struck near 
 the building, broken the windows, put out 
 the lights, and filled the house with the 
 electric effluvium. She listened for a rep- 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 101 
 
 /etition of the thunder hut a very different 
 sound soon grated on her ear. A hollow, 
 horrible groan echoed through her apart 
 ment, passing off in a faint dying murmur. 
 It was evident that the groan proceeded 
 from some person in the chamber. Melis- 
 sa raised herself up in the bed ; a tall white 
 form moved from the upper end of the room, 
 glided slowly by her bed, and seemed to 
 pass off near the foot. She then heard the 
 doors below alternately open and shut, 
 slapping furiously, and in quick succession, 
 followed by violent noises in the rooms be 
 low, like the falling of heavy bodies and 
 (he crash of furniture. Clamorous voices 
 succeeded, among which she could distin 
 guish boisterous menaces and threatenings, 
 and the plaintive tone of expostulation. 
 A momentary silence ensued, when the cry 
 of Murder ! murder ! murder ! /" echoed 
 through the building, followed by the re 
 port of a pistol, and shortly after, the groans 
 of a person apparently in the agonies of 
 death, which grew fainter and fainter un 
 til it died away in a seemingly expiring 
 gasp. A dead silence prevailed for a few 
 minutes, to v/hich a loud hoarse peal of 
 ghastly laughter succeeded then again all 
 was soil. But she soon heard heavy foot 
 steps ascending the stairs to her chamber 
 door. It was now she became terrified and 
 . 9* 
 
102 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 alarmed beyond any former example. 
 
 " Gracious heaven, defend me ! she exclaim 
 ed; what am I coming to !" Knowing 
 that every avenue to the enclosure was ef 
 fectually secured ; knowing that all the 
 doors and windows of the house* as also that 
 which opened into her chamber, were fast 
 locked, strictly bolted and barred ; a-nd 
 knowing that all the keys were in her pos 
 session, she could not entertain the least 
 doubt but the noises sha had heard were 
 produced by supernatural beings, and, she 
 had reason to believe, of the most mischiev 
 ous nature. She was now convinced that 
 her father or her aunt could have no agency in 
 the business. She even wished her anr-:t 
 had returned. It must be exceedingly dif 
 ficult to cross the moat, as the draw bridge 
 was up ; it must be still more difficult to 
 surpass the wall of the enclosure ; it was 
 impossible for any human being to enter 
 the house, and still more impossible to en 
 ter her chamber. 
 
 While she lay thus ruminating in ex 
 treme agitation, momentarily expecting to 
 hare her ears assailed with some terrific 
 sound, a pale light dimly illuminated her 
 chamber. It grew brighter. She raised 
 nerseif up to look towards the door ; the 
 first object which met her eye, was a most 
 horrible form, standing at a little distance 
 
LONZO AND MELISSA. 103 
 
 from her bedside. Its appearance was tall 
 nd robust, wrapped in a tattered white 
 /obe, spotted with blood. The hair of ita 
 head was matted with clotted gore. A 
 deep wound appeared to have pierced its 
 breast, from which fresh blood flowed down 
 its garment. Its pale face was gashed and 
 gory ! its eyes fixed, glazed, and glaring; 
 its li-ps open, its teeth set, and in its hand 
 was a bloody dagger. 
 
 Melissa, uttering a shriek of terror, " 
 shrunk into the bed, and in an instant the 
 room was involved in pitchy darkness. A 
 freezing ague seized her limbs, and drops of 
 chilling sweat stood upon her face. Imme 
 diately a horrid hoarse voice burst from a- 
 midst the gloom of her apartment, il Begone! 
 begone from this house /" The bed on 
 which she lay then seemed to be agitated, 
 and directly she perceived some person 
 crawling on its foot. Every consideration, 
 except present safety, was relinquished; in 
 stantaneously she sprang from the bed to 
 the floor with convulsed grasp, seized the 
 candle, flew to the fire and lighted it. She 
 gazed wildly around the room no new ob 
 ject was visible. With timid step she ap 
 proached the bed ; she strictly searched all 
 around and under it, but nothing strange 
 could be found. A thought darted into her 
 mind to leave the house immediately and c 
 
104 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 fly to John s : this was easy, as the keys of 
 the gate and draw-bridge were in her pos 
 session. She stopped not to reconsider her 
 determination, but seizing the keys, with 
 the candle in her hand, she unlocked her 
 chambe~ door, and proceeded cautiously 
 down stairs, fearfully fasting her eyes on 
 each side, as she tremblingly advanced to 
 the outer door. She hesitated a moment. 
 To what perils was she about to expose 
 herself, by thus venturing oirt at the dead 
 of the night, and proceeding such a distance 
 alone ? Her situation she thought could 
 become no more hazardous, and she was a- 
 bout to unbar the door, when she was alar 
 med by a deep, hollow sigh. She looked 
 around and saw, stretched on one side of 
 the hall, the same ghastly form which had 
 so recently appeared standing by her bed 
 side. The same haggard countenance, the 
 same awful appearance of murderous death. 
 A fairitness came upon her; she turned to 
 flee to her chamber the candle dropped 
 from her trembling hand, and she was 
 shrouded in impenetrable darkness. She 
 groped to find the stairs : as she came near 
 their foot, a black object, apparently in hu 
 man shape, stood before her, with eyes 
 which seemed to burn like coals of fire, and 
 led ilames issuing from its mouth. As she 
 stood fixed a moment in inexpressible tre- 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 105 
 
 pidation, a large ball of fire rolled along the 
 hall, towards the door, and burst with an 
 explosion which seemed to rock the build 
 ing to its deepest foundation. Melissa clo 
 sed her eyes and sunk senseless to the floor. 
 She revived and got to her chamber, she 
 hardly knew how ; locked her door, lighted 
 another candle, and after again searching 
 the room, flung herself into a chair, in a 
 state of mind which almost deprived her 
 of reason. 
 
 Daylight soon appeared, and the cheerful 
 sun darting its enlivening rays through the 
 crevices and windows of the antique man 
 sion, recovered her exhausted spirits, and 
 dissipated, in some degree, the terrors which 
 hovered about her mind. She endeavour 
 ed to reason coolly on the eve.Ms of the 
 past night, but reason could not elucidate 
 them. Not the least noise had been heard 
 since she last returned to her chamber : 
 she therefore expected to discover no traits 
 which might tend to a disclosure of those 
 mysteries. She consoled .herself only with 
 a fixed determination to leave the desolate 
 mansion. Should John come there that 
 day, he might be prevailed on to permit 
 her to remain at her aunt s apartment in 
 his house until her aunt should return. If 
 he should not come before sunset/she resolv 
 ed to leave the mansion and proceed there. 
 
106 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 She took some refreshment and went 
 down stairs : she found the doors and win 
 dows all fast as she had left them. She 
 then again searched every room in the 
 house, both above and below, and the cel 
 lar ; but she discovered no appearance of 
 there having been any person there. Not 
 the smallest article was displaced ; every 
 thing appeared as it had formerly been. 
 She then went to the gate; it was locked 
 as usual, and the draw-bridge was up. She 
 again traversed the circuit of the wall, but 
 found no alteration, or any place where it 
 was possible the enclosure might be enter 
 ed. Again she visited the outer buildings, 
 and even entered the cemetery, but disco 
 vered not the least circumstance which 
 could conduce to explain the surprising 
 transactions of the preceding night. She 
 however returned to her room in a more 
 composed frame of spirit, confident that she 
 should not remain alone another night in that 
 gloomy, desolate, and dangerous solitude. 
 
 Towards evening Melissa took her usual 
 walk around the enclosure. It was that 
 season of the year when weary summer is 
 lapsing into the arms of fallow autumn. 
 The day had been warm, and the light gales 
 bore revigorating coolness on their wings as 
 they tremulously agitated the foliage of the 
 western forest, or fluttered among the 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA 107 , 
 
 "branches of the trees surrounding the man 
 sion. The green splendours of spring had 
 begun to fade into a yellow lustre, the 
 flowery verdure of the fields was changed 
 to a russet hue. A robin chirped on a neigh 
 bouring oak, a wren chattered beneath, 
 swallows twittered around the decayed buil 
 dings, the ludicrous mocking bird sun 
 sportively from the top of the highest elm 
 and the surrounding groves rung with vary 
 ing, artless melody; while deep in tht 
 adjacent wilderness the woodcock, hammer 
 ing on some dry and blasted trees, filled the 
 woods with reverberant echoes. The 
 Sound was only ruffled by the lingering 
 breezes, as they idly wandered over its s-ur- 
 face. Long Island, now in possession of 
 the British troops, was thinly enveloped in 
 smoky vapour ; scattered along its shores 
 lay the numerous small craft and larger 
 ships of the hostile fleet. A few skiffs were 
 passing and rejassing the Soundj and seve 
 ral American g^n-boats lay off a point which 
 jutted out fro n the main land, far to the 
 eastward. Numberless summer insects 
 mingled their discordant strains amidst the 
 weedy herbage. A heavy black clou.i was 
 rising in the north west, which seemed to 
 portend a shower, as the sonorous* distant 
 thunder was at long intervals distinctly 
 heard. & 
 
108 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 Melissa walked around the yard, contem 
 plating the varying beauties of the scene : 
 the images of departed joys the days when 
 Alonzo had participated with her in admir 
 ing the splendours of rural prospects, raised 
 in her bosom the sigh of deep regret. She 
 entered the garden and traversed the al 
 leys, now overgrown with weeds and tufted 
 knot-grass. The flowerbeds were choaked 
 with the low running bramble and tangling 
 five-finger; tall, rank rushes, mullens and 
 daisies, had usurped the empire of the 
 kitchen garden. The viny arbour was bro 
 ken, and principally gone to decay; yet 
 the " lonely wild rose" blushed mournfully 
 amidst the ruins. As she passed from the 
 garden she involuntarily stopped at the ce 
 metery : she paused in serious reflection : 
 " Here, said she, in this house of gloom 
 rest, in undisturbed silence, my honomable 
 ancestors, once the active tenants of yon 
 der mansion. Then, throughout these soli 
 tary demesnes, the busy occurrences of life 
 glided in cheerful circles. Then, these now 
 moss-clad alleys, and this wild weedy gar 
 den, were the resort of the fashionable and 
 the gay. Then, evening music floated over 
 the fields, while yonder halls and apart 
 ments shone in brilliant illumination. Now 
 all is sad, solitary and dreary, the haunt of 
 spirits and spectres of nameless terror. All 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 109 
 
 that now remains of the head that formed, 
 the hand that executed, and the bosom that 
 relished this once happy scenery, is now, 
 alas, only a heap of dust." 
 
 She seated herself on a little hillock, un 
 der a weeping willow, which stood near the 
 cemetery, and watched the rising shower, 
 which ascended in gloomy pomp, half hid 
 den behind the western groves, shrouding 
 the low sun in black vapour, while coming 
 thunders more nearly and more awfully rol 
 led. The shrieking night hawk* soared 
 high into the air, mingling witii the lurid 
 van of the approaching storm, which widen 
 ing, nore rapidly advanced, until "the heav 
 ens were arrayed in blackness." 
 
 The lightning broader and brighter flash 
 es, hurling down its forky streaming bolts 
 far in the wilderness, its flaming path fol 
 lowed by the vollying artillery of the skies. 
 Now bending its long, crinkling spires over 
 the vallies, now glimmering along the sum 
 mit of the hills. Convolving clouds pour 
 ed smoky volumes through the expan 
 sion ; a deep, hollow, distant roar, announ 
 ced the approach of " summoned winds." 
 The whole forest bowed in awful grandeur, 
 as from its dark bosom rushed the impetu 
 ous hurricane, twisting off, or tearing up 
 
 "Supposed tp be the male uhippoonvil! : well known in th 
 staCoa, and answering to the above peculiarity. 
 
 10 
 
110 ALONZO A.ND MELISSA.. 
 
 by the roots, the stoutest trees, whirling 
 the heaviest branches through the air with 
 irresistible fury. It dashed upon the sea, 
 tossed it into irregular mountains, or ming- 
 j led its white foamy spray with the gloom 
 of the iurbid skies. Slant-wise, the large 
 heavy drops of rain began to descend. Me 
 lissa hastened to the mansion ; as she reach 
 ed the door a very brilliant flash of light 
 ning, accompanied by a tremendous explo 
 sion, alarmed her. A thunder bolt had en 
 tered a large elm tree within the enclosure, 
 and with a horrible crash, had shivered it 
 from top to bottom. She unlocked the 
 door and hurried to her chamber. Deep 
 night now filled the atmosphere; the raiu 
 poured in torrents, the wind rocked the 
 building, and bellowed in the adjacent 
 groves : the sea raged and roared, fierce 
 lightnings rent the heavens, alternately in 
 volving the world in the sheeted flame of 
 its many coloured fires; thunders rolled 
 awfully around the firmament, or burst 
 with horrid din, bounding and reverberat 
 ing among the surrounding woods, hills and 
 vallies. It seemed nothing less than the 
 crash of worlds sounding through the uni 
 verse. 
 
 Melissa walked her room, listening to the 
 wild commotion of the elements. She fear 
 ed that if the storm continued, she should 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. Ill 
 
 be compelled to pass another night in the 
 lone mansion : if so, she resolved not to 
 go to bed. She now suddenly recollected 
 that in her haste to regain her chamber, she 
 had forgotten to lock the outer door. The 
 shock she had received when the lightning 
 demolished the elm tree, was the cause of 
 this neglect. She took the candle, ran 
 hastily down, and fastened the door. As 
 she was returning, she heard footsteps, and 
 imperfectly saw the glance of something 
 coming out of an adjoining room into the 
 hall. Supposing some ghastly object was 
 approaching, she averted her eyes and flew 
 to the stairs. As she was ascending them, 
 a voice behind her exclaimed, " Gracious 
 heaven ! Melissa !" The voice agitated 
 her frame with a confused, sympathetic 
 sensation. She turned, fixed her eyes upon 
 the person who had spoken ; unconnected 
 ideas floated a moment in her imagination : 
 " Eternal powers ! she cried, it is Alonzo." 
 Alonzo and Melissa were equally surpri 
 sed at so unexpected a meeting. They 
 could scarcely credit their own senses. 
 How he had discovered her solitude what 
 led him to that lonely place how he had 
 got over the wall were queries which first 
 arose in her mind. He likewise could not 
 conceive by what miracle he. should find 
 her in a remote, desolate building, which 
 
112 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 h-e had supposed to be uninhabited. With 
 rapture he took her trembling hand; tears 
 of joy ehoaked their utterance. "You are 
 wet, Alonzo, said Melissa at length ; we 
 will go up to my chamber ; I have a fire 
 there, where you can dry your clothes." 
 " Your chamber; replied Alonzo , who 
 then inhabits this house?" " No one ex 
 cept myself, she answered; I am here a 
 lone, Alonzo." " Alone ! he exclaimed 
 here alone, Melissa! Good God! tell m 
 how why by what means are you here a- 
 lone ?" " Let us go up to my chamber, 
 she replied, and 1 will tell you all." 
 
 He followed her to her apartment and 
 seated himself by the fire. a You want re 
 freshment," said Melissa which was in 
 deed the case, as he had been long without 
 any, and was wet, hungry and weary. 
 
 She immediately se-t about preparing tea, 
 and soon had it ready, and a comfortable 
 repast was spread for his entertainment. 
 And now, reader, if thou art a_ child of na 
 ture, if thy bosom is susceptible of refined 
 sensibility, contemplate for a moment, Me 
 lissa and Alonzo seated at the same table, a 
 table prepared by her own hand, in a lone 
 ly mansion, separated from society, and no 
 one to interrupt them. After innumerable 
 difficulties, troubles and perplexities ; after 
 Vexing embarrassments, and a cruel scparft- 
 
AL03SZO AND MELISSA. 113 
 
 tion, they were once more together, and 
 for some time every other consideration 
 was lost. The violence of the storm had 
 not abated. The lightning still blazed, the 
 thunder bellowed, the wind roared, the sea 
 raged, the rain poured, mingled with heavy 
 hail : Alonzo and Melissa heard a little of it. 
 She told him all that had happened to her 
 since they parted, except the strange noises 
 and awful sights which had terrified her 
 during her confinement in that solitary 
 building : this she considered unnecessary 
 and untimely, in her present situation. 
 
 Alonzo informed her, that as soon as he 
 had learned the manner in which she had 
 been sent away, he left the house of Vin 
 cent and went to her father s to see if he 
 could not find out by some of the domes 
 tics what course heraunthad taken. None 
 of them knew any thing about it. He did 
 not put himself in the way of her father, as 
 he was apprehensive of ill treatment there 
 by. He then went to several places among 
 the relatives of the family where he had 
 heretofore visited with Melissa, most of 
 whom received him with a cautious cold 
 ness. At length he came to the house of 
 Mr. Simpson, the gentleman to whose seat 
 Alonzo was once driven by a shower, where 
 he accidentally fo-und Melissa on a visit, as 
 mentioned before. Here he was admitted 
 10* G 
 
114 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 with the ardour of friendship. They had 
 heard his story : Melissa had kept up a cor 
 respondence with one of the young ladies ; 
 they were therefore informed of all, except 
 Melissa s removal from her father s house : 
 of this they knew nothing until told there 
 of by Alonzo. 
 
 " I am surprised at the conduct of my 
 kinsman, said Mr. Simpson ; for though his 
 determinations are, like the laws of the 
 Medes and Persians, unalterable, yet I have 
 ever believed that the welfare of his chil 
 dren lay nearest his heart. In the present 
 instance he is certainly pursuing a mista 
 ken policy. I will go and see him." Ht 
 then ordered his horse, desiring Alonzo to 
 remain at his house until he returned. 
 
 Alonzo was treated with the most friend 
 ly politeness by the family ; he found that 
 they were deeply interested in his favour 
 and the welfare of Melissa. At evening 
 Mr. Simpson returned. " It is in vain, said 
 he, to reason with my kinsman ; he is de 
 termined that his daughter shall marry your 
 rival. He will not even inform me to what 
 piace he has sen Melissa, Her aunt how 
 ever is with her, and they u.ust be at the 
 residence of som \ of the fa:Lily relatives. 
 I will dispatch m/ r^m W.iiiam among our 
 connections, to see it he can find her out. 7 
 
 The next morning William departed, and 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 115 
 
 was gone two days ; but could not obtain 
 the least intelligence either of Melissa or 
 her aunt, although he had been the rounds 
 among the relations of the family. 
 
 "There is some mystery in this affair, 
 said Mr. Simpson. I am very little ac 
 quainted with Melissa s aunt. I have un 
 derstood that she draws a decent support 
 from her patrimonial resources, which, k is 
 said, are pretty large, and that she resides 
 alternately with her different relatives. I 
 have understood also that my kinsman ex 
 pects her fortune to come into his family, 
 in case she never marries, which, in all 
 probability, she now will not, and that she, 
 in consequence, holds considerable influ 
 ence over him. It is not possible but that 
 Melissa is yet concealed at some place of 
 her aunt s residence, and that the family- 
 are in the secret. I think it cannot be 
 long before they will disclose themselves : 
 You, Alonzo, are welcome to make my 
 house your home ; and if Melissa can be 
 found, she shall be treated as my daugh 
 ter." 
 
 Alonzo thanked him for his friendship 
 and fatherly kindness. " I must continue, 
 said he, my researches for Melissa ; the re 
 sult you shall know." 
 
 He then departed, and travelled through 
 the neighbouring villages and adjoining 
 
116 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 neighbourhoods, making, at almost every 
 house, such enquiries as he considered ne 
 cessary on the occasion. He at length ar 
 rived at the inn in the last little village 
 where Melissa and her aunt had stopped 
 the day they came to the mansion. Here 
 the inn-keeper informed him that two La 
 dies, answering his description, had been at 
 his house : he named the time, which was 
 the day in which Melissa, with her aunt, 
 left her father s house. The inn-keeper 
 told him that they purchased some articles 
 in the village, and drove off to the south. 
 Alonzo then traversed the country adj-oin- 
 iug the Sound, far to the westward, and 
 was returning eastward, when he was over 
 taken by the shower. No house being 
 within sight, be betook himself to the for 
 est for shelter. From a little hilly glade 
 in the wilderness, he discovered the lonely 
 mansion which, from its appearance, he ve 
 ry naturally supposed to be uninhabited. 
 The tempest soon becoming severe, he 
 thought he would endeavour to reach the 
 Liuse. 
 
 When he arrived at the moat, he found 
 jc impossible to cross it, or ascend the wall ; 
 and he stood in momentary jeopardy o.f his 
 life, from the falling timber, some of which 
 was broken and torn up by the tornado, and 
 some splintered by the fiery bolts of hea- 
 
ALONZO AND MEL IS A 117 
 
 ven. At length a large tree, which stood 
 near him, on the verge of the moat, or ra 
 ther in that place, was hurled from its foun 
 dation, and fell, with a hideous crash, across 
 the moat, its top lodging on the wall. He 
 scrambled up on the truck, and made his 
 way on the wall. By the incessant glare 
 of lightning he was able to see distinctly. 
 The top of the tree was partly broken by 
 the for 2e of its fall, and hung down the otlh- 
 er side of the wall. By these branches he 
 let himself down into the yard, proceeded 
 to the house, found the door open, which 
 Melissa had left in her fright, and entered 
 into one of the rooms, where he proposed 
 to stay until at least the shower was over, 
 still supposing the house unoccupied, until 
 the noise of locking the door, and the light 
 of the candle, drew him from the room, 
 when, to his infinite surprise, he discovered 
 Melissa, as before related. 
 
 Melissa listened to Alonzo with varied e- 
 mction. The fixed obduracy of her father, 
 the generous conduct ot the Simpsons, the 
 constancy of Abnzo, filled her heart with 
 inexpressible sensations. She foresaw that 
 
 her Sufferings were not shortly to end 
 
 she knew not when her sorrows were to 
 close. 
 
 Alonzo was shocked at the alteration 
 which appeared in the features of Melissa. 
 
118 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 The rose had faded from her cheek, except 
 when it was transiently suffused with a hec 
 tic Hush. A livid paleness sat upon her 
 countenance, and her fine form w r as rapidly 
 wasting. It was easy to be foreseen that 
 the grief which preyed upon her heart 
 would soon destroy her, unless speedily al 
 layed. 
 
 The storm had now passed into the re 
 gions of the east ; the wind and rain had 
 ceased, the lightning more unfrequendy 
 flashed, and the thunder rolled at a dis 
 tance. The hours passed hastily ; day 
 would soon appear. Hitherto they had 
 been absorbed in the present moment; it 
 was time to think of the future. After the 
 troubles they had experienced ; after so 
 fortunate a meeting, they could not endure 
 the idea of another and immediate separa 
 tion. And yet immediately separated they 
 must be. It would not be safe for Alonzo 
 to stay even until the rising sun, unless he 
 was concealed ; and of what use conld it 
 be for him to remain there in conceal 
 ment? 
 
 In this dilemma there was but one expe 
 dient. "Suffer me, said Alonzo to Melissa, 
 to remove you from this solitary confine 
 ment. Your health is impaired. To you, 
 your father is no more a father; he has 
 steeled his bosom to paternal affection ; he 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 119 
 
 has banished you from his house, placed 
 you under the tyranny of others, and confi 
 ned you in a lonely, desolate dwelling, far 
 from the sweets of^ society; and this only 
 because you cannot heedlessly renounce a 
 most solemn contract, formed under his 
 eye, and sanctioned by his immediate con 
 sent and approbation. Pardon me, Melissa, 
 I would not censure your father ; but per 
 mit me to say, that after such treatment, 
 you are absolved from implicit obedience to 
 his rigorous, cruel, and stern commands. 
 It will therefore be considered a duty you 
 owe to your preservation, if you surfer me 
 to remove you from the tyrannical severity 
 with which you are oppressed. 7 
 
 Melissa sighed, wiping a tear which fell 
 from her eye. "Unqualified obedience to 
 my parents, said she, I have ever consider 
 ed the first of duties, and have religiously 
 
 practised thereon but where, Alonzo, 
 
 would you remove me?" "To any place 
 you shall appoint," he answered. "I have 
 no where to go," she replied. 
 
 If you will allow me to name the place, 
 said he, I will mention Mr. Simpson s. He 
 will espouse your cause and be a father to 
 you, and, if conciliation is possible, will re 
 concile you to your father. This can be 
 done without my being known to have any 
 agency in the business. It can seem as if 
 
120 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 Mr. Simpson had found you out. He will 
 go any just lengths to serve us. It was his 
 desire, >f you could be found, to have you 
 brought to his house, ^There y ou can re " 
 main either in secret or openly, as you shall 
 choose. Be governed by me in this, Me 
 lissa, and in all things I will obey you 
 thereafter. I will then submit to the fu 
 ture events of fate ; but I cannot Melissa 
 I cannot leave you in this doleful place." 
 
