f\ ADSONVIUiE: OR A NAZU&ATZVB TAKE. ' Oh ! LOVE no habitant of earth thou art " An unseen seraph, we believe in thee; " A Faith, whose Martyrs, are the broken heart; '' But never yet hath seen, nor e'er shall see " The naked eye, thy form, as it should be : " The mind hath made thee, as it peopled Heaven, ei Even with its own desiring phantasy, " And to a thought, such shape and image given, ' As haunts the unquenched soul parch'd wearied wrung and riven." Byron, ALBANY: PUBLISHED BY S. SHAW, No. 47, STATE-STREET, J, C. JOHNSON, PRINTER. 1824. Northern District of New~York, to wit : BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the 10th day of September, in the forty-ninth year of rhe independence of the United 'States of America. A. D. 1824, SAM UEL SHA\V, of the said District, hath deposited in this office the title of a Book, the right whereof he claims as proprietor, in the words following, to wit: " ADSONVILLE ; OR, MARRYING OUT. A NARRATIVE TALE." " Oh Lore ! no habitant of earth thou art An unseen seraph, we believe in thee, A Faith whose Martyrs are the broken heart ; But never yet hath seen, nor e'er shall see The naked eye, thy form, as it should be ; The mind hath made thee, as it peopled Heaven, Evan with its own desiring phantasy, And to a thought, such shape and image given, As haunts the unqueached soul parch'd wearied wrung 1 and riveo." BVRON. In conformity to the act of Congress of the United States, entitled " An Act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the Au thors and Proprietors of such Copies, during the times therein mentioned ;" and also, to the act entitled, u An Act supple mentary to an Act, entitled ' An Act for the encouragement of Learning, bv securing the Copies of Maps, Charfs, and Brooks, to the Authors and Proprietors of such Copies during the times therein mentioned," and extending the benefits thereof to the Aits of Designing, Engraving and Etching historical and other Prints." RICHARD R. LANSING, Clerk of the Northern District of New-York, THE foFowing Tale was mostly written^ whilst the Author had extreme youth to plead in extenuation of its faults : since it has. by some particular friends, been earnestly re quested for publication, some additions have heen made, in which, it is probable, some chro- nograrnmatical incongruities may strike the reader. The writer has not the vanity to fear that it will be considered of sufficient conse quence to affect the character of American lit erature, as he has no prospect of setting up for an Author ; and he most faithfully prom ises, if this shall pass with impunity, to sin no more. With regard to the morality of writing or reading works of imagination, the author has been also under some doubts ; but as the prin ciple of philanthropy must commence its ex panding influence in the heart, by breaking up the disposition which contracts all its interest upon self, and as these characters are inacces- sibfe to moral lectures, and to the claims of real and passing events; if ever they come to vi PREFACE: know the happiness of being carried beyond the range of emotion within themselves, and elevated to a perception of grandeur and beauty, which, there, they must forever have remained strangers to, it must be by being ta ken at unawares by romantic pictures of ficti tious suffering, of ideal beauty, and disinterest ed heroism; very inferior, indeed, to that sym pathy which inspires real self-sacrifice, but better far than wholly to be ignorant of the joy of natural tears. " If novels (says a wri- t er in the New Monthly Magazine, to whom I am indebted for some of the preceding ideas) are not the deepest teachers of humanity, they have, at least, the widest range. They lend to genius " lighter wings to fly." They are read where Milton and Shakspeare are only talked of, and even where their names are never heard. They nestle gently beneath the covers of unconscious sofas ; are read by fair and glistening eyes, in moments snatched from repose; and beneath counters and shop- boards, minister delights, secret, sweet and precious. It is possible that in particular in stances their effects may be baneful; but, on the whole, we are persuaded thty are good* PREFACE. vii The world is not in danger of becoming too romantic,, The golden threads of poesy are not too thickly or too closely interwoven with the ordinary weh of existence. Sympathy is the first great lesson which man should learn. It will he ill fop him if he proceed no far ther ; if his emotions are but excited to roll back oa his heart, and to be fostered in luxu rious quiet. But unless he learns to feel ten derly and deeply for things in which he has no personal interest, he can achieve nothing generous or noble. This lesson is in reality the moral of all excellent romances. How mistaken are those miserable reasoners who object to them as giving false pictures of life of purity too glossy and etherial of friend ship tAAXVV' TSRRA.TA. In consequence of the Author's being unable to attend to the correction of the proofs, several mistakes have escaped the notice of the Printer, amongst which are the fol lowing : Page 11, line 7, for fixed re&djired page 63, fifth line from the bottom, for blunted re.id 'blinked page 106, line 21, for worship read courtship page 130, line 1, for sublimer read sublunar page 2UO, 7th line from the bottom, for pride read priz. fhe Mottos to the Chapters are all quoted ; but having been dene before ii vas thought of publishing, to some of them rie name was affixed, and it cannot now be recollected frooi whence thev were selected. CHAPTER I. For sore dismayed, thro' storm and shade, His child he did discover ; One loveJj arm she reach'd for aid, And one waa 'round her lover. Lord Ullin>s Daughter. AS the sun was sinking behind the western, mountains, from beyond which the distant thunder was faintly heard to roll, Edgar was gently wafted up a narrow inlet to one of the western Lakes ; on one side the wearied hay makers had leaned their implements against the hay- cocks, which were scattered over the grassy plain, and stood contemplating the beau ty of the boat, and on the advantages of those who followed mercantile speculations, over such as were compelled to a continued course of labor to maintain a moderate, though regu lar subsistence. On the other side, he was passing the ornamented grounds of Adsonville,, the Mansion of which was situated immedi ately on the lake shore. A stately grove of tall evergreens was thickly interspersed with wild grape vines, which suspended on the boughs of the red thorn, formed arcades not the less delightful for being formed by the fan ciful hand of nature : before him, in view, was the busy site o^ the Stores and Mills of his father, from whence he had retreated for a few hours of that relaxation, which f shiug 1 2 ADSONVILLE. and fowling affords to those, who naturally vol atile, are confined to the limits of a counting room, and application to business. He was aroused from a thoughtful mood, into which he bad fallen, by the barking of his dog on shore and was recovering his fowling-piece, when his little brother, perceiving his absence of mind, said, " it is a lady :" Edgar saw that it was, and the subject of his present medita tions ; upon which sheering in, he leapt on shore, leaving the care of the boat to his bro ther, who though extremely young for such a charge, had often proved his dexterity in the management of it. Caroline had just forced her attention from a book which she held in her hand, and discovered it was time to return to the house ; when she was accosted by Ed gar, with evidently more embarrassment than she had ever before discovered in his deportr went: which had the effect to produce the same awkward sensations in herself. " I thought/*' said he, " I had something which I would not miss the present opportunity of saying to thee, I came on shore for that purpose, but now for my life I cannot, I do not know how to do it. " It is a pity," said Caroline, " that you have forgotten your errand ; it could not then have been of great importance." " I have not forgotten it ;" replied he, hastily, nor can I ever forget it! but I can not find words to express it, nor do I need them Caroline : it is something which is ore faithfully communicated by any other Tnedium ; that love which needs the profession tf words, is to be suspected. I cannot tell ADSONVILLE. 