 Melissa arose and walked the room in 
 extreme agitation. What could she do ? 
 She had, indeed, determined to leave the 
 house, for reasons which Alonzo knew no 
 thing of. But should she leave it in the 
 way she had proposed, she was not sure but 
 she would be immediately remanded back, 
 more strictly guarded, and more severely 
 treated. To continue there, under existing 
 circumstances, would be impossible, long to 
 exist. She therefore came to a determination 
 " I will go, she said, to Mr. Simpson s." 
 
 It was then agreed that Alonzo should 
 proceed to Vincent s, interest them in the 
 plan, procure a carriage, and return at elev 
 en o clock the nexi night. Melissa was 
 to have the draw-bridge down, and the gate 
 open. If John should come to the house 
 the succeeding day, she would persuade 
 him to let her still keep the keys. But it 
 was possible her aunt might return. This 
 
ALO.NZO AND JIELISSA. 121 
 
 would render the execution of the scheme 
 more hazardous and difficult. A signal was 
 therefore agreed on ; if her aunt should be 
 there, a candle was to be placed at the 
 window fronting the gate, in the room 
 above ; if not, it was to be placed against a 
 similar window in the room beluw. In the 
 first case Alonzo was to rap loudly at the 
 door. Melissa was to run down, under pre 
 tence of seeing who was there, fly with A- 
 lonzo to the carriage, and leave her aunt 
 to scrape acquaintance with the ghosts and 
 goblins of the old mansion. For even if 
 her aunt should return, which was extreme 
 ly doubtful, she thought she could contrive 
 to let down the bridge and unlock the gate 
 in the evening without her knowledge. At 
 any rate she was determined not to let the 
 keys go out of tier hands, unless they were 
 forced from her, until she had escaped from 
 that horrid and dreary place. 
 
 Daylight began to break from the east, 
 and Alonzo prepared to depart. Melissa 
 accompanied him to the gate and the 
 bridge, which was let down: he passed 
 over, and she slowly withdrew, both fre 
 quently turning to look back. When she 
 came to the gate, she stopped; Alonzo 
 stopped also. She waved a white handker 
 chief she had in her hand, and Alonzo bow 
 ed in answer to the sign. She then leis- 
 11 
 
22 ALONZO AND MELISSA, 
 
 urely entered and slowly shut the gate. 
 Alorizo could not forbear climbing up into 
 a tree to catch another glimpse of her as 
 she passed up the avenue. With lingering 
 step he saw her move along, soon receding 
 from his view in the gray twilight of misty 
 morning. He then descended, and hastily 
 proceeded on his journey. 
 
 Traits of glory now painted the eastern 
 skies. The glittering day-star, having un 
 barred the portals of light, began to trans 
 mit its retrocessive lustre. Thin scuds flew 
 swiftly over the moon s decrescent form. 
 Low, hollow winds, murmured among the 
 bushes, or brushed the limpid drops from 
 intermingling foliage. The fire-fly* sunk, 
 feebly twinkling, amidst the herbage of the 
 fields. The dusky shadows of night fled to 
 the deep glens, and rocky caverns of the 
 wilderness. The American lark soared high 
 in the air, consecrating its matin lay to 
 morn s approaching splendours. The wood 
 lands began to ring with native melody 
 the forest tops, on high mountains, caught 
 the sun s first ray, which, widening and ex 
 tending, soon gem d the landscape with 
 brilliants of a thousand various cues. 
 
 As Alonzo came out of the fields near 
 the road, he saw two persons passing in an 
 open chair. They suddenly stopped, earn- 
 
 The American lainpyris, vulgarly called the lightning-bug. 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 123 
 
 estly gazing at him. They were wrapped 
 in long riding cloaks, and it could not be 
 distinguished from their dress whether they 
 were men or women. He stood not to no 
 tice them, but made the best of his way to 
 Vincent s, where he arrived about noon. 
 Rejoiced to find that he had discovered 
 Melissa, they applauded the plan of her re 
 moval, and assisted him in obtaining a car 
 nage. A sedan was procured, and he sat 
 out to return, promising to see Vincent a- 
 gain, as soon as he had removed Melissa to 
 Mr. Sampson s. He made such use of his 
 time as to arrive at the mansion at the 
 hour appointed. He found the draw-bridge 
 down, the gate open, and saw, as had been 
 agreed upon, the light at the lower window, 
 glimmering through the branches of trees. 
 He was therefore assured that Melissa was 
 alone. His heart beat ; a joyful tremor 
 seized his frame ; Melissa was soon to be 
 under his care, for a short time at least. 
 He drove up to the house, sprang out of 
 the carnage, and fastened his horse to a lo 
 cust tiee: The door was open- he went 
 in, flew lightly up stairs, entered her cham 
 ber Melissa was not there ! A small fire 
 was blazing on the hearth, a candle was 
 burning on the table. He stood petrified 
 with amazement, then gazed around in 
 anxious solicitude. What could have be- 
 
124 ALONZO AND MELISSA 
 
 come of her? It was impossible, he tho t, 
 but that sho must still be there.. 
 
 Had she been removed by fraud or force, 
 the signal candle would not have been at 
 the window. Perhaps, in a freakish mo 
 ment, she had concealed herself for no 
 other purpose than to cause him a little 
 perplexity. He therefore took thp candle 
 and searched every corner of the chamber, 
 and every room of the house, not even mis 
 sing the garret and the cellar. He then 
 placed the candle in a lantern, and went 
 out. and examined the out-houses : he next 
 went round the garden and the yard, strict 
 ly exploring and investigating every place; 
 but he found her net. He repeatedly and 
 loudly called her by name; he was answered 
 only by the solitary echoes of the wilderness. 
 
 Again he returned to the house, traversed 
 the rooms, there also calling on the name 
 of Melissa : his voice reverberated from the 
 walls, dying away in solemn murmurs in the 
 distant empty apartments. Thus did he 
 continue his anxious scrutiny, alternately, 
 in the house and the enclosure, until day-- 
 but no traces could be discovered, nothing 
 seen or heard of Melissa. What had be 
 come of her he could not form the most 
 distant conjecture. Nothing was removed 
 from the house ; the beds, the chairs, the 
 table, all the furniture remained in the 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 125 
 
 same condition as when he was there the 
 night before ; the candle, as had been a- 
 greed upon, was at the window, and a- 
 nother W3.s burning on the table : it was 
 therefore evident that she could not have 
 been long gone when he arrived. By what 
 means she had thus suddenly disappeared, 
 was a most deep and inscrutable mystery. 
 
 When the sun had arisen, he once more 
 repeated his inquisitive search, but with 
 the same effect. He then, in extreme vex 
 ation and disappointment, flung himself in 
 to the sedan, and drove from the mansion. 
 Frequently did he look back at the build 
 ing, anxiously did he scrutinize every sur 
 rounding and receding object. A thrill of 
 pensive recollection vibrated through his 
 frame as he passed the gate, arid the keen 
 agonizing pangs of blasted hope, pierced his 
 heart, as his carriage rolled over the bridge. 
 
 Once more he cast a "longing, lingering 
 look" upon the premises behind, sacred on 
 ly for the treasure they lately possessed ; 
 then sunk backward in his seat, and was 
 dragged slowly away. 
 
 Alonzo had understood from Melissa, that 
 John s hut was situated about one mile 
 liorth from the mansion where she had been 
 confined. When he came out near the 
 road, he left his horse and carriage, after 
 securing them, and went in search of it. 
 11* 
 
126 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 He soon discovered it, and knew it from 
 the description given thereof by Melissa. 
 He went up and knocked at the door, 
 which was opened by John, whom Alonzo 
 also knew, from the portrait Melissa had 
 drawn of him. 
 
 John started in amazement. * Under 
 standing, said Alonzo, that you have the 
 charge of -the old mansion in yonder field, I 
 have come to know if you can inform me 
 what has become of the young lady who has 
 been confined there." 
 
 "Confined ! answered John, I did not 
 know she was confined." 
 
 Recollecting himself, "I mean the young 
 lady who has lately resided theie with her 
 aunt," replied Alonzo. 
 
 "She was there last, night, answered 
 John ; her aunt is gone into the country 
 and has not returned." 
 
 Aloazo then told him the situation of the 
 mansion, and that she was not there. John 
 informed him that she was there about sun 
 set, and according to her request he had 
 left the keys of the gate and bridge with 
 her : he desired Alonzo to tarry there un 
 til he ran to the mansion. 
 
 lie returned in about half an hour. "She 
 is gone, sure enough, said John ; but how, 
 or where, it is impossible for me io guess." 
 Convinced that he knew nothing of the 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 127 
 
 matter, Alonzo left him and returned to 
 Vincent s. 
 
 Vincent and his lady were much surpris 
 ed at Alonzo s account of Melissa s sudden 
 disappea ranee, and they wished to ascer 
 tain whether her father s family knew any 
 thing of the circumstance. Social inter 
 course had become suspended between the 
 families of Vincent and Melissa s father, as 
 the latter had taxed the former of improp 
 erly endeavouring to promote the views of 
 Alonzo. They therefore procured a neigh 
 bouring woman to visit Melissa s mother, 
 to see if any information could be obtained 
 concerning Melissa; but the old lady had 
 heard nothing of her since her departure 
 with her aunt, who had never yet returned. 
 Alonzo left Vincent s and went to Mr. 
 Simpson s. He told them all that had hap 
 pened since he was there, of which, before, 
 they had heard nothing. At the houses of 
 Mr. Simpson and Vincent he resided some 
 time, while they made the most dilligent 
 search to discover Melissa; but nothing 
 could be learned of her fate. 
 
 Alonzo then travelled into various parts 
 of the country, making such enquiries as 
 caution dictated of all whtfm he thought 
 likely to give him information; but he 
 found none who could give him the least 
 intelligence of his lost Melissa. 
 
128 ALOXZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 In the course of his wanderings he pass 
 ed near the oJd mansion house where Me 
 lissa had been confined, lie felt an incli 
 nation once more to visit it: he proceeded 
 over tiie bridge, which was down, but he 
 found the gate locked. He therefore hur 
 ried back and went to John s, whom he 
 found at home. On enquiring of John whe 
 ther he had yet heard any tiling of the 
 young lady and her aunt; "All I know of 
 the matter, said John, is, that two days af 
 ter you were here, her aunt came back with 
 a strange gentleman, and ordered me to go 
 and fetch the furniture away from the room 
 they had occupied in the old mansion. I 
 asked her what had become of young ma 
 dam. She told me that young madam had 
 behaved very indiscreetly, and she found 
 fault with me for leaving the kevs in her 
 possession, though I did not know that any 
 harm could arise from it. From the dis 
 course which my wife and I afterwards 
 overheard between madam and the stiange 
 gentleman, I understood that young madam 
 had been sent to reside with some friend or 
 relation at a ;reat distance, because her 
 father wanted her to marry a man, and she 
 wishes to marry somebody else." From 
 John s plain and simple narrative, Alonzo 
 concluded that Melissa had been removed 
 by her father s order, or through the agen- 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 129 
 
 cy, or instigation of her aunt. Whether his 
 visit to the old mansion had been somehow 
 discovered or suspected, or whether she was 
 removed by some preconcerted or anteced 
 ent plan, he could not conjecture. Still, the 
 situation in which he found the mansion the 
 night lie went to convey her away, left an 
 inexplicable impression on his mind. He 
 could in no manner account how the candle 
 could be placed at the window according to 
 agreement, unless it had been done by her 
 self ; and if so, how had she so suddenly 
 been conveyed away ? 
 
 Alonzo asked John where Melissa s aunt 
 now was. 
 
 "She left here yesterday morning, he an 
 swered, with the strange gentleman I men 
 tioned, on a visit to some of her friends." 
 
 "Was the strange gentleman you speak 
 of her brother?" asked Alonzo. 
 
 "I believe not, replied John, smiling and 
 winking to his wife ; I know not who he 
 was ; somebody that madam seems to like 
 pretty well." 
 
 "Have you the care of the old mansion ?" 
 said Alonzo. 
 
 "Yes, answered John, I have the keys ; 
 I will accompany you thither, perhaps you 
 would like to purchase it ; madam said yes 
 terday she thought she should sell it. 1 
 
 Aloiizo told him he had no thoarhts of 
 
130 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 purchasing, thanked him for his information, 
 and departed. 
 
 Convinced now that Melissa was remov 
 ed by the agency of her persecutors, he 
 compared the circumstances of John s re 
 lation. "She had been sent to reside with 
 some friend or relation at a great distance." 
 This great distance, he believed to be JN r e\r 
 London, and her friend or relation, her cou 
 sin, at whose house Alonzo first saw her, 
 under whose care she would be safe, and 
 Beaumaji would have an opportunity of re 
 newing his addresses. Under these impres 
 sions, Alonzo did not long hesitate what 
 course to pursue he determined to repair 
 to New London immediately. 
 
 In pursuance of his design he went to his 
 father s. He found the old gentleman with 
 his man contentedly tilling his farm, and 
 his mother cheerfully attending to house 
 hold affairs, as their narrow circumstances 
 would not admit her to keep a maid with 
 out embarrassment. Alonzo s soul sicken 
 ed on comparing the present state of his 
 family with its former affluence ; but it was 
 an unspeakable consolation to see his aged 
 parents contented and happy in their hum 
 ble situation ; and though the idea could 
 not pluck the thorn from his own bosom, yet 
 it tended temporarily to assuage the anguish 
 of the wound. 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 131 
 
 "You have been long gone, my son, said 
 his father ; I scarcely knew what had be 
 come of you. Since I have become a far 
 mer I know little of what is going forward 
 in the world ; and indeed we were never 
 happier in our lives. After stocking and 
 paying for my farm, and purchasing the re 
 quisites for my business, I have got consid 
 erable money at command : we live frugal 
 ly, and realize the blessings of health, com 
 fort, and contentment. Our only disquie 
 tude is on your account, Alonzo. "SPbur af 
 fair with Melissa, I suppose, is not so fa 
 vourable as you could wish. But despair \ 
 not, my son; hope is the harbinger of fair- \ ,/ 
 er prospects : rely on Providence, which 
 never deserts those who submissively bow 
 to the justice of its dispensations." 
 
 Unwilling to disturb the serenity of his 
 parents, Alonzo did not tell them his trou- 
 ble-i. He answered, that perhaps ail might 
 yet come right; but that, as in the present 
 state of his mind he thought a change of 
 situation might be of advantage, he asked 
 liberty of his father to travel for some little 
 time. To this his father consented, and 
 offered him a part of the money he had on 
 hand, which Alonzo refused, saying he did 
 not expect to be long gone, and his resour 
 ces had not failed him. 
 
 He then sold off his books, his horses, 
 
132 ALONZO A.ND MELISSA. 
 
 his carriages, &c. the insignia of his better 
 days, but now useless appendages, from 
 which be raised no inconsiderable sum. 
 He then took a tender and affectionate 
 leave of his parents, and set out for New 
 London. 
 
 Alonzo journeyed along with a heavy 
 heart and in an enfeebled frame of spirits. 
 Through disappointment, vexation, and the 
 fatigues he had undergone in wandering a- 
 bout, fqr, a long time, in search of Melissa, 
 despondency had seized upon his mind, and 
 indisposition upon his body. He put up 
 the first night within a few miles of New 
 Haven, and as he passed through that town 
 the next morning, the scenes of early life 
 in which he had there been an actor, mov 
 ed in melancholy succession over his mind. 
 That day he grew more indisposed ; he ex 
 perienced an unusual languor, listlessness 
 and debility ; chills, followed by hot flashes, 
 heavy pains in the head and back, with in 
 cessant arid intolerable thirst. It was near 
 night when he reached Killingsworth, where 
 he halted, as he felt unable to go farther : 
 he called for a bed, and through the night 
 was racked with severe pain, and scorched 
 with a burning fever. 
 
 The next morning he requested that the 
 physician of the town might be sent for ; 
 he came and ordered a prescription which 
 
ALCNZO AND MELISSA. 133 
 
 gave his patient some relief; and by strict 
 attention, in about ten days Alonzo was 
 able to pursue his journey. He arrived at 
 New London, and took lodgings with a pri 
 vate family of the name of Wyllis, in a re 
 tired part of the town. 
 
 The first object was to ascertain whether 
 Melissa was at her cousin s. But how 
 should he obtain tins information ? He 
 knew no person in the town except it was 
 those whom he had reason to suppose were 
 leagued against him. Should he go to the 
 house of her cousin, it might prove an inju 
 ry to her if she were there, and could an 
 swer no valuable purpose if she were not. 
 The evening after he arrived there he 
 wrapped himself up in his cloak and took 
 the street which led to the house of Melis 
 sa s cousin : he stopped when he came a- 
 gainst it, to see if he could make any dis 
 coveries. As people were passing and re- 
 passing the street, he got over into a small 
 enclosure which adjoined the house, and 
 stood under a tree, about thirty yards from 
 the house : he had not long occupied this 
 station, before a lady came to the chamber 
 window, which was riung up, opposite to 
 the place where he stood ; she leaned out, 
 looked earnestly around for a few minutes, 
 then shut it and re-tired. She had brought 
 a candle into the room, but did not brin^ it 
 12 
 
134 A.LONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 to the window; of course he could not dis 
 tinguish her features so as to identify them. 
 
 He knew it was not the wife of Melissa s 
 cousin, and from her appearance he belie 
 ved it to be Melissa. Again the window 
 opened, again the same lady appeared ; 
 she took a seat at a little distance within 
 the room ; she reciined with her head upon 
 her hand, and her arm appeared to be sup 
 ported by a stand or table. Alonzo s heart 
 beat violently ; he now had a side view of 
 her face, and was more than ever convin 
 ced that it was Melissa. Her delicate fea 
 tures, though more pale and dejected than 
 when last he saw her ; her brown hair, 
 which fell in artless circles around her lily 
 neck ; her arched eye-brows and command"- 
 ing aspect. Alonzo moved towards the. 
 house, with a design, if possible, to draw 
 her attention, and should it really prove to 
 be Melissa, to discover himself. He had 
 proceeded but a few steps before she arose> 
 shut the window, retired, and the light dis 
 appeared. Alonzo waited a considerable 
 time, but she appeared no more. Suppo 
 sing she had retired for the night, he slow 
 ly withdrew, chagrined at this disappoint 
 ment, yet pleased at the discovery he had 
 made. 
 
 The family with whom Alonzo had ta 
 ken lodgings were fashionable and respecta- 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 135 
 
 ble. The following afternoon they had ap 
 pointed to visit a friend, and they invited 
 Alonzo to accompany them. When th^y 
 lamed the family where their visit was in 
 tended, he found it to be Melissa s cousin. 
 Alonzo therefore declined going under pre 
 tence of business. He however waited 
 with anxiety for their return, hoping he 
 should be able to learn by their conversa 
 tion, whether Melissa was there or not. 
 When they returned he made some enqui 
 ries concerning the families in town, until 
 the conversation turned upon the family 
 they had visited. " The young lady who 
 resides there, said Mrs. W T yllis, is undoubt 
 edly in a confirmed decline ; she will never 
 recover." 
 
 Alonzo started, deeply agitated. " Who 
 is the young lady ?" he asked. " She if 
 sister to the gentleman s wife where we vis 
 ited, answered Mr. Wyllis; her father 
 lives in "Newport, and she has come here 
 for her health." " Do you not think, said 
 Mrs. Wyllis, that she resemfrles their cou 
 sin Melissa, who resided there some time 
 ago?" u Very much indeed, replied her 
 husband, oiily she is not quite so handsome." 
 
 Again was Alonzo disappointed, and again 
 did lie experience a melancholy pleasure : 
 \e had the last night hoped that he had 
 Discovered Melissa ; but to find her in a 
 
136 ALONZO AND MELISSA, 
 
 hopeless decline, was worse than that she 
 should remain undiscovered. 
 
 4 " It is reported, said Mrs. Wyllis, -that 
 Melissa has been upon the verge of matri 
 mony, but that the treaty was somehow- 
 broken off; perhaps Beauman will renew 
 his addresses again, should this be the case." 
 " Beauman has other business besides ad 
 dressing the ladies, answered Mr. Wyllis. 
 He has marched to the lines near New- 
 York with his new raised company of vol 
 unteers."* 
 
 From this discourse, Alonzo was convinc 
 ed that Melissa was not the person he had 
 seen at her cousin s the preceding evening, 
 and that she was not there. He also found 
 that Beauman was not in town. Where to 
 search next, or what course to pursue, he 
 was at a loss to determine. 
 
 The next morning he rose early and wan 
 dered about the towp. As he passed by 
 the house of Melissa s cousin, he saw the 
 lady, who had appeared at the window, 
 walking in the garden. Her air, her figure, 
 had very much the appearance of Melissa ; 
 but the lineaments of her countenance were, 
 when viewed by the light of day, widely 
 dissimilar. Alonzo felt no strong curiosity 
 farther to examine her features, but passing 
 on, returned to his lodgings. 
 
 *\t-w-York was then in .possession of die British troops. 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 137 
 
 How he was now to proceed, Alonzo 
 could not readily decide. To return to his 
 native place, appeared to be as useless as 
 to tarry where he was. For many weeks 
 hud he travelled and searched every place 
 where he thought it probable Melissa might 
 be found, both among her relatives and 
 elsewhere. He had made every effort to 
 obtain some clue to her removal from the 
 old mansion, but he could learn nothing but 
 what he had been told by John. If his 
 friends should ever hear of her, they could 
 not inform him thereof, as no one knew 
 where he was. Would it not, therefore, be 
 best for him to return back, and consult 
 with his friends, and if nothing had been 
 heard of hei, pursue some other mode of 
 enquiry ? He might, at least, leave direc 
 tions where his friends might write to him, 
 in case they should have any thing whereof 
 to apprise him. 
 
 An incident tended to confirm this reso 
 lution. He one night dreamed that he was 
 sitting in a strange house, contemplating on 
 his present situation, when Melissa sudden 
 ly entered the room. Her appearance was 
 more pale, sickly and dejected, than when 
 he last saw her. Her elegant form had 
 wasted away, her eyes were sunk, her 
 cheeks fallen, her lips livid. He fancied it 
 to be night, she held a candle in her hand, 
 
138 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 smiling languidly upon him ; she turned 
 and went out of the room, beckoning him 
 to follow : he thought he immediately arose 
 and followed her. She glided through sev 
 eral winding rooms, and at length he lost 
 sight of her, and the light gradually fading 
 away, he was involved in deep darkness. 
 He groped along, and at length saw a faint 
 distant glimmer, the course of which he 
 pursued, until he came into a large room, 
 hung with black tapestry, and illuminated 
 by a number of bright tapers. On one side 
 of the room appeared a hearse, on which 
 some person was laid : he went tip to it 
 the first object that arrested his attention 
 was the lovely form of Melissa, shrouded in 
 the sable vestments of death ! Cold and 
 lifeless, she lay stretched upon the hearse, 
 beautiful even in dissolution ; the dying 
 smile of complacency had not yet deserted 
 her cheek. The music of her voice had 
 ceased ; her fine eyes had closed for ever. 
 Insensible to objects in which she once de 
 lighted ; to afflictions which had blasted 
 her blooming prospects, an 1 drained the 
 streams of life, she lay like blossomed trees 
 of spring, overthrown by rude and boister 
 ous winds. The deep groans which con 
 vulsed the distracted bosom, and shocked 
 the trembling frame of Alonzo, broke the 
 delusive charm : he awoke, rejoiced to find 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 139 
 
 it but a dream, though it impressed his mind 
 with doleful and portentous forebodings. 
 
 It was a long time before he could again 
 close his eye?, to sleep ; he at length fell 
 into a slumber, and again he dreamed. He 
 fancied himself with Melissa, at the house 
 of her father, who had consented to their 
 union, and that the marriage ceremony be 
 tween them was there performed. He 
 thought that Melissa appeared as she had 
 done in her most fortunate and sprightly 
 days, before the darts of adversity, and the 
 thorns of affliction, had wounded her heart 
 Her father seemed to be divested of all his 
 awful sternness, and gave hereto Alonzo 
 with cheerful freedom. He awoke, and the 
 horrors o r his former dream were dissipated 
 by the happy influences of the last. 
 
 "Who knows, he said, but that this may 
 finally be the case; but that Jie sun of 
 peace may yet dispel the glooms of these 
 distressful hours!" He arose, determined 
 to return home in a few days. He went 
 out and enjoyed his morning walk in a more 
 composed irame of spirits than he had for 
 some time experienced. He returned, and 
 as he was entering tne door he saw the 
 weekly newspaper of the town, which had 
 been published that morning, and which the 
 
 carrier had just flung into the hall. The 
 
 family had not yet arisen. He took up the 
 
140 ALONZO AND MELISSA 
 
 paper, carried it to his chamber, and open 
 ed it to read the news of the day. He ran 
 his eye hastily over it, and was about to lay 
 it aside, wheii the death list arrested his at 
 tention, by a display of broad black lines. 
 The first article he read therein was as 
 follows : 
 
 " Died, of a consumption, on the 26th 
 ult. at the seat of her uncle. Col. W. D , 
 near Charleston, South Carolina, whither 
 she had repaired for her health, Miss Me 
 lissa D , the amiable daughter of J 
 
 D , Esq. of ******* ? Connecticut, in the 
 
 eighteenth year of her age." 
 