3 you my errand, but you may easily judge by my looks and actions." Caroline did not believe he was serious, but supposing be bad merely designed to entertain her with a little coquetry, replied, " I per ceive, sir, indeed, some mighty secret is working within your breast ; and as you say there is no danger of your forgetting it, I ad vise you to take time for consideration, and procure terms adequate to express it. I would not undertake to judge of a person's senti ments by any thing short of plain words in the English language ; for although they may be false, on the other hand, how liable are we to put a false estimate on actions, and always such an one as our inclination and wishes on the one hand, or our prejudices on the other, shall dictate." During this conversation they were pro ceeding slowly towards the mansion of Adson- ville, and met Caroline's parents, who were enjoying an evening walk. A ^slight degree of surprise with them, and a little embarrass ment on the part of their daughter, was evi dent, and it was perhaps the first time that the probability of a connexion between Edgar and Caroline ever entered their minds. By the time they arrived at the yard gate, the wind had attained an alarming force ; the tall poplars bent and withed before it with the most sublime grandeur and astonishing elasti city : a dark and heavy cloud was furiously descending from the hills, its uneven and rag ged skirts indicated more of wind than rain, and threatened to sweep with the besom of * ADSONVILLE. destruction: with the utmost consternation Edgar now perceived that the boat with his brother was driven back,- and making rapid advances towards the broad part of the lake, where the winds, waves and clouds seemed to have forgotten they were ever separated, and were now intermingled in tumultuous conten tion. He obeyed the first impulse of his mind, to deliver his brother from the peril, to which his own neglect had exposed him, or to perish in the daring attempt. Mr. Adsou's door yard terminated in a wharf, along side of which lay a small pleasure yacht, with her sails hoisted and now flapping loosely and vio lently in the increasing wind : into this he im mediately sprang, and, having loosed the stern fast, went forward to clear the bows, which having also accomplished, and returning by the mast, perceived at the same moment, that Caroline was on board, and that the boat had shot from the shore and was under the uncon- trolable influence of the wind ; struck with all the reality of her danger, he was for a mo ment petrified with horror, but recollecting himself he took a seat by her side, saying, Car oline, my dear lost Caroline, how came you on board; I would give my life freely, I would die happy, if you were on shore. She had not the power of speech, but directed her eyes towards the delightful place she had so unex pectedly changed for her present situation of imminent peril, if not certain death. When she had discovered Edgar's intention of em barking in a hurricane, she ran down to dis suade him from his rash purpose, as she kne\\ ADSOXVILLE. i> the boat, which was new, had been condemned as too crank or unstable to bear the wind, and fearing from the noise of the wind she should not be heard, and not supposing the boat was detached from the shore, she had stept into the stern part, and thus exposed herself to the danger it was her intention to save him from. Twilight had now half drawn her curtain over the tragic scene ; yet at intervals, when. they were balanced on the summit of a wave, she Cancied she could discern her parents, and conceived something of the distraction and agony they must endure, in the sudden and almost certain loss of their only child : then convulsively clasping Edgar in her arms, she laid her head in despair on his breast, and clo sed her eyes, saying, (( the next wave will overwhelm us for ever ; you might still es cape if it were not for me, you might cling to the boat, and eventually be driven on some shore and be saved : you must push me off, I cannot command my nerves." " Push thee off! gracious Heaven !" cried Edgar, " I will never go on shore, never be saved without thee : it would bfe worse- than a thousand deaths! by all that's good, hold to me, we shall both be saved, there is no doubt of it. 7 ' Notwithstanding he thus encouraged her, his own apprehensions were by no means lessen ed. He had let the sails run, but without coming completely down, with the violence of the gale they bloated and held almost as much wind as if up, and every attempt to put the boat's head to the wind was fruitless, and threatened an immediate founder. l> 1 6 ADSONV1LLE. Caroline raised her head and directed her eyes towards the receding shore ; the distant light at Adsonville threw its bright rays across the enraged water, tipping the waves with a melancholy gilding ; the association of sur rounding peril, with the thoughts of the con sequences tn her parents of her loss, which seemed inevitable, was too much for her forti tude or constitution to sustain ; it overpow ered her vital functions and suspended anima tion, her arms fell from the position which fear, overcoming the most delicate modesty, had in duced them to assume, and she sunk insensible on the seat anJ railing. He caught her in his arms, and called earnestly to her; but alas. the name of Caroline, with all the tender epi thets accompanying it, only mingled with the storm, it was scarcely heard by his own ears ; and Caroline v as now not only insensible to them, but to all her own dangers. Edgar was distracted with the idea that she had already expired with terror and apprehension ; the darkness of Egypt hid her countenance from him, as she lay supine and helpless in his arms; he applied his lips to hers to discover if she breathed, and imagining she did not, he thought no more of other dangers, a sensation of weakness struck through his frame, his heart beat vehemently ; she's dead, he cried, gone forever ! then giving a wild stare at the tumultuous elements, whose fury seemed at this moment to be at the highest pitch, he let go the helm by which he had kept the boat before the wind, and prevented her filling; saying, welcome death; I will not return with ADSONVILLE. 7 out her 5 if I cannot have the satisfaction of restoring her alive to her friends, I will never witness their distress nor suffer my own; I will prefer to be united to her in death. No lon ger balanced by her rudder, the boat broached round, with her beam to the wind, which cau sed the white caps to break in showers over them. Edgar concluded that she would in stantly fill and sink with the weight of cast iron placed in her keel for badlast; and kneel ing down, with indescribable emotions, he riv- etted the unfortunate, and never before insen sible Caroline in his arms, in the hope that the struggles of death would so confirm his grasp, that if their bodies were ever found, they should bear this testimony of his dying at tachment; but the water which fell upon Car oline's face, recovering her from her fainting fit, she gently raised her baud, and made a feeble effort to separate herself from him. " Heaven be praised, she lives!" he cried, with ecstacy, and the next instant had the sat isfaction of hearing her voice. " Where am I, who is with me ? Oh, is it possible I am here \" At the first intimation of returning life in Caroline, Edgar had put the helm up, and again got the boat before the wind, and per ceiving she had shipped but a small quantity of water, he conceived the most sanguine hopes of escape : placing Caroline in as safe a posi tion as possible, he infused into her a degree of the same cheering hope : at his request she firmly held the tiller in the position he directed her, whilst he went forwards to get stoppers on the sails, and prevent their holding so * ADSONVILLE. much wind : she expressed some apprehension of danger to him, in the undertaking, from the darknesi and motion of the light vessel ; but upon his assuring her that on her account he would run no risk, whether he accom plished his purpose or not, she at last con sented, and found that employment he- guiles the mind of the recollection of ei ther danger or trouble : he groped his way in the dark, and with his knife cut indis criminately every piece of rigging that came in his way, until the sails were blown away in the gale, or thrown overboard with his own hands ; then resuming his seat by the side of Caroline, he assured her that all fear as to their ultimate safety was at an end, although they still continued their terrifying undula tions until the struggle was over, and Boreas had whistled bis final note ; and the last blast had passed over their heads, died on the waves, and sunk in the bosom of the lake ; na ture returned to her level, and the agitated waters were soothed to rest by their own gra>- vity ; the retreating gust was now rending the tall pines of the unsettled forest, and the un social beasts of prey, and fierce prowlers of the wood, were cowering in their dens to the more terrjficr power of the invisible element. Edgar now either was, or feigned himself, all spirits, and made light of their situation to as sist in raising Caroline's, reminding her that she must expect to be frequently rallied on her gallant and extraordinary pleasure sail. " If it does not, or has not already proved fatal to my mother," said she, " I shall value ADSONVILLE. but lightly either sufferings or rallying but where are we?" she continued, "what is that I have seen for some minutes? it cannot he an illusion of my eyes, yet it has every ap pearance of a ghost:" and as she spake this ? .she shrunk hack with feigned apprehension., though partaking something of real surprise. Edgar, from his education and habit of think ing, had less fear of danger from ghosts than almost any other source of evil ; but he saw now what so nearly resembled the description ot one that he couUl scarcely believe his own eyes. " Perhaps," whispered Caroline, " they are in the habit of walking on the water after such a storm." *< If they do not conjure up another," he replied, " I do not care for them." He was about addressing it in this charac ter, when he perceived by a slight jar of the boat that they had come in contact with some thing more tangible than a visionary form, and that the object which had excited their sur prise was a white sail. " What boat is that?" said Edgar, " It's me !" answered his bro ther," " how came you here, Edgar?" Edgar. I came after thee. William. I saw the Adsonville new boat come out, with her sails up, and supposed she had been left carelessly, or parted her fasts, I had no idea that any person was on board of her. I had my-sails stowed away in time, and rode out the gale in safety ; and have now got them up again, but have no wind, and if I had I cannot tell until day-break which way to steer. Why what a horse that boat is to carry 10 ADSONVlLtE. to such a snorter, I thought they said she would not bear a wind that would blow a can dle out. Caroline. Why, William, you are quite a sailor; do you know where we are? At hearing a lady's voice with Edgar, Wil liam's surprise greatly increased, so that in stead of answering her, he blessed himself, and was mute with astonishment. " Where think we are, William?" said Ed gar. William. Close in upon shore here, but what land it is I cannot tell. I have heard the wolves howl, and think I discern the tops of trees within a few rods. The land soon became visible to the whole- party : by means of oars they put the boats under some headway, and in a few moments a gentle reversion of their motion indicated that they had reached it. In an instant Wil liam was on shore, and taking the painters of both boats, fastened them to a tree. Caroline expressed some fear of going on shore ; but as Edgar's fowling piece was in his own boat, he dispelled her apprehensions, and as fortunately his box coat was also at hand, he spread it on a rock for Caroline to seat her self and as no considerable effort towards re turning could be made before day-break, he seated himself by the side of his charming com panion, with his gun in his hands, endeavor ing by his cheerfulness to keep up her spirits and make the lingering moments pass with more celerity. William's active temper kept him constantly beating about in the neighboring ADSONVILLE. 11 bushes until he was driven in by something which appeared of a formidable size, making towards him with indecisive indications of hos tility. On discovering his alarm, Edgar ad vanced towards the rustling sound, and catch ing a glimpse of a pair of large and glaring eye balls, instantly fixed in that direction. The light flash of the gun and its loud report in the stillness of night, with the thoughts qi' Toeing in danger from wild beasts, terrified Ca roline, but did not destroy her presence of mind : seizing William by the arm, she cried " lead me to the boat;" this was quickly done, and finding herself safe, she called aloud to Edgar, who, listening to the sound of the retreating enemy, did not answer the first call, which made her repeat it in a frantic voice ; when he satisfied her he was safe, but that his game had escaped ; he then joined them in the boat, and his presence had become necessary to support the trembling Caroline, whose momentary fortitude seemed now to have forsaken her. The sombre shades of night gradually retrea ted to the western horizon, and day-light shed her welcome radiance over the waters, and wilderness, that surrounded the bewildered voyagers. The winds were hushed or fled, and the lake ceased to heave with the agita tion of the storm ; its distant shores were hid den from their view by a dense fog, which made it appear like the margin of an immense cean. The heavens were filled with "low and portentous clouds, that threatened every moment to dissolve upon their unsheltered 12 ADSONVILLE. heads. Caroline was dressed in a silk frock T as she had passed the preceding afternoon : but the fury of the wind had despoiled her neck of its frail covering, and her head of its turtle shell, leaving her long yellowish hair floating in wild luxuriance over her neck and shoulders, adding to her exquisite beauty a tender and voluptuous appearance. Edgar had been a small distance on the beach, with his rnind closely intent upon the means of return or shelter from the impending rain, when turning suddenly towards Caroline, her lovely though maniacal figure, in her pre sent dishabille, had such effect upon his ima gination, that forgetting every thing else, he advanced towards her with extatic exclamation of admiration. Caroline's eyes and counte nance brightened with reciprocal emotion; concluding that Edgar's sudden elevation pro ceeded from some favorable discovery in re gard to their situation ; but when she found his rhapsody ending with encomiums on her loveliness and comparing her appearance with that of Eve in Paradise, she was filled with chagrin and disappointment, and could not avoid replying that his compliments were both improperly timed and applied. Edgar immediately perceived that their case called for some immediate expedient, but what it should be, he was unable to determine. No sign or vestige of human inhabitants was in their rear, and a vast lake, like an inland sea in front, to remain where they were was impossible without a roof, without fire or pro vision through a rainy day and night, which ADSOXVILLK. 1 in all probability would precede a clear sky . and to embark on the lake was to steer entire ly at uncertainty, whilst their prospect was confined to a few yards around them ; nor could they make any headway, excepting by laborious efforts at the oars ; and the danger in such unsettled weather cf another gale, ad ded to their perplexity. Edgar felt that it' Caroline was at home, he could even take plea sure in what now almost distracted his mind. When she asked him what they should do, he could say no more, than that if she were safely at home, he should be at no loss : " danger,'* says he, " there is none from any quarter ; but how shall I secure you from the rain until the clouds break away, and the wind breeze up, then we can steer for some other land ; which must be visible, or for some vessel ca pable of affording accommodations more suita ble than these boats." Whilst turning these chances in their minds, they simultaneously listened, and looked e,. other in the face, until they were satisfied that they faintly heard the sound of a distant ^axe. When they were satisfied it \\;-s no illusion, it opened a door through which a ray of hope darted in and lightened up *}: r hearts. Edgar proposed to his comj.it - -us to remain where they were, whilst I-; ded to ex plore the forks' iu the direction liom which they imagined the sound had proceeded : but they decidedly chose to accompany him. lit then persuaded Caroline to put on his over coat ; and with his gun marched in front, whilst Caroline, taking William by the hand. 14 ADSOXVJLMi, kept within reaching distance of him. After proceeding some distance? they again caught the sound of a few strokes of an axe evidently nearer to them, which, although they yet knew nothing of the reception they should meet with, or the hands they should fall into, sounded to them more delightful than the mu sic of the spheres. The trees were large, and the spaces be tween unencumbered with small shrubbery; but their progress was considerably impeded by large trees in different stages of decay? which had fallen by the insidious hand of time, or been prostrated by tornadoes. Over these, and sometimes walking on them the length of their huge trunks, they proceeded up an as cent from the water to a ridge, the other side of which descended into a valley as low as the surface of the lake. The sound of the axe was now no more heard ; but to compen sate for this they fell into a path, which after continuing for some time on the bank, turned directly down through a cluster of very com pact, small trees; the boughs of which closed and intermingled over their heads, almost shutting out the light of day : it appeared al most like the descent intoSymmes' newly dis covered interior world. Caroline expressed some apprehensions about following it further, but was easily persuaded to proceed ; and their courage was again very soon raised by emerging from this secluded descent into a beautiful valley, the dimensions of which were small and easily discernible. Much of the timber had been fallen by the axe, without ADSONV1LLK. 15 the land having been cultivated; some ex ceedingly