 The paper i ell from the palsied hand a 
 sudden faintness came upon him the room 
 grew dark he staggered, and fell senseless 
 upon the floor. 
 
 The incidents of our story will here pro 
 duce a pause. The fanciful part of our 
 
 readers may cast it aside in chagrin and dis 
 appointment " Such an event," may they 
 say, "we were not prepared to expect. 
 After so many, and such various trials of 
 heart; after innumerable difficulties sur 
 mounted ; almost invincible objects over 
 come, and insuperable barriers removed 
 after attending the hero and heroine of your 
 tale through the diversified scenes of anxie 
 ty, suspense, hope, disappointment, expec 
 tation, joy, sorrow, anticipated bliss, ^ud- 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 141 
 
 den and disastrous woe after elevating 
 
 them to the threshold of happiness, by the 
 premature death of one, to plunge the other, 
 instantaneously, in deep and irretrievable 
 despair, must not, cannot be right. Your 
 story will hereafter become languid and 
 spiritless; the subject will be uninteresting, 
 the theme unengaging, since the genius 
 which animated and enlivened it is gone for 
 ever." 
 
 Reader of sensibility, stop. Are we not 
 detailing facts ? Shall we gloss them over 
 with false colouring ? Shall we. describe 
 things as they are, or as they are not ? 
 Shall we draw with the pencil of nature, or 
 of art ? Do we indeed paint life as it is, or 
 as it is not ? Cast thine eyes, reader, over 
 the ephemeral circle of passing and fortui 
 tous events ; view the change of contingent 
 cies ; mark well the varied and shifting sce 
 nery in the great drama of time ; seriously 
 contemplate nature in her operations j mi 
 nutely examine the entrance, the action, 
 and the exit of characters on the stage of 
 existence then say, if disappointment, dis 
 tress, misery and calamitous woe, are not 
 the inalienable portion of the susceptible 
 bosom. Say, if the possession of refined 
 
 feeling is enviable the lot of Nalure^s 
 
 children covetable whether to such, through 
 life, the sprinklings of comfort are suflicient 
 
142 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 to give a zest to the bitter banquets of ad- 
 verity whether, indeed, sorrow, sighing, 
 and tears, are not the inseparable attend 
 ants of all those whose hearts are the re 
 positories of tender affections and pathetic 
 sympathies. 
 
 But what says the moralist ? " Portray 
 life as it is. Delude not the senses by de 
 ceptive appearances. Arouse your hero ? 
 call to his aid stern philosophy and sober 
 reason. They will dissipate the rainbow- 
 glories of unreal pleasure, and banish the 
 glittering meteors of unsubstantial happi 
 ness. Or if these fail, lead him to the holy 
 fane of religion : she will regulate the fires 
 of fancy, and assuage the tempest of the 
 passions : she will illuminate the dark wil 
 derness, and smooth the thorny paths of life; 
 she will point him to joys beyond the tomb 
 to another and a better world j and pour 
 the balm of consolation and serenity over 
 his wounded soul." 
 
 Shall we indeed arouse Alonzo ? Alas ! to 
 what paths of grief and wretch ed ness shall 
 we arouse him ! To a world to him void 
 and cheerless a world desolate, sad and 
 dreary. 
 
 Alonzo revived. " Why am I, he exclaim 
 ed, recalled to this dungeon of torment ? 
 Why was not my spirit permitted to take 
 its flight to regions where my* guardian is 
 
ALOXZO AND MELISSA. 143 
 
 gone ? Why am I cursed with memory ? O 
 that I might be blessed with forgetfalness ! 
 But why do I talk of blessings ? Heaven 
 never had one in store for me. Where are 
 fled my anticipated joys? To the bosom 
 the dark bosom of the oblivious tomb ! Therfc * 
 lie all the graces worthy of love in life all 
 the virtues worthy of lamentation in death ! 
 There lies perfection ; perfection has here 
 been found. Was she not all that even ;\ 
 heaven could demand? Fair, lovely, holy 
 and virtuous. Her tender solicitudes, her 
 enrapturing endearments, her soul-inspiring 
 blandishments, gone, gone for ever ] That 
 heavenly form, that discriminate mind^ all 
 lovely as light, all pure as a seraph s a 
 prey to worms mingled with incorporeal 
 shadows, regardless of former inquietudes 
 or delights, regardless of the keen anguish 
 which now wrings tears of blood from my 
 despairing heart ! 
 
 " Eternal Disposer of events I if virtue 
 be thy special care, why is the fairest flow- 
 ex in the garden of innocence and purity 
 blasted like a noxious weed ? Why is the 
 bright gem of excellence trampled in the 
 dust like a worthless pebble ? Why is Me 
 lissa hurried to the tomb ?" 
 
 Thus raved Alonzo. It was evident that 
 delirium had partially seized his brain. He 
 arose and flunsc himself on the bed in un- 
 
144 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 speakable agony. ("And what, Alas ! he 
 again exclaimed, now remains for me ^ Ex 
 istence and unparalleled misery. The con 
 solation even of death is denied me. But 
 Melissa !<1 she ah, where is she I Oh, re 
 flection insupportable! insufferable consid 
 eration ! Must that heavenly frame putrify, 
 moulder, and crumble into dust ?/Must the 
 loathsome spider nestle on her lily bosom ? 
 the cdious reptile riot on her delicate limbs ? 
 the worm revel amid the roses of her cheek, 
 fatten on her temples, and bask in the lus 
 tre of her eyes ? Alas ! the lustre has be- 
 coma dimmed in deaths the rose and the 
 lily are withered ; the harmony of her voice 
 has ceased j the graces, the elegancies of 
 form, the innumerable delicacies of air., all 
 are gone, and I am left in a state of misery 
 which defies mitigation or comparison." 
 
 Exhausted by excess of grief, he now lay 
 in a stupifying anguish, until the servant 
 summoned him to breakfast. He told the 
 servant he was indisposed arid requested he 
 might not be disturbed. Mr. Wyllis and 
 his lady came up, anxious to yield him any 
 assistance in their power, and advised him 
 to call a physician. He thanked them, but 
 told them it was unnecessary; he only want 
 ed rest. His extreme distress of mind 
 brought on a relapse of fever, from which 
 he had but imperfectly recovered. For seve- 
 
ALOTfZO AND MELISSA. 145 
 
 ra) days he lay in a very dangerous and 
 doubtful state. A physician was called, con 
 trary to his choice or knowledge, as for most 
 part of the time his mind was delirious and 
 sensation imperfect. This was, probably 
 the cause of baffling the disorder. He was 
 in a measure insensible to h:s woes. He did 
 not oppose the prescriptions of the physi 
 cian. The fever abated; nature triumphed 
 over disease of body, and he slowly recov- 
 ed, but the malady of his mind was not 
 remoyed. 
 
 He contemplated on the past. " I fear, 
 said he, I have murmured against the wis 
 dom of Providence. Forgive^ merciful 
 Creator ! Forgive the frenzies of distrac 
 tion !" He now recollected that Melissa 
 once told him that she had an uncle who 
 resided near Charleston in South Carolina; 
 thither he supposed she had been sent by 
 her father, when she was removed from the 
 old mansion, in order to prevent his having 
 access to her, and with a view to compel 
 her to marry Beauman. Her appearance 
 had indicated a deep decline when he last 
 saw her. " There, said he, far removed 
 from triends and acquaintance, there did she 
 languish, there did she die a victim to ex 
 cessive grief, f and cruel parental persecu 
 tion." 
 
 As soon as he was able to leave his room, 
 13 I 
 
14G ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 he walked out one evening, and in deep 
 contemplation roved, he knew not where. 
 The moon shone brilliantly from her lofty 
 throne j. the chill, heavy dews of autumn 
 glittered o.n the decaying verdure. The 
 wdeat* croaked hoarsely among the trees ; 
 the dircltf sung raournfully on the grass. 
 Alonzo heard them not ; he was insensible 
 to all external objects, until he had imper 
 ceptibly wandered to the rock on the point 
 of the beach, verging the Sound, to which 
 he had attended Melissa the first time he 
 saw her at her cousin s. J Had the whole 
 artillery of Heaven burst, in sheeted flame, 
 from the skies had raging winds mingled 
 the roaring waves with the mountains 
 had an instantaneous earthquake burst be 
 neath his feet, his frame would not have 
 been so shocked, his soul so agitated ! 
 Sudden as the blaze darts from the electric 
 cloud was he aroused to a lively sense of 
 blessings entombed ! The memory of de 
 parted joys passed with rapidity over his f> 
 imagination ; his first meeting with Melis- 
 "a; the evening he had attended her to 
 
 *f Lineal namts given *o certain American insects, from their 
 paund. They are well known in various parts of the United 
 Stcte* ; generally make their appearance about the lattei end 
 of August, and continue until destroyed by the fros .. The 
 nates of the first are hoarse, sprightly, a d discordant; of the 
 last, solemn and mournfully pleasing. 
 
 $ Sec page 8. Sue also allusions to this scene in several ub- 
 equer.t parts of the story. 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 147 
 
 that place ; her frequent allusions to the 
 scenery there displayed, when they had 
 traversed the fields, or reclined in the bow 
 er on her favourite hill ; in fine, all the vi 
 cissitudes through which they had passed, 
 were called to his mind. His fancy saw 
 .her felt her gently leaning on his arm, 
 while he tremblingly pressed her hand. 
 Again he saw smiling health crimsoning the 
 lilies of her cheek; again he saw the bright 
 soul of sympathetic feelings sparkling in 
 her eye ; the air of ease j^the graces of atti 
 tude ; her brown locks circling the bor 
 ders of her snowy robe. Again he was en 
 raptured by the melody of her voice. - 
 Once more would he have been happy, had 
 not fancy changed the scene. ( But, alas ! 
 she shifted the curtain* He saw Melissa 
 stretched on the sable hearse, wrapped in 
 the dreary vestments of the grave ; the ro 
 ses withered ; the lilies faded ; motionless ; 
 the graces fled; her eyes fixed, and sealed 
 in the glaze of death ! Spontaneously he 
 fell upon his knees, and thus poured forth 
 the overcharged burden of his anguished 
 bosom. 
 
 "Infinite Ruler of all events ! Great Sov 
 ereign of this ever changing world ! Omnip 
 otent Controler of vicissitudes ! Omnisci 
 ent dipenser of destinies ! The beginning, 
 the progression, the end is thine. Un- 
 
148 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 searchable 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 impenetra 
 ble gloom, unable to scrutinize the past, in 
 competent to explore the future fain 
 
 would he say^ THY WILL BE DONE! And 
 Oh, that it might be consistent with that 
 HIGH WILL to call this atom from a dun 
 geon of wretchedness, to worlds of light and 
 glory, where his only CONSOLATION is gone." 
 Thus prayed the heart-broken A onzo. 
 It was indeed a worldly prayer j_ but per- 
 iiaps as pure and as acceptable as many of 
 our modern professors would have made on 
 a similar occasion. He arose and repaired 
 to his lodgings. One determination only 
 he had now fallen upon to bury himself 
 and his griefs from all with whom he had 
 formerly been acquainted. Why should he 
 return to the scenes of his former bliss and 
 arixietv, where every countenance would 
 tend to renew his mourning; where every 
 door would be inscribed with a memento 
 tnori) arid where every object would he 
 shrouded in crape ? He therefore turned 
 his attention to the aimy ; but the army 
 was far distant, and he was too feeble to 
 prosecute a journey of such an extent. 
 There were at that time preparations 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 149 
 
 for fitting out a convoy, at private expense, 
 from various parts of the United States, for 
 the protection of our European trade; they 
 were to readezvous at a certain station, 
 aad thence proceed with the merchantmen 
 under their care to the ports ot France and 
 Holland, where our trade principally cen 
 tered, and return as convoy to some other 
 mercantile fleet. 
 
 One of these ships of war was then near 
 ly fitted out at New-London. Alonzo of 
 fered himself to the captain, who, pleased 
 with nis appearance, gave him the station 
 of commander of marines. 
 
 Alonzo prepared himself with all speed 
 for the voyage. He sought, he wished no 
 acquaintance. His only place of resort, 
 except to Iris lodgings and the ship, was to 
 Melissa s favourite rock : there he bovyed 
 as to the shrine of her spirit, and there he 
 consecrated his devotions. 
 
 As he was one day passing through the 
 town, a gentleman stepped out of an adjoin 
 ing house and accosted him. Alonzo im 
 mediately recognized him to be the cousin 
 of Melissa, at whose house he had first seen 
 her. He was dressed in full mourning, 
 which was a sufficient indication that he 
 v*as apprised of hei death. He invited A- 
 lonzo to his house, and he could not com- 
 plaisantly refuse the invitation. He there- 
 13* 
 
150 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 fore accepted it, and passed an hour with 
 him, from whom he learnt that Melissa had 
 been sent to her uncle s at Charleston, for 
 the recovery of her health, where she died. 
 " Her premature death, said her cousin, has 
 borne so heavily upon her aged father, that 
 
 it is feared he will not long survive." 
 
 " Well may it wring his bosom, thought A- 
 lonzo,;- his conscience can never be at 
 peace;*? Whether Melissa s cousin had been 
 informed of the particulars of Alouzo s un 
 fortunate attachment, was not known, as he 
 instituted no conversation on the suoject. 
 Oeither did he enquire into Alonzo s pros 
 pects ; he only invited him to call again. 
 Alonzo thanked him, but replied it would 
 be doubtful, as h^, should shortly leave town. 
 He made no one acquainted with his inten 
 tions. 
 
 The day at length arrived when the ship 
 was to sail, and Alonzo to leave the shores 
 of America. They spread their canvass to 
 propitious gales ; the breezes rushed from 
 their woody coverts, and majestically waft 
 ed them from the harbour. 
 
 Slowly the land receded ; fields, forests, 
 hills, mountains, towns and villages leisure 
 ly withdrew, until they were mingled in one 
 common mass. The ocean opening, er- 
 panded and widened, presenting to the as 
 tonished eyes of the untried mariner its 
 
 >.*-..- * 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA, 151 
 
 wilderness of waters. Near sunset, Alonzo 
 ascended the mast to take a last view of a 
 country once so dear, but whose charms 
 were now lost forever. The land still ap 
 peared like a simicircular border of dark 
 green velvet on the edge of a convex mir 
 ror. The sun sunk in fleecy golden vapours 
 behind it. It now dwindled to discoloured 
 and irregular spots, which appeared like ob 
 jects floating, amidst the blue mists of dis 
 tance, on the verge of the main, and im 
 mediately all was lost beneath the spherical, 
 watery surface. 
 
 Alonzo had fixed his eyes, as near as his 
 judgment could direct, towards Melissa s fa 
 vourite rock, till nothing but sea \vas dis 
 coverable. With a heart-parting sigh he 
 then descended. They had now launched 
 into the illimitable world of billows, and the 
 sable wings of night brooded over the bound 
 less deep. 
 
 A new scene was now opened to Alonzo 
 in the wonders of the mighty deep. The 
 .sun rising from and setting in the ocean; the 
 wide-spre?d region of watery waste, DOW 
 snooth as polished glass, now urged into ir 
 regular rolling hillocks, then swelled to 
 
 Blue trembling billows, topp d with foam," 
 
 or gradually arising into mountainous waves. 
 Often would he traverse the deck amid the 
 etill hours of midnight, when the moon sil- 
 
152 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 vered over the liquid surface : " Briglit lu 
 minary of the lonely hour, he would *ay, 
 that now sheddest thy mild and placid ray 
 on the woe-worm head of fortune s fugitive, 
 dost thou not also pensively shine on the 
 sacred and silent grave of my Melissa ? 
 
 Favourable breezes wafted them for ma 
 ny days over the bosom of the Atlantic. 
 At length they were overtaken by a violent 
 storm. The wind began to blow strongly 
 from the southwest, which soon increased 
 to a violent gale. The dirgy scud first flew 
 swiftly along the sky ; then dark and heavy 
 clouds filled the atmosphere, mingling with 
 the top-gallant streamers of the ship. Night 
 hovered over the ocean, rendered horrible 
 by the intermitting blaze of lightnings, the 
 awful crash of thunder, and the deafening 
 roar of winds and waves. The sea was rolled 
 into mountains, capped with foaming fire. 
 Now the ship was soaring among the thun 
 ders of heaven, now sunk in the abycs of 
 waters. 
 
 The storm dispersed the fleet, so lh?t 
 when it abated, the ship in which Alonzo 
 sailed was found alone ; they, however, kept 
 on their course of destination, after repair 
 ing their rigging, which had been consider 
 ably disordered by the violence of the gale. 
 
 The next morning they discovered a sail 
 which they fondly hoped might prove to be 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 153 
 
 one of their own fleet, and accordingly made 
 for it. The ship they were in pursuit of 
 shortened sail, and towards noon wore round 
 and bore down upon them, when they dis 
 covered that it was not a ship belonging to 
 their convoy. It appeared to be of equal 
 force and dimensions with that of their own; 
 they therefore, in order to prepare for the 
 worst, got ready with all speed for action. 
 They slowly approached each other, ma- 
 noeuvering for the advantage, till the strange 
 ship ran up British colours, and fired a gun, 
 which was immediately answered by the 
 other, under the flag of the United States. 
 It was not long before a close and severe 
 action took place, which continued for three 
 hours, when both ships were in so shattered 
 a condition that they were unable to man 
 age a gun.* The British had lost their cap 
 tain, and one half their crew, most of the 
 remainder being wounded. The Ameri 
 cans had lost their second officer, and their 
 loss in men, both killed and wounded, was 
 nearly equal to that of the enemy. 
 
 While they lay in this condition, unable 
 either to annoy each other more, or to get 
 away, a large sail appeared, bearing down 
 upon them, which soon came up and prored 
 to be an English frigate, and which imme- 
 
 The particular of this action, in the early stage of the A- 
 erican war, are yet remembered by many. 
 
154 ALONZO AND MEtlSSA. 
 
 diately took the American ship in tow, af 
 ter removing the crew into the hold of the 
 frigate. The crew of the British ship were 
 also taken on board of the frigate, which 
 was no sooner done than the ship went down 
 and was for ever buried beneath mountains 
 of ponderous waves. The frigate then, with 
 the American ship in tow, made sail, and in 
 a few days reached England. The wound 
 ed prisoners were sent to a hospital, but the 
 others w r ere confined in a strong prison with 
 in the precincts of London. 
 
 The American prisoners were huddled in 
 to an apartment with British convicts of va 
 rious descriptions. Among these Aionzo 
 observed one whose demeanor arrested his 
 attention. A deep melancholy was impress 
 ed upon his features ; his eye was wild and 
 despairing ; his figure was interesting, tall, 
 elegant and handsome. He appeared to be 
 about twenty-five years of age. He seldom 
 conversed, but w 7 hen he did, it was readily 
 discovered that his education had been above 
 the common cast, and he possessed an en 
 lightened and discriminating mind. Aionzo 
 sympathetically sought his acquaintance, 
 and discovered therein a unison of woe. 
 
 One evening, when the prisoners were re 
 tired to rest, the stranger, upon Alonzo s 
 request, rehearsed the fallowing incidents 
 of his life. 
 
A10NZO AND MELISSA. 155 
 
 " You express, said he, some surprise at 
 finding a man of iny appearance in so de 
 graded a situation ; and you wish to learn 
 the events which have plunged me in tliii. 
 abject stale. These, when I briefly relate, 
 your wonder will cease. 
 
 " My name ks Henry Maleomb ; my fath 
 er was a clergyman in the west of England, 
 and descended from one of the most respec- 
 able families in those parts. I received a 
 classical education, and then entered the 
 military school, as I was designed for the 
 army, to which my earliest inclinations led. 
 As soon as my education was considered 
 complete, an ensign s commission was pro 
 cured for me in one of the regiments destin 
 ed for the West Indies. Previous to its 
 departure for those islands, I became ac 
 quainted with a Miss Vernou, who was a 
 few years younger than myself, and the 
 daughter of a gentleman fanner, who had 
 recently purchased and removed to an es 
 tate in my father s parish. (Every thing 
 that was graceful and lovely appeared cen 
 tered in her person ; every thing that was 
 virtuous and excellent in her mind. I sought 
 her hand. yOur souls sooii became united 
 > by the indissoluble bonds of hincerest love, 
 and as there were no parental or other im 
 pediments to our union\ it was agreed that 
 as soon as I returned from the Indies, where 
 
156 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 it was expected that my stay would be short, 
 the marriage solemnities should be perform 
 ed. Solemn oaths of constancy passed be^ 
 tween us, and I sailed, with my regiment, 
 for the Indies. 
 
 " While there, I received from her, and 
 returned letters filled with the tenderest ex 
 pressions of anxiety and regret of absence. 
 At length the time came when we were to 
 embark for England, where we arrived af 
 ter an absence of about eighteen months. 
 The moment I got on land I hastened to the 
 house of Mr. Vernon, to see the charmer of 
 my soul. I She received me with all the ar 
 dency of affection, and even shed tears of 
 joy in my presence, I pressed her to name 
 the day which was to perfect our union and 
 happiness, and the next Sunday, four days 
 only distant, was agreed upon for me to 
 lead her to the altar. . How did my heart 
 bound at the prospect of making Miss Ver 
 non my own ! of possessing in her all that 
 could render life agreeable; I hastened home 
 to my family and informed them of my ap 
 proaching bliss, who all sympathized in the 
 anticipated joy which swelled my bosom. 
 
 " I had a sister some years older than my 
 self, who bad been the friend and inmate of 
 my angel in my absence. They were now 
 almost every day together, so that I had 
 frequent opportunities of her company. 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 157 
 
 one day she had been with my sister at my 
 father s, a-nd I attended her home. On my 
 return, my sister requested me to attend her 
 in a private room. We therefore retired, 
 and when we were seated she thus address 
 ed me 
 
 Henry, you know that to promote your 
 
 }>eace, your welfare, and your happiness, 
 las ever been the pride of my heart. No 
 thing except this could extort the secret 
 which I shall now disclose, and whidi has 
 yet remained deposited in my own hosom : 
 my duty to a brother whom I esteem dear 
 as life, forbids me to remuiu silent. As an 
 affectionate sister, I cannot tacitly see you 
 thus imposed upon ; I cannot see you the 
 dupe and slave of an artful and insidious 
 woman, who does not sincerely return your 
 love , nor can I bear to see your marriage 
 consummated with one whose soul and af 
 fections are placed upon another object." 
 
 " Here she hesitated while I, with in 
 sufferable anguish of mind, begged her to 
 proceed. 
 
 "About six or eight months after your 
 departure, S!MJ continued, it was reported 
 to Miss Vernoa that she had a rival in the 
 Indies ; that you had there found an Amer 
 ican beauty, OH whom you lavished those 
 endearments which beloaged of right to her 
 alone. This news made, at first, a deep 
 14 
 
158 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 impression on her mind, but it soon wore 
 away ; and whether from this cause, from 
 fickleness of disposition, or that she never 
 sincerely loved you, I know not ; but this 
 I do know, that a youth has been for some 
 time past her almost constant companion. 
 To convince you of this, you need only to 
 morrow evening, about sunset, conceal your 
 self near the long avenue by the side of the 
 rivulet, back of Mr. Vernon s country-house, 
 where you will undoubtedly surprise Miss 
 Veraon and her companion in their usual 
 evening s walk. If I should be mistaken I 
 will submit to your censure ; but should you 
 nd it as I have predicted, you have only 
 to rush from your concealment, charge her 
 with her perfidy, and renounce her forever." 
 
 " Of ail the plagues, of aH the torments, 
 of all the curses which torture the soul, jeal 
 ousy of a rival in love is the worst. Enraged, 
 confounded and astonished, it seemed as if 
 my bosom would have instantaneously burst. 
 To conceal my emotions, I left my sister s 
 apartment, after having thanked her for her 
 information, and proceeded to obey her in 
 junctions. I retired to my own room, and 
 there poured out my execrations. 
 
 " Cursed woman ! I exclaimed, is it thus 
 you requite my tender love ! Could a vague 
 report of my inconstancy drive you to infi 
 delity ! Did not my continual letters breathe 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 159 
 
 constant adoration? Ana did not yours 
 portray the same sincerity of affection ? 
 No, it was not that which caused you t<? 
 perjure your plighted vows. It was that 
 damnable passion for novelty, which more 
 or less holds a predominancy over your whole 
 sex. To a new coat, a new face, a new 
 lover^, you will sacrifice honour, principle 
 and virtue. And to those, backed by splen 
 did power and splendid property, you will 
 forfeit your most sacred engagements, though 
 made in the presence of heaven. Thus did 
 I rave through a sleepless night. 
 