tall pines were still left standing with their tops literally lost in the clouds. " Here, within these hills, if at all, we shall find inhabitants," said Edgar; " I think I can discover a smoke, it lays on the tops of the bushes, and floats along the surface of the earth. The humidity of the atmosphere is so attracted by the near approach of the clouds that the air below and near the earth, is spe cifically lighter than smoke, and it is a certain- indication of rain. With hope and apprehension at the highest pitch? they proceeded. Edgar felt so confi dent of finding a hut or cabin for present re lief and information, which should open their way for their return home, that he indulged himself in some pleasantry on Caroline's ap pearance, and on the mortification she must undergo, in making her debut into even a log hut in such an unfashionable and uncouth cos tume. Although Caroline was sufficiently sen sible of her ludicrous appearance, yet her heart was not enough at ease; and her appre hensions too dreadful to permit her to partake of any thing bordering on levity or facetiousness. The long and thrilling cry of the tree toad grated loud on their ears; whilst the disconsolate moans of the turtle-dove, added to the loveli ness of the surrounding hills, which appeared like abutments to the arch of heavy clouds, that continued shifting in detached scuds their relative positions, like regiments and brigades of an army when maneuvering or forming the line for battle. ADSONV1LLE. The feelings of the party grew more acute, as they approached the moment that should decide their success ; for they had already de termined that if they found not inhabitants within the circumjacent hills, they would re turn to their boats, and in ram or sunshine, await the first wind that should offer to waft them from a shore, which, although it needed but the cultivation and industry of man to make it a garden, was now totally incompetent tG administer relief to their necessities. Whilst engaged in this council, they were agreeably accosted by the barking of a small dog, which had met them in their path, and whose noise proceeded apparently more from exultation, than offence at the approach of vis itors, "i his was the certain harbinger of suc cess, and it quite elevated Caroline for the mo ment. " Here, conic here, my little Penny/" said she, " you are no wild beast of the wood, you have rational beings for your companions." The whiffet led the way, by slow retreats be fore them, occasionally standing crossways of his path, and barking carelessly, with his tail forming a complete circle over his back, until a small log hut, covered with repeated layings of slips of bark, and accommodated with a door and a four light window in front, situated on the banks of a small stream, which appeared to set back from the lake, through the west end of the valley, where a chasm for that pur pose was now discoverable. This channel was margined with such thick clusters of willow and other bushes, that it was completely hid den, except immediately in front of the house. ADSONVILLE. 17 where they had been cut away, and exhibited not only a still, narrow channel, but a log ca noe, fastened to the shore and floating on its bosom. The next object that attracted their atten tion, was an old man bearing the appearance of penury and misfortune, leisurely piling some faggots of wood in his arms; he raised up, and was proceeding with careful steps to his cottage door, when he perceived the ap proach of his unexpected visitors, his arms suddenly relaxed, and their burden tumbled at his feet : he proceeded with terrified looks and hasty steps within his cabin door, which he fastened upon them. Kdgar rapped and requested admittance; he received for an swer, to his great surprise, that if he entered it would be at the peril of his life. This was a thunder-stroke to Caroline, and she tremu lously desired Edgar not to urge them any further. He remonstrated with him upon his inhospitable and absurd conduct, and assured him they only sought a temporary shelter from the impending storm. But the wary old man replied, that he well knew their errand, and that he never would be ejected but with the loss of his life; that let the island belong to which nation, or to whomsoever it did, he in jured or molested nobody, by occupying where he did, and to be compelled to, abandon it, and be thrown upon an ungrateful and dishonest world, had more terrors to him, than any con sequences which might accrue from defending himself in this castle, his last remaining cita del in the world. This explanation was inex- b 2. 18 ADSONVILLE. plicable to Edgar, and he again stated that they had been driven on the coast in a plea sure boat, and were entirely unconscious what land they had made, or where they were. 66 A great deal of wind, I guess," replied the incredulous and cautious old man, in a sarcas tic tone : which reply, together with the con sideration of Caroline's situation, as the large drops began to fall, produced some intempe rate expressions from Edgar, who declared that before he would be kept out in the rain by an old fool, he would certainly break in, instantly, in defiance of his paltry threats; he then heard some one within speaking, and heard the old man reply, why then do they come armed ? upon which he precipitated his fowling piece, butt end foremost through the window, saying " if you are afraid of my arms, take them, you have the whole, now let us in." The old lady was just advancing to wards the window to reconnoitre ; but luckily the gun missed her and fell upon the floor. This movement, however, was so sudden and unexpected, that for the instant they supposed it to be the commencement of a charge ; but a moment's reflection was sufficient to discover to them its ' pacific and confidential nature : and the old lady resolutely advanced and opened the door, and invited them to walk in, saying, " you are welcome to a shelter and to all the hospitality our house can afford.'* The old man had not formally consented to the capitulation, but stood in a posture of de fence with his gun in his hands ; but Edgar, $fter thanking the old lady, advanced to her ADSONV1LLE. 1 husband with such a frank smile on his coun tenance, as effectually banished every suspi cion of hostility from his mind ; especially when Caroline, laying aside Edgar's hat and coat, they perceived she was a lady ; her gen teel appearance and uncommon beauty, set off by the uncontrolled luxuriance of her hair, and her expressive countenance, as her keen blue eyes, with a little of the languor of mel ancholy composure, turned alternately on her host and hostess, studying their physiognomy, and in that her fate, caused them from the ex treme of terror and suspicion almost to be lieve, that heaven had at last pitied their ad verse fortunes, and sent an angel to their re lief. The cottage fronted the south, and the fire place unconnected by jambs ranged across the west end; the one room of which it consisted was unencumbered with, useless furniture ; what there was appeared to be the proceeds of their own ingenuity.. The old lady kindly offered such refreshments as she had, which consisted of whortleberries, new potatoes, and smoked venison. William, remembering that in the locker of the sail boat had been left some refreshments, by a party of pleasure v\ho had recently taken a sail with it> seized a hand basket, and started out, although the rain fell In torrents. Caroline perceived his intention too late to prevent him from exposing himself, although she stood in the door some time with anxiety for his safety, fearing he would lose himself in the wood, or suffer by exposure to the excessive rain, She was soon, however. 20 ADSONVILLE. relieved from this and a still greater weight* by his return, and the pleasing intelligence which he brought. " Our sloop," says he. " the Angeline lays at anchor a few rods v from the shore 5 her sails are snugly stowed away, her decks are washed clean with the rain, and as she rides at anchor, she looks most beauti fully. I hailed her several times without being heard, and at last I bombarded her with stones with such effect as to break one of the lights of her cabin windows; this brought the cook upon deck,} who said that the captain and hands, having discovered the sail boats, and seeing nothing of you, had gone with a boat round the point, to a sloop at anchor, on board of which they hoped to find you; when they return they will come ashore for you : I let him know we were in a snug harbour, and that when it stopped raining we would come on board. ?? Caroline was, as may be supposed, much ex- hilerated with this intelligence, and pleased with William's intrepidity, she endeavoured, with the old lady, to assist him in drying his clothes, which were thoroughly soaked, and they both urged him to drink some of the liquor he had brought from the boat, but the bashful boy shifted his position from one cor ner to the other to avoid their importunities. Breakfast was prepared in as neat a manner as their accommodations would admit of. Ed gar pressed the old people to make free with his brandy, crackers, cigars, &c. They all united in pressing Caroline to partake of some refreshment, which she did reluctantly, and without an inclination to it of her own ; for ADSONVILLE. 21 altliough her own safety was now no question with her, it only permitted her to concentrate all her anxiety on her parents, whose dread ful suspense she easily conceived must be in tolerable. Breakfast being concluded, the old man ac cepted some of the cigars, but chose to pulver ize and inhale their smoke through a short pipe, which had the appearance of having been often honored as a censor for burnt offer ings before. These industrious old people carried on the manufacture of baskets, to the extent they were able to do it by their own labor, which alone they employed in procuring the materi als, in the manufacture, and in the transpor tation of their wares to a market, which was by water in a log canoe. A pile of clean J)lack ash slips for this use was stored away in, each corner. The humidity and coolness of the air, although it was yet August, rendered a fire not unpleasant : on one of these heaps William had fallen into a sound sleep ; on the other Caroline had seated herself in a reclining position, like an embossment of beauty on a pile of marble, or an angel resting on a fleecy cloud of snowy whiteness. The old lady had put on her black rimmed spectacles; with glasses of the size of a crown piece, which gave her dignified countenance an appearance of additional sanctity, and was leisurely and silently plying her knitting pins; the old man her husband was seated directly before the fire, and the fragrant odour from the short tube, which fumed beneath his nose," rose in 22 ADSONVILLE. columns to the roof, whilst his thoughtful couu tenance, as his eyes passed deliberately from Edgar to Caroline, seemed to indicate that his mind was occupied in contrasting their youth and appearance of wealth, with his age and penury : or perhaps his recollection was cast back to days when prosperity spread her gol den wings over his head, and shielded him from the storms of adversity, and on his sub sequent disappointments and misfortunes. Whatever his cogitations were, he was permit ted to enjoy them undisturbed ; for within, all was silence; without the rain fell steadily and sonorously on the roof. Caroline lay reclined on her sofa of ash ribbons, her eyes, through the medium of the little window, fixed upon the slanting sheets of watery vapour, as they successively passed between the window and the opposite hills, and wound the tall pines, whose vibrating tops appeared as if strug gling for breath in the clouds of heaven : whilst the smoky scuds were successively climbing the sides of the mountains and mingling with the " waters above the earth ;" her mind had suffered inconceivable terrors, and her body uncommon fatigue, with also the want of sleep: the stillness of the cottage and all within it. the steady sound of the rain on the roof, and the gentle waving of the forest soothed her agitated mind, her head gently reclined, and sleep, the opiate for a troubled soul, stole softly over her senses. Edgar had watched its approach with much satisfaction ; and now, with delight, his eyes were still rivettecTon the undulations of her unsuspecting bosom, where ADSONVILLE. 23 exalted sentiments, unsullied purity of thought, and angelic innocence held their peaceful do minion. He began to reflect more seriously than ever,, whether to insure his future happi ness the company and possession of her charms, were not indispensable, and likewise upon the probability of his being able to attain to the possession of them. His situation in life as to property or respectability presented no obsta cles ; his fears arose on other grounds ; he had been educated in a society of peculiar senti ments and manners, and with religious views and prejudices differing materially from hers, and although this circumstance might not in terfere with their happiness at present, whilst the gaiety of youth, like Aaron's rod, swal lowed up all other considerations ; yet as this state of life is not to last long, educational bias, and prejudices, may return, when settled principles for life are determined upon, and become the occasion of perpetual diversity and debate. Edgar's parents were Quakers, or as we shall call them, Friends ; and Caroline's father was a military man, and although accounted a man of good sense, yet so tenacious of his own opinion, that when he had decided upon a subject, it was generally considered as vain to attempt to bring him to a reconsideration of it, with any view of prevailing upon him to alter his mind : as a military officer, he had always found the Friends, as he conceived, a troublesome obstacle to the organization, num ber and spirit of his district ; their inflexible opposition to military requisitions of any kind, 24 ADSONVILLE. the tracts which they disseminated of a ten dency to beget the same scruples in others, against what he considered not only justifia ble, but so long as society existed, indispensa ble, that of being prepared to defend their country from invasion, and their families from rapine and insult. The Friends, on the other hand, regarding him as proof against any thing controverting his own views, made but small efforts to con vince him of the grounds of their objections to military parade, nor but few overtures of ac quaintance. Mr. F. Edgar's father, aud Mr. Adson were men who had early settled in this country, and were considered as possessing the largest estates of any within some distance of the place. They sometimes met on public occasions and on business, and conversed in a The old man laughed outright, whilst hiswife^ with some degree of pleasantry in her coun tenance kept her eyes on her work, but look ed wise, as if she foresaw difficulties that had not entered into Edgar's calculation. The obscured sun was descending to the western horizon ; the scuds on the sides of the mountain veered to a contrary co *se, and in stead of thickening in the north-west, that quarter exhibited a clear sky, which gradually spread until a few white clouds floated in an ocean of blue ; the sun shone with, declining vigour, but with refulgence sufficient to be spangle the humid forest with glittering gems. Our company, with the old man, sallied forth to embark for home. Every inhabitant of the forest was on the alert, and as they passed, a sudden rustling of the bushes with the sound of hoofs, warned them that they had startled a herd of deer ; aad at the next step a rabbit with long jumps would double before them ; ^yhilst the grey squirrels chattered on the tops 32 ADSONVILLE. of the highest trees ; all nature seemed to start into new existence and activity? at the return of serenity to the elements. Under any other circumstances, both Edgar and Caroline would have been delighted to have lingered away their time amidst such scenery : but the re port of a musket fired repeatedly in the di rection of the lake, warned them that the boat men were anxious to be underway. Edgar fired his fowling piece to answer them, at which the old man expressed some apprehen sion of his retreat being discovered. Edgar T had before promised to evade giving any in formation that might lead to the discovery, and also to call occasionally himself to ascer tain their situation, as to health, &e. When they arrived at the brink which descended to the water's edge, their guide pointed to the lake, glistening through the vistas of the trees, and wishing them a prosperous voyage home, and through life, they parted, after Caroline had earnestly invited him to call at Adsonville the first time he should go to the village ; to which -the old man answered significantly, "-you will- hear more of me before I die." Edgar then led Caroline down the sloping descent to the shore of the lake, whose expansive bosom gently ruffled by the rising breeze, broke the reflection of the sun's rays, and appeared as if covered with floating diamonds. The main land was visible, but resembled a landscape of undistinguished green : far in the west a white speck was discernible, which Edgar assured Caroline was Adsonville. A boat was in waiting to take them to the ADSONV1LLE. 33 sloop, which, propelled hy the supple oars as they dipped lightly in the water, skimmed over the silvery surface, until it rounded under the gunwale, and Caroline found herself safely on the spacious deck of the Angelina ; and the Captain assured her, that by the next mor ning he would land her safely at Adsonville. '*' Did you hear how it affected my parents, my mother in particular? what did they think I come off for?" Capt. " I don't know what they thought you come off for ; what the d***l did bring you off?" Caroline. " Why, could they not once think amidst all their conjectures, that I got