 " The next day I walked into the fields, 
 and before the time my sister appointed had 
 arrived, I had worked up my feelings almost 
 to the frenzy of distraction. I repaired, 
 however, to the spot, and concealed myself 
 in the place she had named, which was a 
 tuft of laurels by the side of the walk. I 
 soon perceived Miss Vernon strolling down 
 the avenue, arm in arm with a younsr man 
 elegantly dressed, and of singular, delicate 
 appearance. They were earnestly convers 
 ing in a low tone of voice ; the hand of my 
 false fair one was-gently pressed in the hand 
 of the stranger. As soon as they had pass 
 ed the place of my concealment, they turn 
 ed aside and seated themselves in a little 
 arbour, a few yards dieiant from where I 
 sat. The stranger clapped Miss Vernon 
 
160 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 4|) 
 
 in his arms : " Dearest angel ! he exclaim 
 ed, what an interruption to our bliss by the 
 return of my hated rival !" With fond ca 
 resses and endearing blandishments, " fear 
 nothing, she replied ; I have promised and 
 must yield him my hand, but you shall nev 
 er be excluded from my heart; we shall 
 find sufficient opportunities for private con 
 ference. 7 I could contain myself no longer 
 my brain was on fire. Quick as light 
 ning I sprang from my covert, and present 
 ing a pistol which I had concealed under my 
 robe, " Die ! said I, thou false and perjur 
 ed wretch, by the hand thou hast dishonour 
 ed, a death too mild for so foul a crime ! 5> 
 and immediately shot Miss Vernon through 
 the head, who ifell lifeless at my feet ! Thea 
 suddenly drawing my sword, "And thou, 
 perfidious contaminator and destroyer of 
 my bliss ! cried I go ! attend thy compan 
 ion in iniquity to the black regions of ever 
 lasting torment !" So saying, I plunged my 
 sword into his bosom. A screech of agony, 
 attended by the exclamation, " Henry, your 
 wife ! your sister !" a wok me, too late, to 
 terrors unutterable, to anguish unspeakable, 
 to woes irretrievable, and insupportable des 
 pair! It was indeed my betrothed wife, it was 
 indeed my affectionate sister, arrayed in 
 man s habit. The one lay dead before me, the 
 other weltering in her blood ! With a feeble 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 1G1 
 
 and expiring voice, my sister informed me, 
 that in a gay and inconsiderate moment they 
 had concerted this plan, to try my jealousy, 
 determining to discover themselves as soon 
 as they had made the experiment. "I for 
 give you, Henry, she said, I forgive your 
 mistake," and closed her eyes for ever in 
 death ! What a scene for sensibilities like 
 mine ! To paint or describe it, exceeds the 
 power of language or imagination. I in 
 stantly turned the sword against rny own 
 bosom ; an unknown hand arrested it, and 
 prevented its entering my heart. The re 
 port of the pistol, and the dying screech of 
 my sister, had alarmed Mr. Vernon s fami 
 ly, who arrived at that moment, one of whom 
 had seized my arm, and thus hindered me 
 from destroying my own life. J submitted 
 to be bound and conveyed to prison. My 
 trial came on at the last assizes. I made no 
 defence; and was condemned to death. My 
 execution will take place in eight weeks 
 from to-morrow. I shall cheerfully ine^t 
 my fate ; for who would endure life when 
 rendered so peculiarly miserable !" 
 
 The wretched Malcomb here ended his 
 tale of woe. No tear moistened his eye 
 his grief was too despairing for tears ; it 
 preyed upon his heart, drank the vital 
 streams of life, and burst in convulsive sighs- 
 from his burning bosom. TT 
 
 14* 
 
1 02 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 Alonzo seriously contemplated on the in 
 cidents and ; events of this tragical story. 
 Conscience whispered him, are not Mal- 
 cornb s miseries superior to thine ? Candour 
 and correct reason must have answered yes 
 " Melissa perished, said Alonzo, but not by 
 the hand of her lover : she expired, but net 
 through the mistaken frenzy of him who 
 adored her. She died, conscious of the un 
 feigned love I bore her." 
 
 Alonzo and his fellow prisoners had been 
 lobbed, when they were captured, of every 
 thing except the clothes they wore. Their 
 allowance of provisions was scanty and poor. 
 They were confined in the third story of a 
 lofty prison. Time rolled away ; no pros 
 pects appeared of their liberation, either by 
 exchange or parole. Some of the prisoners 
 were removed, as new ones were introduc 
 ed, to other places of confinement, until not 
 one American was left except Alonzo. 
 
 Meantime the day appointed for the ex 
 ecution of Malcomb drew near. His past 
 and approaching fate filled the breast of A- 
 lonzo with sympathetic sorrow. He saw 
 his venerable father, his mother, his friends 
 and acquaintance, with several pious cler 
 gymen, frequently enter the prison to con 
 sole and comfort him, and to prepare him 
 for the unchangeable state on which he was 
 soon to enter. He saw his mind softened 
 
163 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 by their advice and counsel ; frequntly 
 would he burst into tears ; often in the sol 
 itary hours of night was he heard addressing 
 the throne of grace for mercy and forgiv- 
 ness. But the grief that preyed at his heart 
 had wasted him to a mere skeleton ; a slow 
 but deleterious fever had consequently im 
 planted itself in his constitution. Exhaus 
 ted nature could make but a weak struggle 
 against disease and affliction like his, and 
 about a week previous to the day appointed 
 for his execution, he expired in peace and 
 penitence, trusting in the mercy of his Cre 
 ator through the sufferings of a Redeemer. 
 Soon after this event, orders came for re- 
 neoving some of the prisoners to a most 
 loathsome place of confinement in the sub 
 urbs of the city. It fell to Alonzo s lot to 
 be one. He therefore formed a project for 
 escaping. He had observed that the gra 
 tings in one of the windows of the apartment 
 were loose and could be easily removed. 
 One night when the prisoners were asleep, 
 he stripped off his clothes, every article of 
 which he cut into narrow strips, tied them 
 together, fastened one end to one of the 
 strongest gratings, removed the others until 
 he had made on opening large enough to get 
 out, and theo, by the ro-pe he had made of 
 his clothes, let himself down into the yard 
 of the prison. There he found a long 
 
164 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 piece of timber, which he dragged to 
 the wall, clambered up thereon, and sprang 
 over into the street. His shoes and hat he 
 had left in the prison, as a useless encum 
 brance without his clothes, all which he 
 had converted into the means of escape, so 
 that he was now literally stark naked. He 
 stood a moment to reflect :" Here am I, 
 said he, freed from my local prison indeed, 
 but in the midst of an enemy s country, 
 without a friend, without the means of ob 
 taining one day s subsistence, surrounded by 
 the darkness of night, destitute of a single 
 article of clothing, and even unable to form 
 a resolution what step next to take. The 
 ways of heaven are marvellous may I si 
 lently bow to its dispensations!" 
 
 Alonzo passed along the street in this 
 forlorn condition, not knowing where to 
 proceed, or what course to take. It was 
 about three o clock in the morning, the 
 street was illuminated by lamps, and he 
 feared falling into the hands of the watch. 
 For some time he saw no person ; at length 
 a voice from the other side of the street 
 called out, Hallo, messmate! what, scud 
 ding under bare poles ? You mrast have ex 
 perienced a severe gale indeed thus to have 
 carried away every rag of sail !" 
 
 Alonzo turned, and saw the person who 
 spoke. He was a decent looking man, of 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 165 
 
 middle age, dressed in a sailor shabit, A- 
 lonzo had often heard of the generosity and 
 honourable conduct of the British tars : he 
 therefore approached him and told him his 
 real case, not even concealing his being ta 
 ken in actual hostility to the British gov 
 ernment, and his escape from prison. The 
 sailor mused a few minutes. u Thy case 
 said he, is a little critical, but do not de 
 spair. Had I met thee as an enemy, I 
 should have fought thee ; but as it is, com 
 passion is the first consideration. Perhaps 
 I may be in as bad a situation before the 
 war is ended." Then slipping off his coat 
 and giving it to Alonzo, " follow me," he 
 said, and turning, walked hastily along the 
 street, followed by Alonzo ; he passed into 
 a bye-lane, entered a small house, and tak 
 ing Alonzo into a back room, opened a 
 trunk, and handed out a shirt : " there, said 
 he, pointing to a bed, pu can sleep till 
 morning, when we will see what can be done. 
 The next morning the sailor brought in a 
 very decent suit of clothes and presented 
 them to Alonzo. " You will make this 
 place your home, said he, until more favor 
 able prospects appear. In this great city 
 you will ba safe, for even your late ga-^er 
 would not recognize you in this dress. And 
 perhaps some opportunity may offer by 
 which you may return to your own country " 
 
 k 
 
166 ALONZO AND MLLISSA. 
 
 He told Alonzo that his name was Jack 
 Brown ; that lie was a midshipman on 
 hoard the Severn; that he had a wife and 
 four children, and owned the house in which 
 they then were. " In order to prevent sus 
 picion or discovery, said he, I shall consid 
 er you as a relation from the country until 
 you are better provided for." Alonzo was 
 then introduced to the sailor s wife, an a- 
 miable woman, and here he remained for 
 several weeks. 
 
 One day Alonzo was infowned that a 
 Dumber of American prisoners were brought 
 in. He went to the plpce where they were 
 landed, and saw several led away to prison, 
 and some who were sick or disabled, car 
 ried to the hospital. As the hospital was 
 near at hand, Alonzo entered it to see 
 how the sick and disabled prisoners were 
 treated. 
 
 He found that they received as much 
 attention as could reasonably be expect 
 ed.* As he passed along the different a- 
 partments he was surprised at hearing his 
 name called by a faint voice. He turned 
 to the place from whence it proceeded, and 
 saw stretched on a mattress, a person who 
 appeared on the point of expirino-. His vi- 
 
 "Ilie Americans \vlin wt re imprisoned in Knglaud, in Jie lime 
 of war, wen.- trratitl with much more Immunity than c n>s>.- \M u 
 were itnprisoixfl ui America. 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 1G7 
 
 sage was pale and emaciated, his counte 
 nance haggard and ghastly, his eyes inex 
 pressive and glazy. He held out his with 
 ered hand, and feebly beckoned to Alonzo, 
 who immediately approached him. His 
 features appeared not unfamiliar to Alonzo, 
 but for a moment he could not recollect 
 him. "You do not know me," said the 
 apparently dying stranger. Beauman ! " 
 exclaimed Alonzo, in surprise. u Yes, re 
 plied the sick man, it is Beauman ; \ou be 
 hold me on the verge of eternity, 1 have 
 but a short time to continue in this world. 1 
 Alonzo enquired how he came in the power 
 of the enemy. "By the fate of \va , he re 
 plied; I was taken in an action on York 
 Island, carried on board a prison-ship in 
 New-York, and sent with a number of oth 
 ers for England. I had received a wound 
 in my thigh, from a musket ball, during the 
 action ; the wound mortified, and my thigh 
 was amputated on the voyage ; since which 
 I have been rapidly wasting away, and I 
 now feel that the cold hand of death is laid 
 npon me." Here he became exhausted, 
 and for some time remained silei.t. Alon 
 zo had not before discovered that he had 
 lost his leg: he now found that it had been 
 taken oif close to his body, and that he was 
 worn to skeleton. When Beauman revi 
 ved, he enquired into Alonzo s affairs. A- 
 
168 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 lonzo related all thvit h-ad happened to him 
 after leaving New London. 
 
 "You are unhappy, Alonzo, said Beau- 
 man, in the death of your Melissa, to which 
 it is possible I have been, undesignedly ac 
 cessory. 1 could say much on the subject, 
 would my strength permit ; but it is need 
 less. She is gone, and I must soon go also. 
 She was sent to her uncle s at Charleston, 
 by her father, where I was soon to follow 
 her. It was supposed that thus widely re 
 moved from all access to your company, 
 she would yield to the persuasion of her 
 friends to renounce you: her unexpected 
 death, however, frustrated every design of 
 this nature, and overwhelmed her father 
 and family in inexpressible woe." 
 
 Here Beauman ceased. Alonzo found 
 he wanted rest : he enquired whether he 
 was in want of any thing to render him 
 more comfortable. Beauman replied that 
 he was not : "For the comforts of this life, 
 said he. I have no relish ; medical aid is 
 applied, but without effect." Alonzo then 
 left him, promising to call again in the mor 
 ning. 
 
 When Alonzo called the next morning, 
 he perceived an alarming alteration in Beau- 
 man. His extremities were cold, a chil 
 ling, clammy sweat stood upon his face, his 
 respiration was short and interrupted, his 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 169 
 
 pulse we\k and intermitting. He took tlie 
 hand of Alonzo, and feebly pressing it, "I 
 am dying, said he in a faint voice. If ever 
 you return to America, inform my friends 
 of my fate." This Alonzo readily enga 
 ged to do, and told him also that he would 
 not leave him. 
 
 Beiuman soon fell into a stupor; sensa 
 tion became suspended ; his eyes rolled up 
 and fixed. Sometimes a partial revival 
 would take place, when he would fall into 
 incoherent muttering, calling on the names 
 of his deceased father, his mother and Me 
 lissa; his voice dying away in imperfect 
 moanings, till his lips continued to move 
 without sound. Towards night he lay si 
 lent, and only continued to breathe with 
 difficulty, till a slight convulsion gave the 
 freed spirit to the unknown regions of im 
 material existence. Alonzo followed his 
 remains to the grave : a natural stone wa s 
 placed at its head, on which Alonzo, unob 
 served, carved the initials of the deceas 
 ed s name, with the date of his death, and 
 left him to moulder with his native dust. 
 
 A few days after this event, Jack Brown 
 informed A. onzo that he had procured the 
 means of his escape. A person with whom 
 I am acquainted, said he, and whom I sup 
 pose to be a smuggler, has agreed to carry 
 you to France. There, by application to 
 
170 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 the American minister, you will be enabled 
 to get to your own country, if that is your 
 object. About midnight I will pilot you on 
 board, and by to-morrow s sun you may be 
 in France." 
 
 At the time appointed, Jack set out. 
 rearing a large trunk on his shoulder, and 
 directed Alonzo to follow him. They pro 
 ceeded down to a quay, and went on board 
 a small skiff. " Here, said Jack to the cap 
 tain, is the gentleman I spoke lo you a- 
 bout," and delivered him the trunk. Then 
 taking Alonzo aside, " in that trunk, said 
 he, are a few changes of linen, and here is 
 something to help you till you can help 
 yourself." So saying, he slipped ten guin 
 eas into his hand. Alonzo expressed his 
 gratitude with tears. " Say nothing, said 
 Jack, we were born to help each other in 
 distress, and may Jack never weather a 
 storm or splice a rope, if he permits a fel 
 low creature to suffer with want while he 
 has a luncheon on board." He then shook 
 Alonzo by the hand, wishing him a good 
 voyage, and went whistling away. The 
 skiff soon sailed, and the next morning A- 
 lonzo was landed in France. Alonzo pro 
 ceeded immediately to Paris, not with a 
 fiew of returning to America; he had yet 
 fio relish for revisiting the land of his sor 
 rows, the scenes where at every step his 
 
ALONZ9 AND MELISSA. 171 
 
 heart must bleed afresh, though to bleed it 
 had never ceased. But he was friendless 
 in a strange land : perhaps, through the aid 
 of the American minister, Dr. Franklin, to 
 whose fame Alonzo was no stranger, he 
 might be placed in a situation to procure 
 bread, which was all he at present hoped or 
 wished. 
 
 He therefore presented himself before 
 the doctor, whom he found in his study. 
 To he informed that he was an American 
 and unfortunate, was sufficient to arouse 
 the feelings of Franklin. He desired Alon 
 zo to be seated, and to recite his history. 
 This he readily complied with, not conceal 
 ing his attachment to Melissa, her father s 
 barbarity, her death in consequence, his 
 own father s failure, with all the particu 
 lars of his leaving America, his capture, es 
 cape from prison, and arrival in France ; as 
 also the town of his nativity, the name of 
 his father, and the particular circumstances 
 of his family ; concluding by expressing his 
 unconquerable reluctance to return to his 
 native country, which now would be to him 
 only a gloomy wilderness, and that his pres 
 ent object was only some means of support. 
 
 The doctor enquired of Alonzo the par 
 ticular circumstances and time of his fa 
 ther s failure. Of this Alonzo crave him a 
 minute account. Franklin then sat in deep 
 
J72 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 contemplation for the space of fifteen min- 
 ates, without speaking a word. He then 
 took his pen, wrote a short note, directed 
 it, and gave it to Alonzo : " Deliver this, 
 said he, to the person to whom it is direct 
 ed ; he will find you employment, until 
 something more favourable may offer." 
 
 Alonzo took the note, thanked the doc 
 tor, and went in search of the person to 
 whom it was addressed. He soon found 
 the house, which was situated in one of the 
 most popular streets in Paris. He knock 
 ed at the door, which was opened by an 
 elderly looking man : Alonzo enquired for 
 the name to whom the note was addressed. 
 The gentleman informed him that he was 
 the man. Alonzo presented him the note, 
 which having read, he desired him to walk 
 in, and ordered supper. After supper he 
 informed Alonzo that he was an English 
 bookseller ; that he should employ him as 
 a clerk, and desired to know what wages he 
 demanded. Alonzo replied that he should 
 submit that to him, being unacquainted with 
 the customary salary of clerks in that line 
 of business. The gentleman told -him that 
 the matter should be arranged the next day. 
 His name was Grafton. 
 
 The next morning Mr. Grafton took A- 
 lonzo into his bookstore, and gave him his 
 instructions. His business was to sell the 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 173 
 
 books to customers, and a list of prices was 
 given him for that purpose. Mr. Grafton 
 counted out twenty crowns and gave them 
 to Alonzo : " You may want some necessa 
 ries, said he ; and as you have set no pric( 
 on your services, we shall not differ about 
 the wages if you are attentive and faithful." 
 
 Alonzo gave his employer no room to 
 complain ; nor had he any reason to be dis 
 contented with his situation. Mr. Graf- 
 ton regularly advanced him twenty crowns 
 at the commencement of every month, and 
 boarded him in his family. Alonzo dressed 
 himself in deep mourning. He sought no 
 company ; he found consolation only in sol 
 itude, if consolation it could be called. 
 
 As he was walking out early one morn 
 ing, he discovered something lying in the 
 street, which he at first supposed to be a 
 small piece of silk : he took it up and found 
 it to be a curiously wrought purse, contain 
 ing a few guineas with some small pieces of 
 silver, and something at the bottom care 
 fully wrapped in a piece of paper ; he un 
 folded it, and was thunderstruck at behold 
 ing an elegant miniature of Melissa ! Hei 
 sweetly pensive features, her expressive 
 countenance, her squl-euli veiling eye ! The 
 shock was almost too powerful for his 
 senses. Wildered in a maze of wonders, he 
 knew not what to conjecture. Melissa s 
 15* 
 
174 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 miniature found in the streets of Paris, af- 
 cr she had some time been dead ! \ He 
 newed it, he clasped it to his bosom^y- 
 " Such, said he, did she appear, ere the c^r- 
 roding cankers of grief had blighted her 
 heavenly charms ! By what providential 
 miracle am I possessed of the likeness, 
 when the original is no more ? What benevo- 
 ^ent angel has taken pity on my sufferings, 
 ;nd conveyed to rne this inestimable prize?" 
 
 But though he had thus become possess 
 ed of what he esteemed most valuable, 
 what right had he to withhold it from the 
 lawful owner, could the owner indeed be 
 found ? Perhaps the person who had lost 
 it would part with it ; perhaps the money 
 contained irt the purse was of more -value 
 to that person than the miniature. At any 
 rate, justice required that he should endea 
 vour to find to whom it belonged : this he 
 might do by advertising, which he immedi 
 ately concluded upon, resolving, should the 
 owner appear, to purchase the miniature, 
 II possibly within his power. 
 
 Passing into another street, he saw several 
 hand-bills stuck up on the walls of houses 
 stepping up to one, he read as follows : 
 
 " Lost, between the hours of nine and 
 ten last evening, in the Rue dc Loir, a small 
 silk purse, containing a few pieces of money, 
 and a lady s miniature. One hundred 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 175 
 
 crown? will be given to the person who 
 uay have found it, and will restore it to the 
 owner at the American Hotel, near the 
 Louvre, Room No. 4. " 
 
 It was printed both in the French and 
 English languages. By the reward here of 
 fered, Alohzo was convinced that the minia 
 ture belonged to some person who set a 
 value upon it. Determined to explicate 
 the mystery, he proceeded immediately to 
 the place, found the room mentioned in the 
 bill, and knocked at the door. A servant 
 appeared, of whom Alonzo enquired for the 
 lodger. The servant answered him in 
 French, which Alonzo did not understand : 
 he replied in his own language, but found 
 it was unintelligible to the servant. A 
 grave middle aged gentleman (hen came 
 to the door from within the room and en 
 ded their jabbering at each other : he, in 
 the English language, desired Alonzo to 
 walk in. It was an apartment, neatly fur 
 nished ; no person was therm except the 
 gentleman and servant before mentioned, 
 and a person who sat writing in a corner of 
 the room, with his back towards them. 
 
 Alonzo informed the gentleman that he 
 had called according to the direction in a 
 bill of advertisement to enquire for the 
 person who the preceding night, had lost a 
 purse and miniature. The person who was 
 
176 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 writing had hitherto taken no notice of 
 wha-t had passed ; bui at the sound of A- 
 lonzo s voice, after he had entered the 
 room, he started and turned about, and at 
 mention of the miniature, he rose up. A- 
 lonzo fixed his eyes upon him: they both 
 stood for a few moments silent: for a short 
 time their recollection was confused and 
 imperfect, but the mists of doubt were soon 
 dissipated. "Edgar !" " Alonzo !" they 
 alternately exclaimed. It was indeed .Ed 
 gar, the early friend and fellow student of 
 Alonzo the brother of Melissa! In an in 
 stant they were in each others arms. 
 
 Edgar and Alonzo retired to a separate 
 room. Edgar informed Alonzo that, the 
 news of Melissa s death reached him, by a 
 letter from his father, while with the army; 
 that he immediately procured a furlough, 
 and visited his father, whom, with his moth 
 er, he found in inconsolable distress. "The 
 letter which my uncle had written, said Ed 
 gar, announcing her death, mentioned with 
 wkat patience and placidity she endured her 
 malady, and with what calmness and resig 
 nation she met tne approach of death. Her 
 last moments, like her whole life, were un 
 ruffled and serene. She is in heaven jUxm-. 
 zo she is an i angel!" Swelling grief here 
 choaked the utter once of Edgar; for some 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 177 
 
 time he could proceed no farther, and Alon- 
 zo, with bursting bosom, mingled his tears. 
 "My father, resumed Edgar, bent on 
 uniting her to Beauman or at least of prevent 
 ing her union with you, had removed her 
 to a desolate family mansion, and placed 
 her under the care of an aunt. At that 
 place, he either suspected, on really discov 
 ered that you had recourse to her while my 
 aunt was absent on business. She was there 
 fore no longer entrusted to the care of her 
 aunt, but my father immediately formed and 
 executed the plan of sending her to his 
 brother in South Carolina, under pretence 
 of restoring her to health by change of cli 
 mate, as her health in reality had began 
 rapidly to decay. There it was designed 
 that Beaurnan should shortly follow her, 
 with recommendations from my father to 
 her uncle, urging him to use all possible 
 means which might tend to persuade her to 
 become the wife of Beauman. But change 
 of climate only encreased the load of sor 
 rows, and she soon sunk beneath them. 
 The letter mentioned nothing of her trou 
 bles: possibly my uncle s family knew 
 them : to them, probably, 
 
 " She never toU her love, 
 
 But wit like Patience on a monument 
 Smiling at grief; while sad concealment, 
 Like a worm ?n the Initi, T 
 
 Fad on her damask cheok. * 
 
178 ALONZ0 AND MELISSA. 
 
 " My father s distress was excessive : of 
 ten did he accuse himself of barbarity, and 
 he once earnestly expressed a wish that he 
 had consented to her union with you. My 
 father, I know, is parsimonious, bat he sin 
 cerely loved his children. Inflexible as is 
 his nature, the untimely death of a truly af 
 fectionate and only daughter will, I much 
 fear, precipiiate him, and perhaps my moth 
 er also, to a speedy grave. 
 
 "As soon as my feelings would permit, I 
 repaired to your father s, and made enquiry 
 concerning you. I ^und your parents con 
 tent in their humble state, except that your 
 father had been ill, but was recovering. Of 
 you they had heard nothing since your de 
 parture, and they deeply lamented your ab 
 sence. And from Vincent I could obtain 
 no farther information. 
 
 " Sick of the world, I returned to the ar 
 my. An American consul was soon to sail 
 for Holland : I solicited and obtained the 
 appointment of secretary. I hoped by vis 
 iting distant countries, in some measure to 
 relieve my mind from the deep melancholy 
 with which it was oppressed. We were to 
 proceed first to Paris, where we have been 
 a few days ; to-morrow we are to depart 
 for Holland. The consul is the man who 
 introduced vou into the room where yon 
 found uie. 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA, 179 
 
 "Last evening I lost the miniature which 
 I suppose you have found : the chain to 
 which it was suspended around my neck, 
 had broken while I was walking the street 
 I carefully wrapped it in paper and deposit 
 ed it in my purse, which I probably drop 
 ped on replacing it in my pocket, and did 
 not discover the loss until this morning. I 
 immediately made diligent search, but not 
 finding it, I put up bills of advertisement. 
 The likeness was taken in my sister s lujp- 
 piest days. After I had entered upon my 
 professional studies in New-York, I became 
 acquainted with a miniature painter,, who 
 took my likeners. He afterwards wect in 
 to the country, and as I found he was to 
 pass near my father s, I engaged him to call 
 there and take my sister s likeness also, 
 We exchanged them soon after. It was 
 dear to me, even while the original remain 
 ed ; but since she is gone it has become a 
 most precious and valuable i clique." 
 
 All the tender powers of Alonzon s soul 
 were called into action by Edgar s recital. 
 The " days of othei._y.ears" the ghosts of 
 sepulcherecrHIessings > passed in painful re 
 view. Added to these, the penurious con* 
 dition of his parents, his father s recent ill 
 ness, and his probable inability to procure 
 the bread of his family, all tended more 
 deeply to sink his spirits in the gull of mel- 
 
180 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 ancholy and misery. He however informed 
 Edgar of all that had hapened sine? they 
 parted at Vincent s respecting the old man 
 sion Melissa s extraordinary disappearance 
 therefrom, the manner in which he was in 
 formed of her death, his departure from A- 
 meica, capture, escape, Beaumn.n s death, 
 arrival in France, and his finding the mini 
 ature. To Edgar as well as Alonzo, Me- 
 lissa sudden and unaccountable removal 
 from the mansion was mysterious and inex 
 plicable. 
 
 As Edgar was to depart carry tne next 
 morning, they neither slept nor separated 
 that night. 
 
 " If it were not for your reluctance to re 
 visit your native country, said Edgar, I 
 should urge you to accompany me to Hol 
 land, and thence return with me to Ameri 
 ca. Necessity and duty require that I 
 should not be long absent, as my parents want 
 my assistance, and they are now childless." 
 
 " Suffer me, answered Alonzo, to bury 
 myself in this city for the present : should 
 I ever again awake to real life, I will seek 
 you out if you are on the earth ; but now, 
 I can only be a companion to my miseries." 
 
 The next morning as they were about to 
 depart, Alonzo took Melissa s miniature 
 from his bosom, contemplated the picture 
 a few moments with ardent emotion, and 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 181 
 
 presented it to Epgar. " Keep it, said Kd- 
 gar, it is thine. I bestow it upon thee as I 
 \vould the original, had not death become 
 the rival of thy love, and my affection. 
 Suiier not the sacred symbol too tenderly 
 to r?n,e"w your sorrows. How swiftly, A- 
 Icnzo, does this restless life fleet away ! 
 How soon shall we pass the barriers of ter 
 restrial existence ! Let us live worthy of 
 ourselves, of our holy religion, of Melissa 
 Melissa, whom, when a few more suns 
 have arisen and set, we shall meet in re 
 gions where all tears shall be eternally wip 
 ed from every eye." 
 
 With what unspeakable sensibilities wcj 
 it returned to Alonzo s bosom ! Edgar of 
 fered Alo-nzo pecuniary assistance, which 
 the latter refused : " I am in business, said 
 he, which brings me a decent support, and 
 that is sufficient." They agreed to write 
 each other as frequently as possible, and 
 tl.en affectionately parted : Edgai- sailed for 
 Holland, and Alonzo returned to his busi 
 ness at Mr. Grafton .*. 
 
 Some time after this Alonzo received a 
 message from Dr, Franklin^ requiring his 
 attendance at his house, which summons he 
 immediately obeyed. The doctor introduc 
 ed him into his study, and after being seat 
 ed, he earnestly viewed Alonzo for some 
 time, and thus addressed him : 
 16 
 
. I 
 
 182 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 u Young man, your views, your resolu 
 tions, and your present conduct, are totally 
 wrong. Disappointment, you say, has driv 
 en you from, your native country. Disap 
 pointment in what? In obtaining the object 
 on which you most doated. And suppose 
 this object had been obtained, would your 
 h-appiness have been complete : Your own 
 reason, if you coolly consult it. will convince 
 you of the contrary. Do you not remem 
 ber when an infant, how you cried, and 
 teazed your nurse, or your parents, for a 
 rattle, or some gay trinket ? Your whole 
 soul was fixed upon the enchanting bauble; 
 but when obtained, you soon cast it avay, 
 and sighed as earnestly for some other tri 
 fle, some new toy. Thus it is through life; 
 the fancied value of an object ceases with 
 the attainment ; it becomes familiar, and 
 its charm is lost. 
 
 " Was it the splendours of beauty which 
 enraptured you ? Sickness may, and age 
 must destroy the symmetry of the most fin 
 ished form the brilliancy of the finest fea 
 tures. Was it the graces of the mind ? I 
 tc-11 yon, that by familiarity, these allure 
 ments are lost, and the mind, left vacant, 
 turns to some other source to supply re/M;i. 
 
 " Stripped of all their intrinsic value, how 
 poor how vain, and how worthless, are those 
 things we name pleasures, and enjoyments. 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA*. # 183 
 
 a Besides, the attainment of your wishes 
 might have been the death of your hopes. 
 If. my reasoning is correct, the ardency of 
 your passion might have closed with the 
 pursuit. An every day suit, however rich 
 and costly the texture, is soon worn thread- 
 hare. On your part, indifference would con 
 sequently succeed : on the part of your 
 partner, disappointment, jealousy, and dis 
 gust. What might follow is needless for me 
 to name; your soul must shudder at the 
 idea of conjugal infidelity ! 
 
 " But admitting the most favourable con 
 sequences ; turn the brightest side of the 
 picture; admitting as much happiness as 
 the connubial state will allow : how might 
 your bosom have been w r ounded by the sick 
 ness and death of your children, or their 
 disorderly and disobedient conduct ! You 
 must know also, that the warmth of youth 
 ful passion must soon cease, arid it is mere 
 ly a hazardous chance whether friendship 
 will supply the absence of affection. 
 
 "After all, my young friend, it will be 
 well for you to consider, whether the all- 
 wise dispensing hand of Providence, has not 
 directed this matter which you esteem so 
 great an affliction, :br ycur greatest good, 
 and most essential advantage. And suffer 
 me to tell you, that in all my observations 
 on life, I have always found that those con- 
 
184 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 nections which were formed from inordi 
 nate passion, or what some would call pure 
 affection, have been ever the most unhap 
 py. Examine the varied circles of society, 
 you will there see this axiom demonstrat- 
 .ed; you will there see how few among the 
 sentimentally refined are even apparently 
 at ease; while those, insusceptible of what 
 you name tender attachments, or who re 
 ceive them only as things of course, plod on 
 through life, without even experiencing the 
 least inconvenience from a want of the 
 pleasures they are supposed to bestow, or 
 the pains they are sure to create. Beware, 
 then, my son, beware of yielding the 
 heart to the effeminacies of passion. Ex 
 quisite sensibilities are ever subject to ex 
 quisite inquietudes. Counsel with correct 
 reason, place entire dependence on the 
 SUPREME, and the triumph of fortitude and 
 resignation will be yours." 
 
 Franklin paused. His reasonings, how 
 ever they convinced the understanding, 
 could not heal the wounds of Alonzo s 
 bosorn. In Melissa he looked for as much 
 happiness as earth could afford, nor could 
 he see any prospect in life which could 
 repair the loss he had sustained. 
 
 " You have, resumed the philosopher, de 
 serted an indulgent father, a fond and ten 
 der mother, who must want your aid ; now, 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 1&5 
 
 perhaps, unable to toil for bread ; now, pos 
 sibly laid upon the bed of sickness, calling, 
 iu anguish or delirium, for the filial hand of 
 
 their only sen to administer relief." All 
 
 the parental feelings of Alonzo were now 
 called into poignant action. = u You have 
 left a country, bleeding at every pore, des 
 olated by the ravages of war, wrecked by 
 the thunders of battle, her heroes slain, her 
 children captured. This country asks she 
 demands you owe her your services : God 
 and nature, call upon you to defend her, 
 while here you bury yourself in in-glorious 
 inactivity, pining for a hapless object, which, 
 by all your lamentations, you can never 
 bj ing back to the regions of mortality." 
 
 This aroused the patriotic flame in the 
 bosom o AlonzOj and he voluntarily ex^ 
 claimed, " I will go to the relief of my pa 
 rents I will fly to the defence of my coun 
 try!" 
 
 "In former days, continued Franklin, 1 
 was well acquainted with your father. As 
 soon as you informed me of his failure, I 
 wrote to my correspondent in England, and 
 found, as I expected, that he had been over 
 reached by swindlers* and sharpers. The 
 
 pretended failure of the merchants with 
 whom he was in company, was all a sham, 
 as, also the reported loss of the ships in their 
 employ. The merchants fled to England : 
 16* 
 
186 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 I have had them arrested, and they have 
 given up their effects to much more than 
 the amount of their debts. -I have there 
 fore procured a reversion of your father s 
 losses, which, with costs, damages, and in 
 terests, when legally stated, he will receive 
 of my agent in Philadelphia, to whom I shall 
 transmit sufficient documents by you, and I 
 shall advance you a sum equal to the ex 
 penses of your voyage, which will be liqui 
 dated by the said agent. A ship sails in a 
 few days from Havre, for Savannah in 
 Georgia : it would, indeed, be more con 
 venient were she bound to some more north 
 ern port, but I know of no other which will 
 sail for any part of America for some time. 
 In her therefore I would advise you to take 
 passage : it is not very material on what 
 part of the continent you are landed; you 
 will soon reach Philadelphia, transact your 
 business, restore your father to his property, 
 and be ready to serve your country." 
 
 If any thing could have given Alonzo con 
 solation, it must have been this noble, gen 
 erous and disinterested conduct of the great 
 Franklin in favour of his father, by which 
 his family were restored to ease and to in 
 dependence. Ah ! had this but have hap 
 pened ki time to save a life far dearer frhan 
 his own ! The reflection was too painful. 
 The idea, however, of giving joy to his aged 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 187 
 
 parents, hastened his departure. Furnished 
 with proper documents and credentials from 
 Franklin, his benefactor, he took leave of 
 him, with (he warmest expressions of grati 
 tude, as also of Mr. Grafton, and sailed for 
 Savannah, where he arrived in about eight 
 weeks. 
 
 Intent on his purpose, he immediately 
 purchased a carriage and proceeded on for 
 Philadelphia. As he approached Charles 
 ton, his bosom swelled with mournful recol 
 lections. He arrived in that city in the af 
 ternoon, and at evening he walked out, and 
 entered a little ale house, which stood near 
 the iarge burial ground. An elderly woman 
 and two small children were the only per 
 sons in the house, except himself. After 
 calling for a pint of ale, he enquired of the 
 
 old lady, if Col D , (Melissa s iiHe) 
 
 did not live near the city. She informed 
 him that he resided about a mile from the 
 town, where he had an elegant seat, and 
 that he was very rich, 
 
 " Was there not a young lady, Asked A- 
 lonzo, who died there about eighteen 
 months ago ?" 
 
 " La me ! said she, did you know her ? 
 Yes* ancfa sweeter or more handsome 1-a- 
 dy the stfn never shined on. ; And then she 
 was so good, so patient in her sickness. 
 Pocr, dear distressed girl, she pined away 
 
18S ALONZO AMD MELISSA. 
 
 to skin and bones before she died, She 
 was not Col. D s daughter, only some 
 how related: she came here in hopes that 
 a change of air might do her good. She 
 came from la me! I cannot think of the 
 n-arne of the place}- it is a crabbed name 
 though. ?: 
 
 " Connecticut, was it not ? " said Alonzo. 
 
 " yes, that was it, replied she- Dear 
 me! then you knew her, did you, sir? 
 Weil, we hove not her like left in Charles 
 ton,- that we han t ; and then there was 
 such ado at her funeral ; live hundred peo 
 ple, I dare say, with eight young ladies for 
 pail-bearers, all dressed in white, with black 
 ribbons, and all the bells tolling." 
 
 " Where was she buried?" enquirea A- 
 lonzo. 
 
 " In the church-yard right before our 
 door, she answered. My husband is the 
 sexton ; he put up her large white marble 
 
 tomb-stones ; they are the largest and 
 
 whitest in the whole burying-ground ; and 
 so, indeed, they ought to be, for never was 
 there a person who deserved them more." 
 
 Tired with the old woman s garrulity, 
 and with a bosom bursting with anguish^ 
 Alonzo paid for his ale without drinking it, 
 bade her good night, and slowly proceeded 
 to the church-yard. The moon, in full lus 
 tre, shone with solemn, silvery ray, on the 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 189 
 
 sacred piles, and funeral monuments of the 
 sacred dead; the wind murmured mourn 
 fully among t he weeping willows; a solita 
 ry nightingale* sang plaintively in the dis 
 tant forest ; and a whippoorwill, Melissa s 
 favourite bird, whistled near the portico of 
 -the church. The large white tomb-stones 
 SDon caught the eye of Alonzo. He ap 
 proached them with tremulous step, and 
 with feelings too agitated for description. 
 Cn the head-stone he read as follows : 
 SACRED 
 
 To the Memory of inestimable departed 
 WORTH ; 
 
 To unrivalled Excellence and Virtue. 
 Miss MELISSA D , 
 
 Whose remains are deposited here, and 
 
 whose ethereal part became a seraph, 
 
 October 26, 1776, 
 In the 18th year of her age. 
 
 Alon/o bent, kneeled, he prostrated him 
 self, he clasped the green turf which enclo 
 sed her grave, he k watered it with his tears, 
 he warmed it with his sighs. "Where ar 
 tliou, bright beam of heavenly light! he 
 said. Come to my troubled soul, blessed 
 spirit ! Come, holy shade ! come in all 
 thy native loveliness, and cheer the bosom 
 
 *This bird, though not an inhabitant of tho northern states, ii 
 frequently to S anot with in Georgia and the Carolinas. 
 
190 ALONZO AXD MELISSA. 
 
 of wretchedness, by thy grief dispersing 
 smile! On the ray of yon evening stir de 
 scend. One moment leave the celestial 
 regions of glory leave, cwie moment, thy 
 sister beatitudes, and gHde, in entrancing 
 beauty, before me: wave, benignly wave 
 thy white hand, and assuage the anguish of 
 despairing sorrow! Alas! in vain my in 
 vocation! A curtain, impenetrable, is drawn 
 betwixt me and thee, only to be, disclosed 
 by the dissolution of nature." 
 
 He arose and walked away: suddenly he 
 stopped. "Yet said he, if spirits depart 
 ed lose not the power of recollection ; if 
 they have knowledge of present eveuts on 
 earth, Melissa cannot have forgotten me 
 she must pity mo." He returned to the 
 grave; he took her miniature from his bo 
 som ; he held it up, and earnestly viewed 
 it by tae moon s pale ray. 
 
 "Jft, Franklin ! he exclaimed, how ten 
 derly does she beam her lovely eye upon 
 me! How often have I drank delicious exr 
 tacy from, -the delicacy of those unrivalled 
 charms!) tfow often have they taught me 
 to anticipate superlative and uninterrupted 
 Hiss!" Mistaken and delusive hope! [re 
 turning the miniature to his bosom. 1 Vain 
 and presumptous assurance. Then [ poin 
 ting to the grave \ there behold how my 
 dearest wishes, my fondest expectations are 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 191 
 
 realized ! Hallowed turf! lie lightly on 
 
 her bosom! Sacred willows! sprinkle the 
 dews gently over her grave, while the mour 
 ning breezes sigh sadly amid your branches! 
 Here may the "widowed wild rose love to 
 bloom!" Here may the first placid beams 
 of morning delight to linger ; from hence, 
 the evening ray reluctantly withdraw! 
 And when the final trump shall renovate 
 and arouse the sleeping saint; when on 
 "buoyant step" she soars to glory, may our 
 meeting spirits join in beatifick transport ! 
 May my enraptured ear catch the first ho 
 ly vyhisper of her consecrated lips." 
 
 Alonzo having thus poured out the effu 
 sions of an overcharged heart, pensively re 
 turned to the inn, which he entered and 
 seated himself in the common room, in deep 
 contemplation. As usual at public inns, a 
 number of people were in the room, among 
 whom were several officers of the Ameri 
 can army. A.lonzo was too deeply absorb 
 ed in melancholy reflection, to notice pass 
 ing incidents, until a young officer came, 
 seated himself by him, and entered into 
 conversation respecting the events of the 
 war. He appeared to be about Alonzo s 
 age; his person was interesting, his man 
 ners sprightly, his observations correct. 
 Alonzo was, in some degree, aroused from 
 his abstractedness; the manners of the 
 
192 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 stranger pleased him. His frankness, liis 
 ease, his understanding, his urbanity, void 
 of vanity or sophistication, sympathetically 
 caught the feelings of Alonzo, and he even 
 felt a sort of solemn regret when the stran 
 ger departed. He soon retired to bed, de 
 termining to proceed early in the morning. 
 
 He arose about daylight ; the horizon 
 was overcast, and it had begun to rain, 
 which before sunrise had encreased to a vi 
 olent storm. He fou-nd therefore that he 
 must content himself to stay until it was 
 over, which did not happen till near night, 
 and too late to pursue his journey. He 
 wa informed by th2 rnri-keeper, that the 
 theatre, which had been closed since the 
 commencement of the war, was to be open 
 ed that night only, with the tragedy of Gus- 
 tavaS) and close with a representation of 
 Burgoyne s capture, and some other recent 
 events of the American war % To " wing 
 the hours with swifter speed," Alonzo de 
 termined to go to the theatre, and at the 
 hour appointed he repaired thither. 
 
 As he was proceeding to take his seat, 
 he passed the box where sat the young offi 
 cer, whose manners had so prepossessed 
 him the preceding evening at the inn. He 
 immediately arose : they exchanged s-aluta- 
 tions, and Alonzo walked on and took his 
 seat. The evening was warm, and the 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA, 193 
 
 house exceedingly crowded. After the tra 
 gedy was through, arid before the after 
 piece commenced, the young officer came 
 to Alonzo s box, and made some remarks 
 on the merit of the actors. While they 
 were discoursing, a bustle took place in one 
 part of the houso, r.nd several people gath 
 ered around a box, at a little distance from 
 them. The officer turned, left Alonzo, and 
 hastened to the place. To the general en 
 quiry, " whafs the matter ?" it was answer 
 ed, that " a lady had fainted." She was 
 led out, and the tumult subsided. 
 
 As soon as the after-piece was closed, 
 Alonzo returned to the inn. As he passed 
 along he cast his eyes toward the church 
 yard, where lay the " wither d blessings of 
 his richest joys." Affection, passion, in 
 clination, urged him to go and breathe a 
 farewell sigh, to drop a final tear over the 
 grave of Melissa. Discretion, reason, wis 
 dom forbade it forbade that he re-pierce 
 the ten thousand wounds of his bosom, b}r 
 the acute revival of unavailing sorrows 
 He hurried to his chamber. 
 
 As he prepared to retire to rest, he saw 
 a book lying on the table near bs bed. On 
 taking it up he found it to be Youug^s Night 
 Thoughts, a book which, in happier days, 
 had been the solaee of many a gloomy, ma 
 ny a lucid hour. He took it up and the 
 17 M 
 
194 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 first lines he cast his eyes upon were the 
 following : 
 
 "Song, beauty, youth, ISfd, virtue, joy: this group 
 
 Of bright ideas flowers of Paradise, 
 
 As yet unforfeit ! in one blaze we bind. 
 
 Kneel, and present it to the skies ; us all 
 
 We guess of Heaven ! And these were all her own 
 
 And she was mine, and I was was most blest 
 
 Like blossom d trees o erturn d by vernal storm, 
 
 Lovely in death the beauteous ruin lay 
 
 Ye that e er lost an angel, pity me." 
 
 His tears fell fast upon the book ! He re 
 placed it and flung himself into bed. Sleep 
 was far from him ; he closed not his eyes 
 till the portals of light were unbarred in the 
 east, when he fell into interrupted slumbers. 
 
 When he awoke, the morning was con 
 siderably advanced. He arose. One con 
 solation was yet left to see his parents 
 happy. He went down to order his car 
 riage; his favourite stranger, the young offi 
 cer, was in waiting, and requested a private 
 interview. They immediately retired to a 
 separate room, when the stranger thus ad 
 dressed Alonzo : 
 
 " From our short acquaintance, you may, 
 sir, consider it singular that I should at 
 tempt to scrutinize your private concerns, 
 and more extraordinary you may esteem it, 
 when I inform you of my reasons for so do 
 ing. Judging, however, from appearances, 
 I have no doubt of your candour. If my 
 
ALON7.0 AND MELISSA. 195 
 
 questions should be deemed improper, you 
 vviJl tell me so." 
 
 Alonzo assured him he would treat him 
 candidly. " This I believe, said the young 
 officer: I take the liberty therefore to ask 
 if you are an American 1" "I am," an 
 swered Alonzo. " I presume, said the stran-. 
 ger the question is a delicate one I pre 
 sume your family is respectable?" "Sa 
 credly so," replied Alonzo. " Are you mar 
 ried, sir ?" " I am not, and have aver 
 been single." "Have you any prospects 
 of connecting in marriage ?" " I have not, 
 sir." " I may then safely proceed, said the 
 stranger ; I trust you will hear me atten 
 tively ; you will judge maturely; you will 
 decide correctly, and I am confident that 
 you will answer me sincerely. 
 
 " A young lady of this city, with whom I 
 am well acquainted, and to whom, indeed, 
 I am distantly related, whose father is af 
 fluent, whose connections are eminently 
 respectable, whose manners are engaging, 
 whose mind is virtue, whose elegance of 
 form and personal beauty defy competition, 
 is the cause, sir, of this mission. Early in 
 troduced into the higher walks of life, she 
 has passed the rounds of fashionable compa 
 ny ; numberless suitors sighed for her hand, 
 whom she complaisantly dismissed without 
 disobliging, as her heart had not yet been 
 
196 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 touched by the tender passion of love. Sur 
 prising as it may, however, seem, it is now 
 about six months since she saw in her drcnm 
 the youth who possessed the power to in 
 spire her with this passion. In Ler dream 
 she saw a young gentleman whose interest 
 ing manners and appearance, impressed her 
 so deeply that she found she must be un 
 happy without him. She thought it was in 
 a mixed company she saw him, but that she 
 could not get an opportunity to speak to 
 him. It seemed that if she could but speak 
 With him, all difficulties would at once be re 
 moved. At length he approached her, and 
 , ustashe was about to address her, ske awoke. 
 
 This extraordinary dream she had com 
 municated to several of her acquaintance. 
 Confident that she should some time cr 
 ether behold the real person whose sem 
 blance she had seen in her dream, she has 
 never since been perfectly at ease in her 
 mind. Her father, who has but two chil 
 dren, one beside herself, being dotingly fond 
 of her, has promised that if ever she meets 
 this unknown stranger, he will not oppose 
 their union, provided he is respectable, and 
 that, if worthy of her hand, he will make 
 him independent. 
 
 On my return from the inn the evening 
 I first saw you, I told my sister I beg par 
 don, sir 1 was wandering from my sub- 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 197 
 
 ject after I first met you at the km, I fell 
 in company with the lady, and in a rallying 
 way told her that 1 had seen her invisible 
 bectii) as we used to call the gentleman o 
 the dream. I superficially described you,, 
 person, and descanted a little on the em 
 bellishments of your mind. She listened 
 with some curiosity and attention ; but I 
 had so often jested with her in this manner, 
 that she thought little of it At the play 
 last night, I had just been speaking to her 
 when 1 came to your box : her eyes fallow 
 ed me, but no sooner had they rested on 
 you, than she fainted! This was the cause 
 of my leaving )ou so abruptly, and not re 
 turning. We conveyed her home, when 
 she informed me that you was the person 
 slie had. seen in her dieam ! 
 
 "To me only, she preferred disclosing the 
 circumstance; at present, for reasons which 
 must be obvious to your understanding. 
 Even her father and mother are not infci- 
 med of it, and should my mission puve un 
 successful, none except you, sir, she ancf 
 myself, I hope and trust, will ever know any 
 thing of the matter. 
 