into the boat to stop Mr. F. from getting drowned?" Capt. " So then you shipped for a pilot, did you to save him? ha, ha, ha ! no I don't think they once thought of that." Caroline. " I got into the boat to stop him from rashly venturing out in such a squall." Capt. " Well, you bettered it much to go with him ; but you done well, if we meet with a blow whilst you are on board, I shall give up the cdmmarid of the sloop to you." Caroline. " Do you know how my mother sustained the shock; is she alive ?" Capt. " I did not hear any thing but that she was alive, and well. I believe they in vented some lie to satisfy her." " It would be hard satisfying her in that way or any other, under such circumstances," said Caroline to herself; as she retired to the quar- .3-1 ADSONVILLE. ter-deck, to be out of the way whilst they were preparing to get under sail. The white sails gradually climbed the tall mast whilst they flapped loosely in the rising breeze, until she weighed anchor, no longer restraining the vessel's motion, her bows fell away to leeward, and their white bosoms swel led with the propelling gale. Caroline re mained on deck, and as they left the shore, the reflection of the water exhibiting an inver ted green forest, with the setting sun taking his last bright look from the top of the distant mountain formed a scene of gilded beauty, un til its brightness was exchanged for the sober robe of twilight. Edgar had been detained in conversation with the captain until now ; turn ing to Caroline, he made some observations on the beauty of the evening, and the favorable wind which was wafting them to the delight ful seat of their social sympathies. He said. i( Caroline, I rejoice that thou art about hav ing the extent of thy wishes gratified; thou wilt soon be in the arms of thy parents, and the embraces of thy friends : in that case will there be any secret wish yet unsatisfied, any vacuum in thy mind that shall destroy the full enjoyment of what you possess." She looked at him with unaffected simplicity, and answer ed "No, I hope not;" and after a pause added, {( You are destined to the same happy meeting with your friends, and I hope that is not the case with you." " Caroline," continued Edgar, " the satis faction of returning you safely, affords me the highest gratification : that of relieving my pa ADSONVILLE. 35 rents and friends from the anxiety they feel on my account, is the next pleasurable sensation : but the enjoyment of company separate from thee, can afford me no happiness. I shall now lose thy company, which alone can compensate for the loss of all other. At home I shall see thee but seldom, and under the restraint of company. How happy have I been since the last evening, though surrounded by peril and filled with anxiety. Oh, Caroline ! may I ne ver expect to enjoy such a boon in full fruition, and under happier auspices : has no similar, no correspondent sentiment found a place in thy heart. Am I so unfortunate as not to have inspired similar sentiments in thy untainted bosom ?" Caroline had prudently refused admittance to any passion, which in the least she suspec ted to be love, towards any person whatever, her near relations and universal philanthropy excepted. In regard to Edgar, she had per suaded herself that the preference she felt for his company, and the secret pleasure she felt when it fell to her lot to be his partner in walks and rides, -&c, originated from his supe riority over his associates, which being ac knowledged by all, could not br special love in her. True, he had given hints before, of what he now so openly avowed ; but she never considered them more than unmeaning com pliments. She now felt much embarrassed ; but was timely relieved by the captain's re questing them to walk below and repose them selves, as he should be under the necessity of 36 ADS-ONVILLE. Calling them up early to go on shore, it being important for him to make the best of his way on his voyage, whilst the wind was favorable. He shewed Caroline a neat back cabin, and offered Edgar his own state-room. Edgar was anxious to impress Caroline with the ardor and sincerity of his passion, and to draw some thing from her which should afford to him a ray of hope. This intention, therefore, (al though the necessity of it he confessed,) was by no means desirable. Caroline retired immediately to the cabin assigned her, where, without extinguishing the lamp, she threw herself in the birth, filled with agitating and conflicting reflections. She was, in .some degree, soothed by the placid prospect from her window : the new moon shewed its face for a few moments, broken and quivering in the water, and then followed her source of radiance behind the hills. The thoughts of meeting her parents, and how she should account \to them for her rash departure: her fears for the effects it had already had upon them ; the recollections of the scene she had passed through the preceding night, and Edgar's last protestations, crowded alter nately into her mind. The last subject she- fain would have put to rest, but could not help casting a glance at the difficulties that might interfere, to prevent his happiness so far as it was dependent on what he avowed it to be, and almost wished that 'on his account they were out of the way ; but would not admit that she felt any interest in it on her own. The stars innumerably reflected from the ADSONVILLE. 37 iiquid^expanse : the distant howl of the hun gry wolves resounding from along the shore : the gentle motion of the vessel, and the con stant sound of the water rippling along her sides, overcame the activity of her mental faculties ; her eyes gradually closed upon the faint light of her exhausting lamp, until sweet sleep covered her with the downy mantle of forgetful ness. There was no such relief for Edgar. After ruminating upon the certain happiness he should enjoy, if Caroline should be the con stant companion of his life and sharer of it : his mind again dwelt upon all the circumstances connected with the probability of it, and he saw nothing in the way which appeared insur mountable. f( I am," says he mentally, " a birthright member of society, it is true, and belong to the meeting ; but that is not on ac count of any goodness in me. Although I believe the doctrines and practice of the soci ety are correctly predicated upon the scrip tures ; yet I can believe and practice them as well out as in : and if belonging to the meet ing, simply of itself, is of any real value as res pects salvation, it comes very easily to such as me, who are born members. My parents are so strongly prejudiced in favor of every thing which the society sanctions, and against what it condemns, that they will probably consider it an affliction, until they become acquainted with the lovely Caroline, whose natural good ness cannot be exceeded, and as to religion, I should hope that, at least, she has as much a$ J have." 4 38 ADSONVILLE. After passing several hours in these kind of waking dreams; and finding it in vain to ex pect sleep, he arose, and was groping his way upon deck, when he was met by the Captain? who desired him to call upon Caroline to get ready to leave the sloop. He entered her cabin, where hy the dim rays of the al most extinguished light, he gazed for a mo ment on the indistinct form of sleeping beauty, as she lay like an exquisite figure in a shaded ground ; he was tempted, like the lo ver in the Canticles, to awaken her with kiss es : but considering her situation, he prudent ly restrained his inclinations, and taking her by the hand, said, " My dear Caroline, are you able to go on shore? we have got home.'* " Oh, yes ;" she answered earnestly, starting up and looking towards her feet. " Well, then, I bid you farewell," said Edgar. "Why," said she, staring at him in surprise, " are you not going on shore?' 