 " Now, sir, it is necessary <or me farther 
 to explain. As singular as the circumstan 
 ces which I have related may appear to 
 you, to me they must appear as strange. 
 One valuable purpose is, however, answer- 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 ed thereby; it will exclude the imputation 
 
 of capnciousness- the freakish whim of 
 
 love at first sight, which exists only in nov 
 els and romances. You, sir, are yountr, 
 unmarried, unaffianced, your arTectionrftet*: 
 such is the condition of the lady. She en 
 quires not into the state of your property ! 
 she asks not riches : If she obtains the 
 object of her choice, on him, as I have told 
 
 you, will her father bestow affluence. 
 
 Whatever, sir, mny be your pretensions to 
 eminence, and they may be many, the lady 
 is not your inferior. Her education also is 
 such as would do honour to a gentleman of 
 taste. 
 
 "I will not extend my remarks; you 
 perfectly understand me what answer shall 
 I return ?" 
 
 Alonzo sighed : for a few moments he 
 was silent. 
 
 " Perhaps, said the stranger, you may 
 consider the mode of this message as bear 
 ing the appearance of indecorum. If so, I 
 presume, on reviewing the incidents which 
 to which enforced it, as the most safe, the 
 only means of sure communication, you will 
 change your opinion. Probably you would 
 not wish finally to decide until you have 
 visited the lady. This was my expecta 
 tion, and I am, therefore, ready to intro 
 duce you to her presence." 
 
ALONZO AIS D MELISSA. 199 
 
 No, sir, said Alonzo, so far from con 
 sidering the message indecorous, I esteem it 
 a peculiar honour, both as respects the lady 
 and yourself. Nor is it necessary that I 
 should visit the lady, to confirm the truth 
 of what you have related. You will not, 
 sir, receive it as an adulatory compliment, 
 when I say, that although our acquaintance 
 is short, yet my confidence in your integri 
 ty *s such as to require no corroborating 
 facts to establish your declaration. But, 
 sir, there are obstacles, insuperable obsta 
 cles, to the execution of the measures you 
 would propose. 
 
 "Ycur frankness to me. demands, on my 
 part, equal candour. I assured you that I 
 was unmarried, and had no prospect of en 
 tering into matrimonial engagements ; this 
 is indeed the fact : but it is also true that 
 my affections my first, my earliest affec 
 tions were engaged, uriaiienably engaged, to 
 an object which is now no more. Perhaps 
 you may esteem it singular ; peahaps you 
 will consider it enthusiasm ; but, sir, it is 
 impossible that my heart should admit a 
 second nd similar impression." 
 
 The stranger paused. V^Recent disap 
 pointments of this nature, he replied, com 
 monly leave th.e mind under such gloomy 
 influences. Time, however, the soother of 
 severest woes, will, though slowly, yet 
 
200 ALON ZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 surely, disperse the clouds of anguish, and 
 the rays of comfort and consolation will 
 beam upon the soul. I wish not to be con 
 sidered importunate, but the day may ar 
 rive when you may change your present de 
 termination, and then will you not regret 
 that you refused so advantageous an over 
 ture ? 
 
 "That day will never arrive, sir answer 
 ed Alonzo : I have had time for deliberate 
 reflection since the melancholy event took 
 place. I have experienced a sufficient 
 change of objects and country ; the effect 
 is the same. The wound is still recent, 
 and so it will ever remain : indeed I can 
 not wish it otherwise. There is a rich and 
 sacred solemnity in rryy sorrows, sir,whic,h 
 I would not exchange for the most splendid 
 acquirements of weaMi, or the most digni 
 fied titles of fame." 
 
 The young officer sat for some time si 
 lent. "Well, sir, he said, since it is thus, 
 seeing that these things are so, I will urge 
 you no farther. You will pardon me res 
 pecting the part I have taken in this busi 
 ness, since it was with the purest designs. 
 May consolation, comfort, and happiness, 
 yet be yours." 
 
 "To you and your fair friend, said Alon 
 zo, I consider myself under the highest ob 
 ligations. The gratitude I feel I can but 
 
ALONZO AM. MELISSA. 20) 
 
 feebly express. Believe mo > sir, \vher I 
 teJi.rou, (end it is all I can say,) that your 
 ingenuous conduct has left impressions in my 
 bosom which can never be obliterated " 
 
 The stranger held out his hand, which 
 Alonzo ardently grasped. They were si 
 lent, bet thei.- eyes spoke sympathy, arid 
 they parted 
 
 Alonzo immediately prepared, and was 
 soon ready to depart. As he was stepping 
 into his carnage, he saw the young officer 
 returning. As he came up, "I must detain 
 you a few moments longer, he said, and I 
 will give you no farther trouble. You will 
 recollect that the lady about whom i have 
 so much teazed you, when she became ac 
 quainted with you in her dream, believed 
 thot if she could speak with you, all diili- 
 rulties would be renicvedc Conscious that 
 this may be the case, {/or with all her ac 
 complishments she is a. ht.tle superstitious,) 
 she desires to see you. You have nothing 
 to fear, sir ; she would not for the world 
 yield you her hand, unless in return you 
 could give her your heart. Nr.r was she 
 willing you should know that she made this 
 request, but wished me f o introduce- you, 
 as it were by stratagem. Confident, how 
 ever, that you would thus far yield to the 
 caprice of a lady, I chose to tell you the 
 
202 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 truth. She resides near by, and it will not 
 hinder you long." 
 
 " It is capriciousness in the extreme," 
 thought Alonzo ; but lie told the stranger 
 he would accompany him who immediate 
 ly stepped into the carriage, and they 
 drove, by his direction, .to an elegant house 
 in a street at a little distance, and alight 
 ed. As they entered the house, a servant 
 handed the stranger a note, which he hasti 
 ly looked over : " Tell the gentleman I will 
 wait on him in a moment," said he to the 
 servant, who instantly withdrew. Turning 
 to Alonzo, " a person is in waiting, said he, 
 on urgent business; excuse me, therefore, 
 if it is with reluctance I retire a few mo 
 ments, after I have announced you ; I will 
 soon again be with you." 
 
 They then ascended a flight of stairs : the 
 stranger opened the door of a chamber 
 " The gentleman I mentioned to you mad 
 am," he said. Alonzo entered ; the stran 
 ger closed the door and retired. The lajy 
 ,vas sitting by a window at the lower end of 
 the room, but arose as Alonzo was announc 
 ed. She. was dressed in sky-blue silk, em 
 broidered with spangled lace ; a gemmed 
 tiara gathered her hair, from which was 
 suspended a green veil, according to the 
 mode of those times ; a silken girdle, with 
 diamond clasps, surrounded her" waist, and 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 203 
 
 a brilliant "parkled upon her bosom, "The 
 stilmgeF-*- description was not exaggerated, 
 thought Alonzo ; for, except one, I have 
 never seen a more elegant figure :" and he 
 almost wished the veil removed, thrt he 
 might behold her features. 
 
 "You will please to be ceated, sir, she 
 saiJ. I know not how I feel an incon 
 ceivable diffidence in making an excuse for 
 the inconveniences my silly caprices have 
 given yon." 
 
 Enchanting melody was. in. her voice! 
 Alonzo knew not why, lout it thrilled his 
 bosom, electrified his soul, and vibratpd ev 
 ery nerve of his heart. Confused and hur 
 ried sensations, melancholy, yet pleasing ; 
 transporting- as the recurrence%f youthfu. 
 joys, enrapturing as dreams of early child 
 hood, passed in rapid succession over his 
 imagination ! 
 
 ^She advanced towards him and turned 
 aside her veil. Her eyes were suffused, and 
 tears streamed down her cheeks. Alonzo 
 started his whole frame shook he gasped 
 
 iprbreatnl "Melissa! he convulsively 
 
 ,exclnimed, Gocf of infinite wonders, it is 
 Melissa.!" 
 
 Again will the incidents of our history 
 produce a pause. Our sentimental readers 
 will experience a recurrence of sympathet 
 ic sensibilities, and will attend more ea 
 
204 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 gerly to the final scene of our drama. 
 
 " Melissa alive!" may they say " impossi- 
 hie ! Did not Alonzo see her death in the 
 public prints? Did not her cousin at New- 
 London inform him of the circumstances, 
 and was he not in mourning? Did n-ot the 
 dying Beauman confirm the melancholy 
 fact? And was not the unquestionable tes 
 timony of her brother Edgar sufficient to 
 seal the truth of all this ? Did not the sex- 
 ton r s wife who knew not Alonzo, corrobo 
 rate it? And did not Alonzo finally read 
 her name, her age, and the time of her 
 death, on her tomb-stone, which exactly 
 accorded with the publication of her death 
 in the papers, and his own knowledge of 
 he-r age ? And is not this sufficient to 
 prove, clearly and incontestibly prove, that 
 she is dead? And yet here she is again, 
 in all her primitive beauty and splendour ! 
 No, this surely can never be. However 
 the author may succeed in his description, 
 in painting reanimated nature, he is no ma 
 gician, or if he is, he cannot raise UIP, 
 dead. 
 
 " Melissa has long since mouldered into 
 dust, and he has raised up some female 
 Martin Guerre, or Thomas Hoag some 
 person, fro-m whose near resemblance to 
 the deceased, he thinks to impose upon us 
 and upon Alonzo also, for Melissa. But it 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 205 
 
 will not do ; it must be the identical Me 
 lissa herself, or it might as well be he* 
 likeness in a marble statue. What ! c?., 
 Alonzo realize the delicacies, the tender 
 ness, the blandishments of Melissa in 
 another ? Can her substitute point him to 
 Jie rock on New London beach, the bower 
 on her favourite hill, or so feelingly describe 
 the charms of nature 1 Can he, indeed, 
 find in her representative those alluring 
 graces, that pensive sweetness, those unri 
 valled virtues and matchless worth which 
 he found in Melissa, and which attracted, 
 fixed and secured the youngest affections 
 
 of his soul? Impossible !- Or could the 
 
 author even make it out thqAfcAlonzo was 
 deceived by a person so nearly resembling 
 Melissa that he could not distinguish the 
 difference, yet to his readers he must un 
 veil the deception, and, of course, the story 
 will end in disappointment ; it will leave\ 
 an unpleasant and disagreeable impression 
 on the mind of the reader, which in novel 
 writing is certainly wrong. It is proved 
 as clearly as facts can prove, that he hav 
 suffered Melissa to die ; and since she is 
 dead, it is totally beyond his power to 
 
 bring her to life and so his history is 
 
 intrinsically good for nothing. 
 
 Be not quite so hasty, my zealous censor. 
 Did we not tell you that we were detailing 
 18 
 
206 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 facts 1 Shall we disguise or discolour truth 
 to please your taste ? Have we not told 
 you that disappointments are the lot of life? 
 Have we not, according to the advice of 
 Jie moralist, led Alonzo to the temple of 
 philosophy, the shrine of reason, and the 
 sanctuary of religion ? If all these fail if in 
 these Alonzo cannot find a balsam sufficient 
 to heal his wounded bosom ; then if, in des 
 pite of graves and tomb-stones, Melissa will 
 come to his relief will pour the balm of 
 consolation over his anguished soul, cynical 
 critic, can the author help it? 
 
 It was indeed Melissa, the identical Me 
 lissa, whom Alonzo ascended a tree to catch 
 a last glimpse^f, as she walked up the ave 
 nue to the olcpfiansion, after they had part 
 ed at the draw-bridge, on the morning of 
 the day when she was so mysteriously re 
 moved. " Melissa !" " Alonzo !" 
 
 were all they could articulate : and frown- 
 not, my fair readers, if we tell you that she 
 was instantly in his arms, while he pressed 
 his ardent lips to her glowing cheek. 
 
 Sneer not, ye callous hearted insensibles, 
 ye fastidious prudes, if we inform you that 
 their tears fell in one intermingling shower, 
 that their sighs wafted in one blended breeze. 
 
 The sudden opening of the door aroused 
 them to a sense of their improper -situa 
 tion ; for who but must consider it impro- 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 207 
 
 pf.r to find a joung lady locked in the arms 
 of a gentleman to whom she had just been 
 introduced? The opening of the door, 
 therefore, caused them quickly to change 
 their position ; riot so hastily, however, but 
 that the young officer who then entered the 
 
 room had a glimpse of their situation. 
 
 " Aha ! said he, hav r e I caught you ? Is my 
 pTuTosophic Plato so soon metamorphosed 
 to a bon ton enamarato ? But a few hours 
 ago, sir, and you were proof against the 
 whole arcana of beauty, and all the artille 
 ry of the graces ; but no sooner are you for 
 one moment tete a tete with a fashionable 
 bellcj than your heroism and your resolu- 
 ions are vanquished, your former *ies dis 
 solved, and yo?jr deceased Mariner totally 
 forgotten or neglected, by the virtue of a 
 single glance. Well, so it is : Amor uincit 
 omnia is my motto ; to thee all conquering 
 beauty, oifr firmest determinations must 
 bow, I cannot censure you for discovering, 
 though late, that one living object is really 
 of more intrinsic value than two dead ones, 
 indeed, sir, I cannot but applaud your de 
 termination, 
 
 " The laws of honour, said Alonzo, smil 
 ing, compel me to submit to become the sub 
 ject of your raillery and deception ; I am 
 in your power." 
 
 " I acknowledge, said the officer, that I 
 
208 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 have a little deceived you, my story was 
 fiction founded on truth the novel style : 
 but for the deceptive part, you may thank 
 your little gipsey of a nymph there, point- 
 fig to Melissa ; she planned and I execut 
 ed." 
 
 " How ready you gentleman are, replied 
 Melissa, when accused of impropriety, to 
 cast the blame on the defenceless! So it 
 was with our first parents, and so it is still. 
 But you must remember that Alonzo is yet 
 to hear my story ; there, sir, I have the ad 
 vantage of you." 
 
 " Then I confess, said he, looking at A- 
 lonzo, you will be too hard for me, and so 
 I will say no more about it." 
 
 Melissa then introduced the young officer 
 to Alonzo, by the appellation of Capt. Wil- 
 mot. " He is the son of my deceased un 
 cle, said she, a cousin to whom I am much 
 indebted, as you shall hereafter know." 
 
 A coach drove up to the door, which 
 Melissa informed Alonzo was her uncle s, 
 and was sent to convey Alfred and her home. 
 " You will have no objection to breakfast 
 with me at my uncle s, said Alfred, if it be 
 only to keep our cousin Melissa in counte 
 nance. 
 
 Alonzo did not hesitate to accept the invi 
 tation : They immediately therefore enter 
 ed the coach, a servant took care of Alon- 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 20S 
 
 zo s carriage, and they drove to the seat of 
 
 Co!, D , who, with his family, received? 
 
 Alor.zo with much friendship and polite^ 
 ness. Alfred had apprized them of Alon- 
 zo s arrival in town, and of course he was 
 expected. 
 
 Co). D was about fifty years old, his 
 
 manners were majestically grave, and com 
 manding, yet poiished and polite. His fam 
 ily consisted of an amiable wife, considera 
 bly younger than himself, and three chil 
 dren ; the eldest son, about ten years of age, 
 and two daughters, one seven, the otliei 
 four years old. Harmony and cheerfulness 
 reigned in his family, which diffused tran 
 quillity and ease to its members and its 
 guests. 
 
 It was agreed that Alonzo should pass ?, 
 few days at the house of Melissa s uncle 
 when Melissa was to accompany him to 
 Connecticut. Alfred, with some other offi 
 cers, was recruiting for the army, where 
 his regiment then lay, and which he was 
 shortly to join. He could not, therefore, 
 be constantly at his uncle s, though he was 
 principally there white Alonzo staid : but 
 being absent the day after his arrival, Me 
 lissa and Alonzo having retired to a room 
 separate from the family, she gave him the 
 following accourt of what, happened afte* 
 they had parted at the old mansion. 
 18* N 
 
210 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 " The morning after you left me, she said, 
 John came to the bridge and called to be 
 let in : I immediately went to the gate, 
 opened it, and let down the bridge. John 
 informed me that my aunt had suddenly 
 and unexpectedly arrived that morning in 
 company with a strange gentleman, and 
 that he had come for the keys, as my aunt 
 was to visit the mansion that day. I strove 
 to persuade John to leave the keys in my 
 possession, and that I would make all easy 
 with my aunt when she arrived. This, 
 though with much reluctance, he at length 
 consented to, and departed. Soon after 
 this my aunt came, and without much cere 
 mony demanded the keys, insinuating that 
 I had obtained them from John by imposi 
 tion, and for the basest purposes. This a- 
 roused me to indignation, and I answered 
 by informing her that whatever purposes 
 the persecutson and cruelty of my family 
 had compelled me to adopt, my conscience, 
 Under present circumstances approved them, 
 and I refused to give her the keys. She 
 then ordered me to prepare to leave the 
 mansion, and accompany her to her resi 
 dence at the house of John. I told her that 
 I had been placed there by my father, and 
 should not consent to a removal unless by 
 his express orders. She then left me, inti 
 mating that she would soon let me know 
 
ALCNZO AND ME T ISSA. 211 
 
 that her authority was not to be thus tramp 
 led upon with impunity. 
 
 * I immediately raised the bridge, and 
 made fast the gate, determining, on no con 
 siderations, to suffer it to be opened until 
 evening. The day passed nway without 
 any occurrence worthy of note, and as soon 
 as it was dark, I went, opened the gate, 
 and cautiously let down the bridge. I then 
 returned to the mansion, and placed the 
 candle, as we had concerted, at the win 
 dow. Shortly after I heard a carriage roll 
 over the bridge and proceed up^the avenue. 
 --My heart fluttered; I wished I hardly 
 knew what I did wish; but I feared I was 
 about to act improperly, as I had no other 
 idea but that it was you, Alonzo, who was 
 approaching. The carriage stopped near 
 the door of the mansion ; a footstep ascend 
 ed the stairs. Judge of my surprise and 
 agitation, when my father entered the cham 
 ber ! A maid and two men servants follow 
 ed him. He directed me to make imme 
 diate preparations for leaving the mansion * 
 which command, with the assistance of the 
 servants, I obeyed with a heart too full foi 
 utterance. 
 
 " As soon as I was ready, we entered the 
 carriage, which drove rapidly away. As 
 we passed out of the gate, I looked back at 
 the mansion, and saw the light of the can- 
 
212 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 die, which I had forgotten to remove, stream 
 ing from the window, and it was by an ex 
 traordinary effort that I prevented myself 
 from fainting. 
 
 " The carriage drove, as near as I could 
 judge, about ten miles, when we stopped at 
 an inn for the night, except my father, who 
 returned home on horseback, leaving me at 
 the inn in company with the servants, where 
 the carriage also remained. The maid was 
 a person who had been attached to me from 
 my infancy. I asked her whether she could 
 explain these mysterious proceedings. 
 
 " All I know, Miss, I will tell you, said 
 she. Your father received a letter to-day 
 from your aunt, which put him in a terri 
 ble flutter : he immediately ordered his 
 carriage and directed us to attend him. He 
 m-et your aunt at a tavern somewhere a- 
 way back, and she told him that the gen 
 tleman who used to come to our house so 
 much once, had contrived to carry you oif 
 from the place where you lived with her; 
 so your father concluded to send you to 
 your uncle s in Carolina, and said that I 
 must go with you. And to tell you the 
 truth, Miss, I was not displeased with it ; 
 for your father has grown so sour of late, 
 that we have little peace in the house." 
 
 "By this I found that my fate was fixed, 
 and I gave myself up for some time to una- 
 
AI.ONZO AND MELISSA. 213 
 
 vailing sorrow. The maid informed me 
 that my mother was well, which was one- 
 sweet consolation among my many troubles ; 
 but she knew nothing of my father s late 
 conduct. 
 
 "The nex*. morning we proceeded, and I 
 was hurried on bv rapid stages to thu Ches- 
 apeak, where, with the maid and one man 
 servant, I was put on board a packet for 
 Charleston, at which place we arrived in 
 due time 
 
 "My uncle find his family received mo 
 with much tenderness : the servant deliver 
 ed a package of litters to my uncle from 
 my father. The carriage with one servant 
 (the diiver) had returned from the Cli3sa- 
 peak fo Connecticut. 
 
 "My father had bat one brother and two 
 sisters, or which my uncle here is the young 
 est- One of my aunts, the old maid, who 
 was my protectress at tho old mansion, you 
 have se^n at my father s. The other was 
 the mother of Alfred : sh~ married very 
 young, to a gentleman in Hartford, of the 
 name ot Wilmot, who fell before the walls 
 of Louisburg-, in the old French war. My 
 aunt did not long survive h m ; herhea th, 
 which had been for some time, declining, 
 received so serious a shock by this catastro 
 phe, that she A\A a few months after the 
 melancholy tidings arrived leaving Alfred, 
 
214 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 their only child then an infant, to the pro 
 tection of his relations, who as soon as he ar 
 rived at a suitable age, placed him at school. 
 "My grandfather, who had the principal 
 management of Mr. Wilmot s estate, sent 
 my uncle, who was then young and undiar 
 ried, to Hartford, for the purpose of trans 
 acting the necessary business. Here he 
 became "acquainted with a young lady, emi 
 nent for beauty and loveliness, but without 
 fortune, the daughter of a poor mechanic. 
 As soon as my grandfather was informed 
 of this attachment, he, in a very peremp 
 tory manner, ordered my uncle to break 
 off the connection on pain of his highest 
 displeasure. But such is the force of early 
 impressions, (Melissa sighed) that my uncle 
 found it impossible to submit to these firm 
 injunctions; a clandestine marriage ensued, 
 and my grandfather s maledictions in con- 
 sequenee. The union was, however, soon 
 dissolved; my uncle s wife died in about 
 twelve months after their marriage, and 
 soon after the birth of the first child, which 
 was a daughter. Inconsolable and comfort 
 less, my uncle put the child out to nurse, 
 and travelled to the south. After Wander 
 ing about for some time, lie took up his re 
 sidence in Charleston, where he amassed a 
 splendid fortune. He finally married to an 
 amiable and respectable woman, whose ten- 
 
ALONZO AND MELICSA. 215 
 
 derness, though it did not entirely remove, 
 yet greatly alleviated the pangs of early 
 sorrow; and this, added to the httie blan 
 dishments of a young family, iixed him in a 
 state of more eontentedness than he once 
 ever expected to see, 
 
 c; His daughter by his first wife, when 
 she became of pioper age, was sent to a re 
 spectable boarding-school in Boston, w.iere 
 she remained until within about two years 
 before I came here. 
 
 " Alfred was educated at Harvard Coi 
 lege: as soon as he had graduated, became 
 here on ray uncle s request, and has since 
 remained in his family. 
 
 - " Soon after I arrived here; my uncle 
 came into my chamber one day li Melissa 
 said he, I find by your father s letters tha 
 he considers you to have formed an impro 
 per connection. I wish you to give me a 
 true statement of the matter, and if any 
 thing can be done to reconcile you to your 
 father, you may depend upon my assist 
 ance. I have seen some troubles in this 
 way myseif, in my early days; perhaps my 
 counsel may be of some service-" 
 
 " I immediately gave a correct account 
 of every particular circumstance. f:o.n the 
 time of my first acquaintance with )ot<. un 
 til my anival at this house. He sat some 
 time silent, and then told me tbat my fa- 
 
216 ALONZO AND MELISSA 
 
 ther, he believed, had drawn the worst side 
 of the picture ; and that he had urged him 
 to exert every means in his power to re 
 claim me to obedience: That Beauman was 
 to follow mo in a few months, and that, if 
 I still refused to yield him my hand, my fa 
 ther positively and solemnly declared that 
 he would discard me forever, pnd strenu 
 ously enjoined it upon him to do the same. 
 " I well know my brother s temper, contin 
 ued my uncle; the case is difficult, but 
 something must be done. I will immedi 
 ately write to your father, desiring him 
 not to proceed too rashly; in the mean 
 time we must consider what measures to 
 pursue. You must not, my niece, you must 
 not be sacrificed." So saying, he* left me, 
 highly consoled that, instead of a tyrant, I 
 had found a friend in ray new protector. 
 
 " Alfred was made acquainted with the 
 affair, and many we. e the plans projected 
 for my benefit, and abandoned as indefeasi 
 ble, till an event happened which called 
 forth all the fortitude of my uncle to sup 
 port it, and operated m the end to free me 
 from persecution. 
 
 " My uncle s daughter, by his first wife, 
 was of a very delicate and sijckly constitu 
 tion, and her health evidently decreasing. 
 After she came to this place 5 she was sent 
 to a village en one of the high hills of Pe- 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 217 
 
 dee, where she remained a considerable 
 time, she then went to one of the inland 
 towns in North Carolina, from whence she 
 had but just returned with Alfred when I 
 arrived. Afterwards I accompanied her to 
 Georgetown, and other places, attended by 
 her father, so that she was little more 
 kriv>wn in Charleston than myself. But all 
 answered no purpose to the restoration of 
 her health; a confirmed hectic carried her 
 ofTin the bloom of youth. 
 
 " I was but a few months older than she; 
 her name was Melissa, a name which a pi 
 ous grandmother had borne, and was there 
 fore retained in the family. Our similari 
 ty of age, and in some measure of appear 
 ance, our being so little known in Charles 
 ton, and our names being the same, sugges 
 ted to Alfred the idea of imposing on my 
 father, by passing off my cousin s death as 
 my own This -would, at least, deter Beau- 
 man from prosecuting his intenc ed journey 
 to Charles to .1; it would also give tim , for 
 farther deliberation, and might so operate 
 oa my father s feelings as to softer *.hat 
 obduracy of temper, which deeply ais^ iie- 
 ted himself and ethers, and thus finally be 
 productive of happily effecting the designed 
 purpose. 
 
 " My uncle was tco deeply overwhelmed 
 in grief in be particularly consulted on this 
 19 
 
218 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 plan. He however entrusted Alfred to act 
 with full powers, and to use his name for 
 my interest, if necessary. Alfred there 
 fore procured a publication, as of my death, 
 in the Connecticut papers, particularly at 
 New London, the native place of Beau- 
 man. In Charleston it was generally sup 
 posed that it was the niece, and not the 
 
 daughter of Col. D , who had died. 
 
 This imposition was likewise practised 
 upon the sexton, who keeps the register of 
 deaths.* Alfred 4hen wrote a letter to my 
 father, in rny uncle s name, stating the par 
 ticulars of my cousin s death, and applying 
 them to me. The epitaph on her tomb 
 stone was likewise so devised that it would 
 with equal propriety apply either to her or 
 to me. 
 
 " To undeceive you, Alonzo, continued 
 Melis.sa, was the next object. I consulted 
 
 with Alfred how this should be done. 
 
 " My sister, he said, (in our private circles 
 he always called me by the tender name of 
 sister,) I am determined to see you happy 
 before I relinquish the business I have un 
 dertaken : letters are a precarious mode of 
 communication; I will make a journey to 
 Connecticut, find out Alonzo, visit your 
 friends, and see how the plan operates. I 
 
 * This was formerly the case. 
 
ALONZO AND MEI ISSA. 219 
 
 am known to your father, who has ever 
 treated me as a relative. 1 will r?turn as 
 speedily as possible, and we shall then 
 kno\v what measures are best next to pur 
 sue." 
 
 " I requested him to unfold the deception 
 to my mother, and, if he found it expedi 
 ent, to Vincent and Mr. Simpson, in whose 
 friendship and fidelity I was sure he might 
 safely confide. 
 
 " He soon departed, and returned in a- 
 bcut two months. He found my father and 
 mother in extreme distress on account of 
 my supposed death: my mother s grief had 
 brought her on the bed of sickness; but 
 when Alfred had undeceived her she rapid 
 ly revived. My father told Alfred that he 
 seriously regreited opposing my inclina 
 tions, and that, were it possible he could 
 retrace the steps he had taken, he should 
 conduct in a very different manner, as .he 
 was not oniy deprived of me, but Edgar 
 also, whc had gone to Holland in an official 
 capacity, soon after receiving the tidirga ot 
 my death. " I am now childless, V; said my 
 father in teiirs. Alfred s feeling* were mo 
 ved, and could he then have found you, he 
 would have told my father the truth ; but 
 lest he should relapse from present deter- 
 mir.aaons, he considered it his duty still 
 with him. to continue the deception. 
 
22U ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 "On enquiring *it your father s, at Vin 
 cent s, and at Mr Simpson s, he could learn 
 nothing of you, except that you had gone 
 to New London, judging possibly that you 
 would find me there. Alfred therefore de 
 termined to proceed to that place immedi 
 ately. He then confidentially unfulded to 
 your father, Vincent, and Mr. Simpson, 
 the scheme, desiring thrt if you returned 
 you would proceed immediately to Charles 
 ton. My lather was still to be kept in ig 
 norance. 
 
 " Alfred proceeded immediately to New- 
 London: from my cousin there he was in 
 formed of your interview with him; bui 
 from whence you then came, or where you 
 went, he knew not; and after making the 
 strictest enquiry, he could hear nothing 
 more of you By a vessel in that port, 
 bound directly fur Holland, he wrote an 
 account of the whole affair to Edgar, men 
 tioning his unsuccessful search to find you ; 
 and returned to Charleston. 
 
 " \ifred learnt from my friends the cir 
 cumstances which occasionsd my suddea re 
 moval from the old mansion. The morning 
 you left me you was discovered by my 
 aunt, wno.was passing the road in a chair 
 with a gentleman, whom she had then but 
 recently become acquainted with. .My 
 aunt ki;o\v you. They immediately drove 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 221 
 
 to John s hut. On finding that John had 
 left tht keys with me, she sent him fo: 
 them ; and on my refusing to give them up, 
 she came herself, as I have before related; 
 and as she succeeded no better than John, 
 shj returned and dispatched a message to 
 my father, informing him of the circumstan 
 ces, and he-r suspicions of your having been 
 to the mansion, and that, from my having 
 possession of the keys and refusiag to yield 
 them up, there was little doubt but that 
 we had formed a plan for my escape. 
 
 il Alarmed at this information, my father 
 immediately ordered his carriage, drove to 
 the mansion, and removed m;i,-as I have 
 before informed you." 
 
 " I ought to have told you, that the maid 
 and man servant who attended me to 
 Charleston, not liking the country, and 
 growing sickly, were sent back by my un 
 cle, after they had been there about two 
 months." 
 
 Alonzo found by this narative that John 
 had deceived him, when he made his enqui 
 ries of him concerning his knowledge of Me 
 lissa s removal. But this was not surpri 
 sing: John was tenant to Melissa s aunt, 
 and subservient to all her views; she had 
 undoubtedly given him instructions how to 
 act. 
 
 " But who was the strange gentleman 
 19* 
 
222 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 with your aunt ?" enquired Alonzo. " This 
 I will also tell you, answered Melissa, tho 
 it unfolds a tale which reflects no great 
 honour to my family. 
 
 " Hamblin was the name which this man 
 assumed : he said he had been an eminent, 
 merchant in New York, and had left it 
 about the time it was taken by the British. 
 He lodged at an inn where rny aunt fre 
 quently stopped when she was out collect 
 ing her rents, where he first introduced 
 himself to her acquaintance, and ingratia 
 ted himself into her favour by art and in- 
 sidiousness. He accompanied her on her 
 visits to her tenants, and assisted her in 
 collecting her rents. He told her, that 
 when the war came on, he had turned his 
 effects into money, which he had with him, 
 and was now in pursuit of some country 
 place where he migfit purchase a residence 
 to remain during the war. To c^t the sto 
 ry as short as possible, he finally initiated 
 himself so far in rny aunt s favour that she 
 accepted his hand, and, contrary to my 
 father s opinion, she married him, and he 
 soon after persuaded her to sell her property, 
 under pretence of removing to some popu 
 lous town, and living in style. Her proper 
 ty, however, was no sooner sold (which 
 my father bought for ready cash, at a low 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 223 
 
 price) than he found means to realize the 
 money, and absconded. 
 
 " It was afterwards found that his real 
 name was Brenton ; that he had left a wife 
 and family in Virginia in indigent circum 
 stances, where he had spent an ample for 
 tune, left him by his father, in debauchery, 
 and involved himself deeply in debt. He 
 had scarcely time to get off with the booty 
 he swindled from my aunt, when his 
 creditors from Virginia were at his heels. 
 He fled to the British at New York, where 
 he rioted for a few months, was finally 
 stabbed by a soldier in a fracas, and died 
 the next day. He was about thirty-five 
 years old. 
 
 " All these troubles bore so heavily upon 
 my aunt, that she went into a decline, and 
 died about six months ago. 
 
 " After Alfred returned from Connecti 
 cut, he wrote frequently to Vincent and 
 Mr. Simpson, but could obtain no intelli 
 gence concerning you. It would be need 
 less, Alonzo, to describe my conjectures, my 
 anxieties, my feelings! The death of my 
 cousin arid aunt had kept me in crape until, 
 at the instance of Alfred, I put it off yes 
 terday morning at my uncle s house, which 
 Alfred had proposed for the scene of action, 
 after he had discovered the cause of my 
 fainting at the theatre. I did not rea- 
 
224 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 dily come into Alfred s jJlan to deceive you: 
 "Suffer me, he said, to try the constancy 
 
 of your Leander; 1 doubt whether he 
 
 would swim the Hellespont for you." This 
 aroused my pride and confidence, and I per 
 mitted him to proceed." 
 
 Alcnzo then gave Mellissa a minute ac 
 count of all that happened to him from the 
 time of their parting at the old mansion 
 until he met with her the day before. At 
 the mention of Beauinan s fate Melissa 
 sighed. "With how many vain fears, said 
 she, was I perplexed, lest, by some means 
 he should discover my existence and place 
 of residence, after he, alas, was silent in the 
 tomb !" 
 
 Alonzo told Melissa that he had receiv 
 ed a letter from Edsjar, after he arrived in 
 Holland, and that he had written him ar 
 answer, just as he left Paris, informing him 
 of his reasons r or returning to America. 
 
 When the time arrived that Alonzo and 
 Melissa were to set out for Connecticut, 
 Melissa s uncle and Alfred accompanied 
 them as far as Georgetown, where an affec 
 tionate parting took place : The latter re 
 turned to Charleston, and the former pro 
 ceeded on their journey. 
 
 Philadelphia was now in possession of the 
 British troops. Alonzo found Dr. Frank 
 lin s agent at Chester, transacted his busi- 
 
ALON2O AND MELISSA. 225 
 
 ness, went on, arrived at Vincent s where 
 he left Melissa, and proceeded immediate 
 ly tc his father s 
 
 The friends of Alonzo and Melissa were 
 joyfully surprised at their arrival. Melis 
 sa s mother was sent for to Vincent s. Let 
 imagination paint the meeting! As yet 
 however they were not prepared to unde- 
 cieve her father. 
 
 Alonzo found his parents in penurious cir 
 cumstances ; indeed, his father having the 
 preceeding summer, been too indisposed to 
 manage, his little farm with attention, and 
 being unable to hire labourers, his crobs 
 had yeilded but a scanty supply, and he 
 had been compelled to sell most of his 
 stock to answer pressing demands. With 
 great joy they welcomed Alonzo. whom 
 they had given up as lost. "You still find 
 your father poor, Alonzo, said the old gen 
 tleman, but you find him still honest. 
 From my inability to labour, we have lat 
 terly been a little more pressed than usu 
 al ; but having now recovered my health. I 
 trust that that difficulty will soon bs re 
 moved." 
 
 Alonzo asked his father if he ever knew 
 Dr. Franklin. 
 
 "We were school-mates, he replied and 
 were intimately acquainted after we be 
 came young- men in business for ourselves. 
 
 
 
226 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 We have done each other favours ; I once 
 divided my money with Franklin on an 
 urgent occasion to him ; he afterwards 
 repaid me with ample interest he will 
 never forget it." 
 
 Alonzo then related to his father all the 
 incidents of his travels, minutely par 
 ticularizing the disinterested conduct of 
 Franklin, and then presented his father with 
 the fwvr^reion of his estate. The old man 
 fell on his knees, and with tears streaming 
 down his withered cheeks, offered devout 
 thanks to the great Dispenser of all mercies. 
 
 Alonzo then visited Melissa s father, who 
 received him with much complacency. " I 
 have injured, said he, my young friend, 
 deeply injured you; but in doing this, I 
 have inflicted a wound still deeper in my 
 own bosom." 
 
 Alonzo desired him not to renew his sor 
 rows. " What is past, said he, is be 
 yond recal ; but a subject of some impor 
 tance to me, is the object of my present 
 visit. True it is, that your* daughter was 
 the object of my earliest affection an af 
 fection which my bosom must ever retain 
 but being separated by the will of Provi 
 dence for I view Providence as overruling 
 all events for wise purposes I betook myself 
 to travel. Time, you know it is said, sir, 
 will blunt the sharpest thorns of sorrow. 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 227 
 
 [The olJ man sighed."] In my travels I 
 
 hare found a lady so nearly resembling you* 
 daughter, that I was induced to sue for her 
 hand, and have been so happy as to gain 
 the promise of it. The favour I have to 
 ask of you, sir, is only that you will permi* 
 the marriage ceremony to be celebrated 
 in your house, as you know my father is 
 poor, his house small and inconvenient, and 
 that you will also honour me by giving the 
 lady away. In receiving her from your 
 hands, I shall in some measure realize for 
 mer anticipations ; I shall receive her ii\ 
 the character of Melissa." 
 
 " Ah ! said Melissa s father, were it in 
 my power could I but give you the origi 
 nal ; But how vain that wish ! Yes, rny 
 young frienH, your request shall be punctu 
 ally complied with : I will take upon my 
 self the preparations. Name your day, and 
 if the lady Is portionless, in that she shall 
 be to me a Melissa." 
 
 Alonzo bowed his head in gratitude ; 
 and after appointing that day week, he de 
 parted. 
 
 Invitations were once mor^ sent abroad 
 for the wedding of Alonzo and Melissa. 
 Few indeed knew it to be the real Melissa, 
 but they were generally informed of Alon- 
 zo s rcason,s for preferring the celebration 
 at her father s 
 
228 ALONZO AND MELI3SA. 
 
 The evening before the day on which the 
 marriage wao to take place, Alon/o and 
 Melissa were sitting with the Vincents in 
 an upper room, ivhen a person rapped at 
 the door below. Vincent went down, and 
 Immediately returned, introducing, to the 
 Joy and surprise of the company, Edgar ! 
 
 Here, again, we shall leave iv for the im 
 agination to depict the scene of an uffec- 
 jionate brother, meeting a tender and only 
 sister, whom he had long since supposed 
 to be dead ! He had been at his father s, and 
 his mother had let him into the secret, 
 when he immediately hastened to Vin 
 cent s. He told them that he did not stay- 
 long in Holland ; that after receiving A- 
 lonzo s letter from Paris, he felt an un 
 conquerable propensity to return, and soon 
 sailed for America, arrived at Boston, came 
 to New-Haven, look orders in the minis 
 try, and had reached home that day. He 
 informed them that Mr. Simpson and fami 
 ly had arrived at his father s, and some rel 
 atives whom his rmther had invited. 
 i The next morning ushered in the day Iu 
 which the hero and heroine of our story 
 were to consummate their felicity. No 
 cress purposes stood ready to intervene their 
 happiness, no obdurate father, no watchtu!, 
 scowling aunt, to interrupt their transport*. 
 .It wfv*tbe latter end of May; nature was 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 229 
 
 arrayed in her richest ornaments, and a- 
 dorned with her sweetest perfumes. The 
 sun blendid its mild lustre with the land 
 scape s lonely green ; silk-winged breezes 
 frolicked amidst the {lowers ; the spring 
 Birds Barreled in varying strains : 
 
 " The air was fragrance, and the world was love." 
 
 Evening was appointed Tor the ceremo 
 ny, and Edgar w r as to be the offi-ciating cler 
 gyman. 
 
 "To tie th^se bands which nought but death 
 can sever." 
 
 When the hour arrived, they repaired to 
 the hor.se of Melissa s father, wh ::e numer 
 ous guests had assembled. Melissa was in 
 troduced into the bridal apartment, and 
 took her seat among a brilliant circle of la 
 dies. She M as attired in robes " white as 
 the southern clouds," spangled with silver, 
 and trimmed with deep gold lace ; her hair 
 hung oosely upon her shoulders, encircled 
 by a wreath of artificial flowers. She had 
 regained all her former loveliness j the rose 
 and the lily again blended their tinges in 
 her cheek; again pensive sprightlincss spark 
 led in her eye. 
 
 Alonze was now introduced, and took his 
 
 seat at the side of Melissa. His father and 
 
 mother 2ame next, who were placed at the 
 
 ri*,ht hand of the young couple : Melissa s 
 
 20 
 
230 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 parents followed, anft were slationed at tlie 
 le^t. Kttgar then came and took his seat in 
 iron*. ; after which ths guests were sum 
 moned, who filled the room. Edgar then 
 rising motioned to the intended bride and 
 bridegroom to rise also. He next turned 
 to Alonzo s father for his sanction, who 
 bowed assent. Theu addressing his own 
 father, with emotions that scarcely suffered 
 him to articulate. " Do you, sir, said he, 
 give this lady to that gentleman ?" A. sol 
 emn silence prevailed in the room. Melis 
 sa was extremely &g:tat-ed, as her father, 
 slowly rising, and with down-cast eyes, 
 
 " Whore tides of heavy 3O;row swelled, 
 
 took her trembling hand, and conveying it 
 into Alonzo s, "May th smiles of heaven 
 rest upon you, he said ; may future bless 
 ings crown your present happy prospects; 
 and msy your latter d;iys never be embit 
 tered by the premature loss of near and 
 dear 1 
 
 Pungent grief here choaked his utterance, 
 and at this moment Melissa, falling upon her 
 knees, u Dear lather ! she exclaimed, burst 
 ing into tears, pardon deception ; acknowl* 
 edge your daughter your owe Melissa !" 
 
 Her father started he gazed at her with 
 scrutinizing attention, and sunk back in his 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 251 
 
 chair. " My daughter ! he cried God of 
 mysterious mercy ! it is my daughter !" 
 
 The guests caught the contagious sympa 
 thy ; convulsive sobs arose from all parts 
 ef the room. Melissa s father claspeJ. her 
 in his arms " And I receive thee as from 
 the dead he said. I am anxious to hear 
 the mighty mystery unfolded. But first le; 
 the solemn rites for which we are assemb 
 led be concluded ; let not ar. old man s anx 
 iety interrupt the ceremony," 
 
 " But you are apprised, sir, said Alonzo, 
 of my inability to support your daughter 
 According to her deserts." 
 
 " Leave that to me, my young friend, re 
 plied her father. I have enough : my chil 
 dren are restored, and I am happy." 
 
 Melissa soon resumed her former station. 
 The indissoluble knot was tied : they sat 
 down to the wedding feast, and mirth and 
 hilarity danced in cheerful circles. 
 
 Before the company retired, Edgar rela 
 ted the most prominent incidents of Alonzo 
 and Melissa s history, since they had been 
 absent. The guests listened with atten 
 tion : they applauded the conduct of our 
 new bride and bridegroom, in which Melis 
 sa s father cordially joined. They rejoiced 
 to find that Alonzo s father had regained 
 his fortune, and copious libations \\era 
 
232 AL3NZO AND MELIbSA. 
 
 poured forth in honour of the imzn3rlal 
 Franklin. 
 
 And now, reader of sensibility, indulge 
 the pleasing sensations of thy bosom for 
 Alonzo and Melissa are MARRIED. 
 
 Alonzo s father was soon in complete re 
 possession of his former property. The 
 premises from which he had been driven 
 by his unfeeling creditors, were yielded up 
 without difficulty, and to which he imme 
 diately removed. He not only recovered 
 the principal of the fortune he had lost, 
 but the damages and the interest ; so that,, 
 although like -Job, La had seen affliction, 
 like aim his latter days were better than 
 his beginning. Hut wearied with the bus 
 tles of life, he did not again enter into the 
 mercantile business, but placing his money 
 at interest in safe hands, lived retired on 
 his little farm. 
 
 A few days after the wedding, as Melis 
 sa was sitting with Alonzo, Edgar and her 
 parents, she asked her father whether the 
 old mansion was inhabited. 
 
 " Not by human beings, he replied. 
 
 Since it has fallen into my hands I have 
 leased it to three or four different families, 
 who ah left it under the foolisa pretence or 
 impression of hearing noises and seeing 
 frightful objects, and such is the supersti 
 tion of the people that no one now, will 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA 233 
 
 veil .lire to try it again, though I suppose 
 its inhabitants to consist only of rats and 
 mice." 
 
 Melissa then informed them of all that 
 had happened when she was there, the alar 
 ming noises and horrible appearances she 
 had been witness to, and in which she was 
 confident her senses had not deceived her, 
 Exceedingly astonished at her relation; it 
 was agreed that Edgar and Alonzo, proper 
 ly attended, should proceed to the mansion, 
 in order to find whether any discoveries 
 could Le made which might tend to the 
 elucidation of so mysterious an affair. 
 
 For this purpose they chose twenty men, 
 armed them with muskets and swords, and 
 proceeded to the place, where they arrivcu 
 in the dusk of the evening, having chosei 
 *hat season as the most favourable to theii 
 designs. 
 
 They found the drawbridge up, and che 
 gate locked, as Edgar s fnther said he had 
 left them. They entered and secured them 
 in the same manner. When they came to 
 the house, they cautiously unlocked the 
 door, and proceeded to the chamber, where 
 they struck a fire and lighted candles, which 
 they had brought with them. It was then 
 agreed to plant fifteen of the men at suita 
 ble distances around the mansion, and re- 
 20 
 
234 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 tain five in the chamber with Alonzo and 
 Edgar. 
 
 The men, who were placed around the 
 house, were stationed behind trees, stumps 
 or rocks, and where no object presented, 
 lay flat on the ground, with orders not to 
 stir, or discover themselves, let what would 
 ensue, unless some alarm should be given 
 from the house. 
 
 Aionzo and Edgar were armed with pis 
 tols and side arms, and posted themselves 
 with the live men in the chamber, taking 
 care that the lights should not shine against 
 the window shutters, so that nothing could 
 be discovered from without. Things thus 
 arranged, they observed almost an implicit 
 silence, no one being allowed to speak, ex 
 cept in a low whisper. 
 
 For a long time no sound was heard ex 
 cept the hollow roar of winds in the neigh 
 bouring forest, their whistling around the 
 angles of the mansion, or the hoarse mur- 
 nier? cf the distant surge. The night was 
 dark, and only illuminated by the feeble 
 twinkling of half clouded stars. 
 
 They had watched until about midnight, 
 when they were alarmed by noises in the 
 rooms below, among which they could dis 
 tinguish footsteps and human voices. A- 
 lonzo and Edgar, then taking each a pietol 
 in on hand, and a drawn sword in the oth- 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 235 
 
 er, ordered their men to follow them, pre 
 pared for action. Coming to the head of 
 the stairs, they saw a brilliant light stream 
 ing into the hall ; they therefore concluded 
 to lake no candles, and to prevent discove 
 ry they took off their shoes. When trey 
 came into the hall opposite the door of the 
 room from whence the light and noises pro 
 ceeded, they discovered ten men genteelly 
 dressed, sitting around a table, on which 
 was placed a considerable quantity of gold 
 and silver coin, a number of glasses and se 
 veral decanters of wine. Alonzo and his 
 party stood a few minutes, listening to the 
 folio wing discourse, which took place among 
 this (jkosilij gentry. 
 
 " Well, boys, we have made a fine haul 
 
 this trip." "Yes, but poor Bob, though, 
 
 was plump d over by the d d skulkers!* 
 
 " Aye, and had we not tugged bravely at 
 
 the oa-rs, they would have hook d us." 
 
 " Rascally cow-boys detained us too long." 
 
 " Well, never mind it; let us knock a- 
 
 ound the wine, and then divide the spoil." 
 
 At this moment, Alonzo and Edgar, fol 
 lowed by the five men, rushed into the 
 oo m, crying. " Surrender, or you are all 
 -lead men /" In an instant the room was 
 nvolved i i pitchy darkness ; a loud crash 
 >r as heard, then a scampering about the 
 loor, and a noise as if several doors shut 
 
236 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 to, with violence. They however gave the 
 alarm to the men without, by loudly shout 
 ing "Look oul," and immediately the dis 
 charge of several guns was heard around the 
 mansion. One of the men flew up stairs 
 and brought a light ; but, to their utter a- 
 mazement, no pcx son was to be discovered 
 in the room except their own party. The 
 table, with its apparatus, and the chairs on 
 which these no\v invisible beings had sat, 
 had disappeared, not a single trace of them 
 being left. 
 
 While they stood petrified with aston 
 ishment, the men from without "called for 
 admittance. The door being unlocked, 
 they led in a stranger wounded, whom they 
 immediately discovered to be one of those 
 they had seen at the table. 
 
 The men who had been stationed around 
 the mansion informed, that some time be 
 fore the alarm was made, they aw a num 
 ber of persons crossing the yard from the 
 western part of the enclosure, towards the 
 house; that immediately after the shout 
 was given, they discovered several people 
 running back in the same direction : .they 
 hailed them, which being disregarded, they 
 fired upon them, one of whom they brought 
 down, which was the wounded man they 
 had brought in. The others, though they 
 pursued them got off. 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 237 
 
 The prisoner s wound was not dangerous, 
 the ball had shattered his arm, and glanced 
 upon his breast. They dressed his wound 
 as well as they could, and then requested 
 him to unfold the circumstances of the sus 
 picious appearance in which he A as invol 
 ved. 
 