5 " Oh, certainly/" said he, " but farewell to thee. ?? She gave him one more look, as if by his counte nance, to discover his meaning ; but he guarded so as it might bespeak nothing but mystery; which she perceiving took no more notice of it, but hurried with him upon the deck, where there appeared some bustle in getting into the small boat which was to take them on shore. It was the very moment when day-light wa^ first discoverable by a slight streak along the eastern horizon ; the feathered tenants of ev ery barn in the village were engaged in a gen ral competition, very annoying to the rest rf ADSONV1LLE. 39 ervants, and straining to their own lungs; the white walls and fences of Adsonville were off against them, and formed a beautiful, and to Caroline, a most delightful prospect. They were carefully assisted into the boat, and a few dextrous strokes of the oars soon brought them to the very spot, from whence they had in an unexpected moment taken their eventful departure. The young men returned immediately to their vessel; when the main sheet being eased off, they proceeded with a favorable wind for the place of the vessel's original destination. Edgar still intended, as they passed up the walk, to say some tender things to Caroline, expecting probably at such a time, she would confess that which at a more collected moment, she would reserve : but he found her so extremely agitated, as she ap proached the house, that it would have been impudence in the extreme, to trouble her on any subject ; he, therefore, tenderly desired her to be composed, saying, he had always ta ken her to be 9, philosopher. She attempted to speak her apprehensions, but could no^;and as if to make some acknowledgements to Ed gar, for his sympathy, or from actual inability to sustain herself, she fell into his arms. He received the ^precious burden! with more rap ture and enthusiasm than did Elisha the man tle of his brother ; for in her he embraced all that to him, at this moment, appeared good, lovely or desirable. He said but little, but pressed her lips with ecstacy. This was, perhaps, more than she expected ; it re stored her to renewed self- exertion, she strug- 40 ADSONVILLE. gled for release, and demanded how they should enter the house. "' Go," said she. " and shake the lightning rod ; -it will awake the servants, without disturbing those who sleep in the other part of the house." This he immediately did, with such violence as soon brought the maid to the window, who put her head out, to discover the cause of its agi tation. Edgar called to her in a loud whis per, to come down and let Caroline in. " Car oline, Lord I" said she, letting the window sash descend with its own gravity ; in a mo ment the door where they stood flew open, and the affectionate girl, (entirely unconscious that in her joy she had forgotten to dress,) clasped Caroline in her arms. Day -light had not so far advanced as to render objects dis- tinctly visible, but Caroline was extremely mortified and surprised at the girl's appearing thus before Edgar : blinded with tears, and tortured with dreadful apprehensions of hear ing of some disaster to her parents, she was half induced to laugh herself, as she vainly en deavored jto convince the creature to think what she was about ; or by pushing and pul ling to escape from her embrace : at length comiiig to more sober recollection, the girl scampered off to her chamber, and Caroline flew into the room to her parents. The other branches of the family came one after the other into the hall, enquiring how and when Caroline had come, and waiting for her to make her appearance. Edgar, after satisfying herself that Mr. and Mrs. Adson were in as good health, as could be expected. ADSONVILLE, 41 took his way'up the banks of the Frith, where he first met Caroline. The sun had just flung his golden zone around the horizon, the morn ing dew drops glittered on every blade, and the flower-enamelled branches over his head teemed with birds of all notes and plumes, each of which appeared ambitious to have his voice distinguished in their morning mattins. Edgar was surprised at the pensiveness of his own mind, whilst surrounded by such a cheer ing scene; and as- he continued his walk every step was plentifully sprinkled with the drops whicli the startling songsters shook from the elastic boughs ; nor could even the prospect of being welcomed home by his near relations and doating friends, afford to his mind a ray of delight, to compensate for the company of her whom he had left behind. I am in love, said he mentally, in spite of all my affec ted philosophy. (Caroline must be mine.) With me it is decidea : but what trifling eircum* stances may yet be sufficient to prevent it? Must the happiness of my life be dependent on the whim and caprice of others? must the serenity and composure of my mind depend upon, or be liable to be destroyed by contin gencies ; by such trifles as would be sufficient to obstruct our union, a suspicion, a whisper, an insignificant tongue of slander may dash the cup from my lips forever. But it shall not be so ; I will neglect no opportu nity of promoting my happiness; by securing her heart and hand. If I fail in the enter prise, I will not, on that account, pertinacious ly renounce every other source of happiness 42 ADSONVILLE. and surrender myself a self- devoted victim to despair. As he formed this resolution, he in sensibly quickened his pace, and when he ar rived at home, the whole family pressed around him, with the most unequivocal marks of joy at his safe return. And an abridgment of the account of his voyage, he had to recapitulate to almost every neighbor, who called in, t.o assure themselves of his safe return. ADSONVILLE. 43 CHAPTER II. - Her mind'* serenity was lost and gone, Her eye grew languid and she wept alone. n Bloomfield ,. EDGAR'S most intimate friend was a Dr* Hay, a native of the state of Connecticut, who had by his own industry and without the aid of competent funds, managed to procure the necessary education to qualify himself to enter with credit upon the profession of physic. He sustained a regular examination, and had obtained an honorable diploma, accompa nied with special recommendations as a moral and studious character ; with which equip ment about one year before this time, he arri ved in the course of his travels, to find a stand for his business, in the village of . Without much prospect of success, and nearly out of cash, he met Edgar in the street, as the latter happened to be proceeding from the place of his business to dine. Although the doctor was extremely diffident, and above asking a favor of a stranger, yet the spur of his necessities, and the benevolence that he imagined he could discover in Edgar's countenance, en- 44 ADS03SV1LLE. couraged him to disclose his situation, and re quest of him at least his advice 5 at the same time, putting into his hands the diploma, and recommendations. Independent of the claims which honest necessity always had upon the heart of Edgar, he was particularly prepos sessed in favor of the stranger's countenance, and manner of introducing himself, which evinced, that whilst his heart suffered with discouragement, his face was forbidden to com municate it to others. Edgar held his diploma in his hand, as if dwelling upon the beauty of the copperplate impression, but in reality with his mind occu pied on the situation of the stranger, who had made him the confidant of it. He had often regretted that a press of business had inter fered with his opportunity for study, and for the attainment of as much scientific knowledge as he coveted ; and that he had not in time chosen a profession which would have admit ted of unlimited study; and that of physic was the only one which would have been admissi ble for him, as law and divinity are equally ex cluded by the Quakers. " It is too late," said he* mentally, " for me now to think of stu dying it with a view of practising it as a pro fession, but if I have a liberally educated phy sician for my friend and companion, I should be in the way of obtaining scraps of informa tion in Botany, Chemistry, &c. which besides - the immediate pleasure I shall receive, will in some degree prepare me for the company aad conversation of men of science, wherever I shall be so fortunate as to fall in their com pa-- ADSOXYILLE. 45 uy. <' There is," he continued, " something more than ordinary in this young doctor ; he does not attempt to prepossess me with a high opinion of his learning by pompous words or technics." The young doctor modestly regard ed Edgar's countenance, and saw the smile which when they first met enlivened it, grad ually gave way to thoughtful ness, from which he argued hut little encouragement. Edgar folded his papers up, and returning them, held his head down as if in a study. He occasion ally indulged his reflections so far, as to be ac cused of absence of mind; of this he was him self sensible, and now in the midst of his con sultation what to answer the ^stranger, he re collected his propensity, and fearing he had detained him longer than he was aware, star ted up into his usual affability, and taking him familiarly by the arm, said, " Come, go with me to dinner. We will have thy horse taken care of, and thou must stay a week or two with us. Perhaps something may be done here." The doctor held'his horse with the bridle over his arm, his whip in his hand, and at this in vitation proceeded without hesitation with Edgar, to his father's house; where, his be ing accompanied by a young man, unknown to the family, excited no surprise, nor would it any enquiry, had not the doctor's appearance, and modest, genteel demeanor, as he success ively met the nod of each individual in the room, excited a more than ordinary curiosity, to know who he was. " I don't know, Ed gar," said his mother, " as I recollect who this young man is, his countenance appears fa- 46 ADSONVILLE. miliar to me ; but the young people grow up so fast that I cannot always call their names,, when I know their looks, and I am ashamed to let them find that I have forgotten them, lest they should think I am indifferent about them." Edgar informed his mother that she must be mistaken, in regard to any acquaintance with his looks, as he was a stranger in the place; and a physician looking for a place that should afford sufficient encouragement to induce him to settle. Mr. F. Edgar's father, entered into con versation with him, enquiring from whence he was, and making observations on the difficulty young men of his, and other professions, ex perienced before they acquire a reputation for skill, &c. and also on the prospects that their neighborhood offered. " I have given him," said Edgar, " an in vitation to stop with us for a week, if it will produce no inconvenience in the family." His father said he should think well of that, and that he should be welcome to make his house his home. His mother said, it would be perfectly convenient, and also encouraged him to stay. The doctor felt the full weight of the obligation he wa< under for such seasona ble hospitality, and made his acknowledgment: in the most suitable manner; and the event ha.