 " First promise me, on your honour, said 
 the stranger, that you will use your influ 
 ence to prevent my being punished or im- 
 "prisoned." 
 
 This they readily agreed to, on condi 
 tion that he would conceal nothing from 
 them and he gave them the following re 
 lation: 
 
 That they were a part of u gang of illicit 
 traders; men who had combined for the 
 purpose of carrying on a secret and illegal 
 commerce with the British army on Long 
 Island, whom, contrary to the existing laws, 
 they supplied with provisions, and brought 
 ofl English goods, which they sold at ve 
 ry exlort : onate prices. But this was not 
 all; they also brought over large quantities 
 of counterfeit continental money, which 
 they put off among the American s for live 
 stock, poultry, produce, &c. which they 
 carried to the Island. The counterfeit mo 
 ney they purchased by merely paying for 
 the printing; the British having obtained 
 copies of the American emission, struck im- 
 
238 ALONZ-O AND MELISSA. 
 
 mene quantities of i< in New- York, and 
 insidiously sent it out into the couutiy, in 
 order to sink oui currency. 
 
 1 his gang was likewise connected with 
 the cow-boys, who made it their business 
 to steal, not only milch cows, a.id other 
 cattle, but also hogs and she ^p, whien they 
 drove by night to some convenient place 
 on the shores of the Sound, where these 
 thief-partners received them, and conveyed 
 them to the British. 
 
 "In our excursions across the Sourd, 
 continued the wounded man, we had fre 
 quently observed this mansion, which, from 
 every appearance, we were convinced was 
 uninhabited : we therefore selected it as a 
 suitable place for our future rendezvous, 
 which had therefore been only in the open 
 woods. To cro-ss the moat we dragged up 
 an old canoe from the sea shore, which we 
 concealed in the bushes as so&r. as we re- 
 crossed from the old mansion. To get over 
 the wall we used ladders of ropes, placing 
 a flat of thick board on the top of the t pike 
 driven into the wall. We found more dif 
 ficulty in getting into the house : we 
 however at length succeeded, by tearing 
 away a part of the back wall, where we fit 
 ted in a door so exactly, and -so nicely 
 painted it, that it could not be distinguish 
 ed from the wall itself. This door war so 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 233 
 
 constructed, that on touching a spring, it 
 would fly open, and when unrestrained, 
 .vould shut to with violence. Finding the 
 apartment so eligible for our purpose, and 
 tearing that at some future time we might 
 be disturbed either by the oWxirr of the 
 building or some tenant, we cut similar 
 doors into every room of the house, so that 
 on an emergency we couid traverse every 
 apartment without access to the known 
 doors. Trap-doors on a similar construc 
 tion, communicated with the cellar : the 
 table, which you saw us sitting around, stood 
 on. one of those, vhich, on your abrupt ap 
 pearance, as soon as the candles were ex 
 tinguished, was with its contents, precipi 
 tated below, and we made our escape by 
 those secret doors, judging, that although 
 you had seen us, if we could get off, you 
 vould be unable to find out any thing which 
 might lead to cur discovery. 
 
 " A circu;nstr nee soon occurred, which 
 tended to embarrass our plans., and at first 
 seemed to menace their overthrow. Our 
 assembling at the mansion was irregular, as 
 occasion and circumstances required ; often 
 not more than once a week, but sometimes 
 more frequent, and always in the night. 
 Late one night, as we were proceeding to 
 the mansion, and had arrived near it, sud 
 denly one of the chamber windows was o 
 
240 ALONZO A.KD MELISSA. 
 
 pened. and a light issued from within. We 
 entered the house with caution, and soon 
 discovered that some person was in the 
 chamber from whence we had seen the 
 light, We remained until all was silent, 
 and then entered the chamber by one of 
 our secret doors, and to our inexpressible 
 surprise, beheld a beautiful young lady a- 
 sleep on the only bed in the room. We 
 cautiously retired, and reconnoitering all 
 parts of the mansion, found that she was the 
 only inhabitant except ourselves. The sin 
 gularity of her being there alone, is a cir 
 cumstance we have never bjeu auie to dis 
 cover, but it gave us fair hopes of easily 
 procuring her ejectment. We then imme 
 diately withdrew, and mule preparations 
 to dispossess the fair tenant of tiie premises 
 to which we considered ourselves more pro- 
 peily entitled, as possessing a prior incum 
 bency. 
 
 " We did not effect the completion of 
 oui apparatus under three or four days, As 
 soon as we were prepared, we returned to 
 the mansion. As we approached the house, 
 it appears the lady heard us, for again she 
 suddenly flung up a window and held out a 
 candle : we skulked from the light, but fear 
 ed she had a glimpse of us. After we had 
 got into *he house we were still until we 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 241 
 
 supposed her to be asleep, which we found 
 to be the case on going to her chamber. 
 
 " We then stationed one near her bed, 
 who, by a loud rap on the floor with a cane, 
 appeared to arouse her in a fright. Loud 
 noises were then made below, and some of 
 them ran heavily up the stairs which led to 
 her chamber; the person stationed in the 
 room whispering near her bed she raised 
 herself up, and he fled behind the curtains. 
 Soon after she again lay down ; he approach 
 ed nearer the bed with a design to lay his 
 hand, on which he had drawn a thin sheet- 
 lead glove, across her face ; but discov 
 ering her arm on the out side of the bed 
 clothes, he grasped it -she screamed and 
 sprang up in the bed ; the man then left 
 the room. 
 
 " As it was not our intention to injure 
 the lady, but only to drive her from the 
 house, we concluded we had sufficiently 
 alarmed her, and having extinguished the 
 lights, were about to depart, when we heard 
 her descending the stairs. She came down 
 and examined the doors, when one of our 
 party, in a loud whisper, crying " away ! 
 away ;" she darted up stairs, and we left 
 the house. 
 
 " We did not return the next night, in 
 order to give her time to get off; but the 
 night after we again repaired to the man- 
 21 P 
 
242 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 sion, expecting that she had gone, but we 
 were disappointed . As it was late when we 
 arrived, she was wrapped in sleep, and we 
 found that more forcible measures must be 
 resorted to before we could remove her, and 
 for such measures we were amply prepared. 
 
 The stranger then unfolded the mysteries 
 of that awful night, when Melissa was so 
 terrified by horrible appearances. One of 
 the tallest and most robust of the gang, was 
 attired, as has been described, when he ap 
 peared by her bed side. The while robe 
 was an old sheet, stained in some parts with 
 a liquid red mixture ; the wound in his 
 breast was artificial, and the blood issuing 
 therefrom was only some of this mixture, 
 pressed from a small bladder, concealed un 
 der his robe. On his head and face he wore 
 
 a mask, with glass eyes the mask was 
 
 painted to suit their purposes. The bloody 
 dagger was of wood, and painted. 
 
 Tlus accoutred, he took his stand near 
 Melissa s bed, having first blown out the 
 candies she had left burning, and dischar 
 ged a small pistol. Perceiving this had a- 
 wakeaod her, a train of powder was fired 
 ji the fcujoining room opposite the secret 
 door, which was left open, in orc^er that 
 the Hash might illuminate her apartment; 
 then several large cannon bal!f were rolled 
 through the rooms over her head., imitative 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 243 
 
 }f thunder. The person in her room then 
 uttered a horrible groan, and gliding along 
 by her bed, took his stand behind the cur- 
 tains, near the foot. The noises belo\v, the. 
 cry of murder, the. firing of the second pis* 
 iol, an^ the running up stairs, were all cor- 
 responding scenes to impress terror on her 
 imagination. The pretended ghost then 
 advanced in front of her bed, while lights 
 were slowly introduced, which first shone 
 faintly, until they were ushered into the) 
 room by the private door, exhibiting the 
 person before her in all his horrific appear 
 ances. On her shrieking, and shrinking in 
 to the bed, the lights were suddenly extin 
 guished, and the person, after commanding 
 her to be gone in a hoarse voice, passed a- 
 gaia to the foot of the bed, shook it violent 
 ly, and made a seeming attempt to get up 
 on it, .vhen, perceiving her to be springing 
 up, he fled out of the room by the secret 
 door, cautiously shut it, and joined his com 
 panions. 
 
 The operators had not yet completed 
 their farce, or rather, to Melissa^ tragedy. 
 They had framed an image of paste-board, 
 in humun shape, arrayed it in black, its 
 eyes being formed of large pieces of what 
 is vulgarly called fox-fire,* made into the 
 
 *A sort of decayed or rotten wood, which in the nijht look* 
 like coal* of lin;, of a bright whitish colour. It omits & faint 
 
244 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 likeness of burn an eyes, some material be 
 ing placed in its mouth, around which was 
 a piece of the thinest scarlet tiffany, in 
 order to make it appear of a ikrae colour 
 They bad also constructed a large combus 
 tible ball, of several thicknesses of paste 
 board, to which a match was placed. The 
 image was to be conveyed into her room, 
 and placed, in the dark, before her bed ; 
 while in that position, the ball was to be 
 rubbed over with phosphorus, the match 
 set on lire, and rolled across her chamber, 
 and when it burst, the image was to vanish, 
 by being suddenly conveyed out of the pri 
 vate door, which was to close the scene for 
 :hat night. But as Melissa had now arisen 
 and lighted candles, the plan was defeated. 
 While they were consulting how to pro- 
 ce f \ they heard her unlock her chamber 
 dc A , and slowly descend the stairs. Fear 
 ing a discovery, they retired with their 
 lights, and the person who had been in her 
 chamber, not having yet stripped cii his 
 ghostly habiliments, laid himself down on 
 one side othe ball. The man who had the 
 image, crowded hikiself with it under the 
 stairs she was descending. On her drop 
 ping the candle, when she turned to flee to 
 her chamber, from the sight of the same ob 
 ject which had appeared at her bed-side, 
 the person uuder the stairs presented the 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 245 
 
 image at their foot, and at the same instant 
 the combustible ball was prepared, and rol 
 led through the hall; and when on its burst 
 ing she fainted, they began to grow aian/icdj 
 but. on finding that she recovered and re 
 gained her chamber, they departed, for 
 that time, from the house. 
 
 "Our scheme, continued the wounded 
 man, had the desired effect. On returning 
 a few evenings after, we found the lady 
 gone and the furniture removed. Severa. 
 attempts were afterwards made to occupy 
 the house, but we always succeeded in soon 
 frightening the inhabitants away." 
 
 Edgar and Alonzo then requested their 
 prisoner to show them the springs of the 
 secret doors, and how they were opened. 
 The springs were sunk in the wood, which 
 being touched by entering a gimblet hole 
 with a piece of pointed steel, which each 
 of the gang always had about him, the door 
 would fly open, and fasten again in shutting 
 to. On opening the trap-door over which 
 the gang had sat when they first discovered 
 them, they found the table and chairs, with 
 the decanters broken, and the money, which 
 they secured. In one part of the cellar they 
 were shown a kind of cave, its mouth cover 
 ed with boards and earth here the company 
 kept their furniture, and to this place would 
 they have removed it, had they not been so 
 21* 
 
246 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 suddenly frightened away. The canoe they 
 found secreted in the bushes beyond the 
 canal. 
 
 It was then agreed that the man should 
 go before the proper authorities in a neigh 
 bouring town, and there, as state s evi-^ 
 dence, make affidavit of what he had reci 
 ted, and as complete a developement of the 
 characters concerned i the business as 
 possible, when he was to be released. The 
 man enquired to what town they were to 
 go which, when they had informed him, 
 w Then, said he, it will be in my power to 
 perform one deed of justice before I leave 
 the country, as leave it I must, immediate 
 ly after I have given in my testimony, or I 
 shall be assassinated by seme of those who 
 will be implicated in the transaction I have 
 related." 
 
 He then informed them, that while he, 
 with the gang, was prosecuting the illicit 
 trade, a British ship came and anchored in 
 the Sound, which they supplied with pro 
 visions, but that having at one time a con 
 siderable quantity on hand, the ship sent 
 its boat on shore, with an officer and live 
 men, to fetch it; the officer came with 
 them on shore, leaving the men in the boat: 
 " As we were about to carry tht provisions 
 on board the boat, continued the n_an, a 
 party of Americans fired upon- us, and 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 217 
 
 woimded the officer in flit thigh, who fell: 
 " I shall he made prisoner, said he, taking 
 out his purse; ke2p this, and if I live and 
 regain ray liberty, perhaps you may have 
 an opportunity of restoring it: alarm the 
 boat s crew, and shift for yourselves." The 
 boat was alarmed, returned to the ship, and 
 \ve saved ourselves by flight. 
 
 " This happened about four months ago ; 
 the ship soon after sailed for New York, 
 and the officer was imprisoned in the gaol 
 of the town to which \ye are to go ; 1 can 
 therefore restore him his purse." 
 
 The man farther informed them, that 
 they had several times come near being ta 
 ken, and the last trip they were fired upon, 
 and one of their party killed. 
 
 " They immediately set out for the afore 
 said town, after having dismissed their fif 
 teen men ; and when they arrived there, 
 Alonzo and Edgar accompanied their pris 
 oner to the gaol. On making the proper 
 enquiries, they were conducted into a dark 
 and dirty apartment of the gaol, where 
 j were several prisoners in irons. The Brit 
 ish officer was soon distinguished among 
 them by his regimentals. Though envelop- 
 . ed in filth and dust, his countenance ap 
 peared familiar to Alonzo; and on a few 
 moments recollection, he recognized in the 
 manacled officer, the generous midshipman. 
 
248 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 Jack Brown, wlio had so disinterestedly re 
 lieved him, when he escaped from the pris 
 on in London ! 
 
 In the fervency of his feelings, Alonzo 
 flew to him and clasped him in his arms. 
 " What do I behold ! he cried. My friend, 
 my brave deliverer, in chains in my own 
 country !" 
 
 " The fortune of war, boy ! said Jack 
 it might have been worse. But my lad, I 
 am heartily glad to see you ; how has it 
 fared with you since you left Old England:" 
 " We will talk of that by &nd by," said 
 Alonzo. 
 
 There were then some American officers 
 of distinction in town, with whom Edgar 
 was acquainted, to whom he applied for the 
 
 relief of the noble sailor ; and as therr 
 
 were several other British prisoners in gaol 
 it was agreed that a cartel should be imme 
 diately sent to New York to exchange them. 
 Alonzo had, therefore, the satisfaction to see 
 the irons knocked off of his liberal hearted 
 benefactor, and his prison doors opened. 
 
 The man they had taken at the mansion, 
 returned him his purse, containing only 
 twenty-five guineas, of which Jack gave 
 him ten. " There, boy, said he, you have 
 been honest, so I will divide with you." 
 
 They then oepaired to ail inn. Jack, 
 whose wound was healed, was put under 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 249 
 
 the hands of a barber, cleaned, furnished 
 with a change of clothes, and soon appear 
 ed in a new attitude. 
 
 He informed Aionzo, that soon after he 
 left England, his ship was ordered for A- 
 merica : that the price of provisions grow 
 ing high, it had taken almost all his wages 
 to support his family ; that he had sent 
 home his last remittance just before he was 
 taken, reserving only the twenty-five guin 
 eas which had been restored him that day. 
 ; - But I have never despaired, said he; 
 the great Commodore of life orders all for 
 the best. My tour of duty is to serve my 
 king and country, and provide for my dear 
 Poll and her chicks, which, if I faithfall) 
 perform, t shall gain the applause of the 
 Commander." 
 
 When the cartel was ready to depart, 
 Aionzo, taking Jack apart from the compa 
 ny, presented him with a draught of iive 
 hundred pounds sterling, on a merchant in 
 New York, who privately transacted busi 
 ness with the Americans. l< Take this, my 
 friend, said he ; you can ensure it by con 
 verting it into bills of exchange on London. 
 Though you once saw me naked, I can now 
 conveniently spare this sum, and it may 
 assist you in buffeting the billows of life." 
 The generous tar shed tears of gratitude, 
 and Aionzo enjoyed the pleasure oi seeing 
 
250 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 him depart, calling down blessings on the 
 head of his reciprocal benefactor. 
 
 The man who came with Alonzo and 
 Edgar from the mansion, then went before 
 the magistrates of the town, and gave his 
 testimony and affidavit, by which it appear 
 ed that several eminent characters of Con 
 necticut were concerned in this illicit trade. 
 They then released him, gave him the 
 money they had found in the cellar at the 
 mansion, and he immediately left the town. 
 Precepts were soon after issued for a num 
 ber of those traders; several were taken, 
 among whom were some of the gang, and 
 others who were only concerned but most 
 of them absconded, so that the company 
 and their plans were broken up. 
 
 When Alonzo and Edgar returned home 
 and related their adventure, they were all 
 surprised at the fortitude of Melissa in 
 being enabled to support her spirits in a 
 solitary mansion, amidst such great, and so 
 many terrors. 
 
 It was now that Alonzo turned his atten 
 tion to future prospects. It was time to 
 select a place for domestic residence. lie 
 consulted Melissa, and she expressively 
 mentioned the little secluded village, where 
 
 " Ere fate and fortune frown d severe, 
 hey projected scenes of connubial bliss, and 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 251 
 
 planned the structure of their family edifice. 
 This intimation accorded with the ardent 
 wishes of Alonzo. The site formerly marked 
 out, with an adjoining farm, was immedi 
 ately purchased, and suitable buildings e- 
 rected, to which Alonzo and Melissa remov 
 ed the ensuing summer. 
 
 The clergyman of the village having re 
 cently died in a good old age, Edgar was 
 called to the pastoral charge of this unso 
 phisticated people. Here did Melissa and 
 Alonzo repose after the storms of adversity 
 were past. Here did they realize all the 
 happiness which the sublunary hand of time 
 apportions to mortals. The varying sea 
 sons diversified their joys, except when A- 
 lonzo was called with the militia of his 
 country, wherein he bore an eminent com 
 mission, to oppose the enemy ; and this was 
 not unfrequent, as in his country s defence 
 he took a very conspicuous part. Then 
 would anxiety, incertitude, and disconsola- 
 tion possess the bosom of Melissa, until dis 
 sipated by his safe return. But the happy 
 termination of the war soon removed al: 
 cause of these disquietudes. 
 
 Soon after the close of the war, Alonzo 
 received a letter from his friend, Jack 
 Brown, dated it an interior pirish in Eng 
 land, in which, after pouring forth abun 
 dance of gratitude, he informed, that on res 
 
252 ALONZO AND MELISSA. 
 
 turning to England he procured his dis 
 charge from the navy, sold his house, and 
 removed into the country, where he had 
 set up an inn with the sign of The Grateful 
 American. " You have made us all happy, 
 said he ; my dear Poll blubbered like a fresh 
 water sailor in a hurricane, when I told he* 
 of your goodness. My wife, my children, 
 all hands upon deck are yours. We have 
 a good run of business, and are now under 
 full sail, for the land of prosperity." 
 
 Edgar married to one of the Miss Simp 
 sons, whose father s seat was in the vicini 
 ty of the village. The parents of Alonzo 
 and Melissa were their frequent visitors, as 
 were also Vincent and his lady, with many 
 others of their acquaintance, who all re 
 joiced in their happy situation, after such a 
 diversity of troubles. Alfred was generally 
 once a year their guest, until at length he 
 married and settled in the mercantile busi 
 ness in Charleston, South Carolina. 
 
 To our hero and heroine, the rural charms 
 of their secluded village were a source of 
 ever pleasing variety. Spring, with its ver- 
 dured fields, flowery meads, and vocal groves : 
 its vernal gales, purling rills, and its even 
 ing whippoorwill : summer, wi h its embower 
 ing shades, reflected in the glassj ake, and 
 the long, pensive, yet sprightly notes of the 
 
ALONZO AND MELISSA. 253 
 
 solitary strawberry-bird ;* its lightning and 
 its thunder ; autumn with its mellow fruit, 
 its yellow foliage and defying verdure ; 
 winter, with its hoarse, rough blasts, its icy 
 beard and snowy mantle, all tended to thrill 
 with sensations of pleasing transition, the 
 feeling bosoms of Alonzo and Melissa. 
 
 EEHHY AND JTJLIA,. 
 
 A TALE OF REAL LIFE. 
 
 [BY N. II. WRIGHT.] 
 
 [The little story related in the following lines, 
 is not the work of imagination. It was com 
 municated to the author several years since 
 by a much valued friend, who received it 
 from the mother of the lovely, but unfor 
 tunate Julia. She is now no more ; death 
 has released her from sorrow, and her 
 relics repose near those of her beloved 
 daughter. The author, in company with 
 the friend alluded to, has visited the 
 mournful spot; a weeping willow gently 
 waves to the passing breeze ; arid some 
 pious hand has planted a rose-tree at the 
 head of the grave of Julia : it is cmble- 
 
 *A bird which, in tho Now England states, in.rkrs its lirst ,-ifC 
 pearanco about the time strawberries Ix^iu to ripi-n. Its song ig 
 . engthy, and consists of a variety of notes, commencing sprignt- 
 ly, but ending plaintive ami melancholy. 
 OO 
 
254 
 
 matical of her life; for though the rose fade, 
 like the aramanthine flower of virtue, it 
 still retains its fragrance. 
 
 Henry was a young officer in the revolution 
 ary army. The regiment to which he was 
 attached was quartered at a post in Mas 
 sachusetts ; but happening to be at Ben- 
 nington at the time of that memorable 
 battle, he nobly volunteered his services, 
 and fell just as it commenced. 
 
 Should this feeble tribute to the memory of 
 departed merit, ever meet the eyes of any 
 surviving relatives of the unfortunate lov 
 ers, it may revive feelings in their breasts, 
 which a stranger could not, and did not 
 wish to suppress, in his own.] 
 
 &EEST thou not yon wide-spreading yew, 
 Whose branches o er the church-yard wave? 
 Beneath its shade, half hid from view, 
 Is gentle JULIA S early grave. 
 O, stranger, if perchance thine eye 
 Should rest on this sequester d spot, 
 Pay the sad tribute of a sigh, 
 And mourn a hapless fair one s lot. 
 Let suffering virtue claim the tear 
 Which kindred souls must ever shed, 
 And while the mournful tale you hear, 
 Revere the mem ry of the dead. 
 Near old Wachuset s tow ring height, 
 Whose cloudy summits awful rise, 
 
Where many a long and dreai ;. 
 Descend the storms of wintry t*k> 
 A. humble, peaceful dwelling stoorl^ 
 Surrounded by a beauteous grove, 
 A.mid whose shade the turtle coo d, 
 Emblem of innocence and love. 
 Here, fair as blushing orient morn, 
 The lovely Julia liv d retired ; 
 Each virtue that can life adorn. 
 Her pure, unsullied bosom fired, 
 A youth of manly grace possessed, 
 Unknown to vile, deceptive art, 
 With love inspir d her gentle breast, 
 And won the treasure of her heart. 
 The laughing loves around them play d, 
 But Fate, who human bliss annoys, 
 Her sombrous mantle o er them laid, 
 And clouded all their promised joys. 
 Ah! hapless maid, thy boding heart, 
 The hour which saw thy love depart, 
 Mark d him a victim for the tomb : 
 Too well foretold thy cruel doom ; 
 Albion, with haughty tyrant sway, 
 Decreed Columbia to the yoke ; 
 But soon the dawn of Freedom s day 
 Proclaim d the hateful bondage broke. 
 HENRY, whose soul no danger knew, 
 Obedient to his country s call, 
 With the young hero s ardent view, 
 To Freedom sacrific d his all. 
 Whilst Love and Honour form d his shield, 
 
256 
 
 oade him strike the blow, 
 ^r the blood-encrimson d field, 
 .m, successful, brav dthe foe. 
 . ah ! on that victorious day, 
 ./hen STARK his band of heroes led, 
 Scarce gleam d his sword in battle fray 
 Ere Henry s number d with the dead ! 
 Extended on the field of fame, 
 One dying effort mov d his tongue, 
 And his lov d distant Julia s name, 
 On his last falt ring accent hung. 
 How chang d, alas ! the lovely fair, 
 When she th unwelcome tidings gain d ! 
 She seem d the spectre of despair, 
 And madness o er her reason reign d. 
 Yet Heaven, in pity to her woes, 
 Soon did her gentle soul release ; 
 The grave receiv d the drooping rose, 
 And all her sorrows hush d in peace. 
 Beneath yon dark, wide-spreading yew, 
 Whose branches o er the church-yard wave, 
 In silent gloom, half hid from view, 
 Is lovely Julia s humble grave. 
 There, oft as Spring, in robes of green, 
 " Returns to deck the hallow d mound," 
 The rose in freshest bloom is seen, 
 And vi lets strew their sweets around. 
 There, youth and maids, by pity led, 
 In mournful silence linger near, 
 And bathe the turf which wraps her head. 
 With sweet affection s holiest tear.