- been, that he has ever since continued in the family, no part of which has ever had cause to repent of their kindness, or alter from their first impressions of his character. He pos ADSONVILLE. 47 ssessed a mind naturally philosophic, and con- considerably enriched by study and reading: but his diffidence prevented him from deri ving all the benefit from his qualifications that more confidence would have produced. But gentleness and goodness were so manifest in ev ery situation in which he was placed, that he never failed to gain the love and good will of all his acquaintance. He had now attained considerable celebrity, and was generally ac knowledged more of a book man, than any other physician in the place : and as he con sidered himself altogether indebted to Edgar for his present happy situation, and as the lat ter found in him every requisite for a faithful friend and instructive companion, this acci dental acquaintance was now transformed into the most intimate friendship. During Edgars late absence, the doctor had suffered much anxiety, lest the apprehensions of his friends should prove too well founded; but like a physician, disguised his fears, and he affec ted to believe that the chances were altogether in favor of his safety. The morning of Ed gars return, he was absent on a case, but re turned in the forepart of the day ; and when he was congratulating him on his escape, and listening to his recital, he was accosted by ;i messenger, who catching his breath in broken respirations, informed him that his presence was wanting immediately at Adsonville. The doctor enquired the occasion of it ; but the servant said he did not rightly know, but Miss Caroline, says he, looking at Edgar, has got back, and I believe she is crazy or delirious^ 48 ADSONVILLE. or something else, I don't know what, only they are in a hurry for you to come. The doctor turned to Edgar, who with looks of astonishment exclaimed, "Crazy, delirious! Heavens, she was well this morning when 1 left her ; perfectly well ; but go quickly, do not wait a moment longer, but return as soon as you can leave without detriment to her." In a moment he was out of sight ; and Edgar again, inexpressibly tortured by the new dis aster to his beloved Caroline; and finding he could not attend to any other subject, walked alone to a grove, where he should meet the doctor on his return, to get the earli est information of the case of his patient. He strove to beguile his impatience by tracing the meandering of a rill, which stole its course around and under the roots of tall pines and gigantic elms, to the bank from whence it leaped into the lake. But the doctor not returning soon enough to satisfy his eager desire to hear from Caroline, he insensibly arrived within a few rods of Adson- ville by a different route, from that which led along the banks of the inlet. There he en tered an arbor, which he knew was a favorite of Caroline's, where he indulged himself in the melancholy reverie of imagining that she whose delicate hands had led the wild vines over the cooling arch, and planted the .morn ing glories by its sides, was now laboring un der the fever of mental derangement, and had visited it for the last time ; and had left both them and himself to wither in her absence. But no, said he, it shall not be so. I shall yet ADSONVILLE. 49 iead her within these quivering walls, shall listen to the music of her voice, contemplate in her the perfection of heaven's best gift, em brace in her all that imagination can conceive of loveliness and virtue, and be intoxicated with her caresses, At length he began to reproac.h himself with such unphilosophical drea unrig, and made an effort to walk out, composed, but could not resist the temptation to write with his pencil, the following lines, on the bark of a white birch which grew at the entrance. Ye vestal spirits, which within this shade, Watch'd o'er the safety of your kindred maid ; Whose private hours within the.e walls were spent. Her mind en books, and nature's book intent; Thus adding knowledge to her native worth, And charms on charms new springing into birth ; FJy to her couch, and with your Hyg-ean breath, Dispel the fev'rish harbinger of death ; 'Round her mild brow, let health with beauty blaze, And her bright eyes emit their wonted rays; Again at blushing inorn here let her stray; With seraph footsteps brush the dew away ; And if her wandering eyes this scroll shall trace., Whilst conscious blushes lighten in her face : Oh may she know the author of these lines, Dies with despair, whilst she with sickness pines. He then proceeded with hasty steps to the house to make enquiry himself of the first per son he should meet respecti rig Caroline's indis position; but not meeting with any person, he entered the hall, and appeared as if lei surely perusing some maps suspended on tha walls, when a door flew open, and, undiscov- 5 50 ADSONVILLE. cred himself, he saw the doctor issue forth, ac companied by a couple of female sages, both of whom were talking to him in a whisper at the same time, while he appeared as if assent ing to all their prescriptions : without obser ving him, they proceeded to the kitchen fire, where each lifted a jar from the coals, which he tasted, and also appeared to approve. In deed he seemed to no.l assent to every thing these kind nurses proposed, and appeared equally disposed on his part to explain to them the nature of the disorder, and the intended operation of his medicines. Edgar had ne ver been sick himself, and seeing the doctor, who was generally reserved, and abhorred quackery, thus complaisant to the old ladies, when he supposed himself acting under their observation only, it made him even forget the occasion of it, so far as to raise a sarcastic smile on his countenance, which the doctor, accidentally raising his eyes, perceived at the same time that he dis< overed Edgar was pre sent : and feeling something mortified, he de termined that Edgar should not enjoy his cha grin : so stalking up to him, he said, " you appear from your levity not to be under much apprehension for your shipmate, but her case is somewhat alarming." Edgar instantly turn ed pale, if there is any danger he stammered " let me see her, I must see her before oh heavens, yes, before she dies ! ?? Doctor. Why, Edgar, are you so easil; frightened, I did not say any thing about her dying ; there is no danger of that ; you IKUS not see her now, however, it would not he ADSONV1LLE. 51 prudent for either of you now, added he aside, I will return early in the evening and inform you more. He then left him to return to his patient, and Edgar conceiving that his company might be unprofitable or undesirable^ proceeded directly home. The last red glow of the western sky was fading, and the low ering gloom and falling dew increased the sul len, uuresigned state of mind, he felt disposed to indulge ; until he broke forth into murmurs against himself. " What a miserable dupe I am ; of what avail now that I need it, is all my philosophy ! how often have I resolved to not suffer my composure or happiness to be dependant on another how often have I mocked the foliy of others of imagining that all the perfections of human nature are centered in one individual, and that they must be the fortunate possessor of such a rare prize. I am now alone, I can never take delight in any company, but that of the enchanting Caro line, and aside from her, I must experience a continual depression of spirits, and at all times be liable to be deprived of her forever, if no other way by that ruthless scythe which spares neither youth nor beauty, virtue nor excel lence.' I must dream no more of her angelic superiority; no longer shut my eyes to the beauty of others, nor slight the charms of their sociability. I must seek to be delivered from the maniacal hallucination which now affects me. When he entered the door his mother en quired after Caroline, whether she was out of health when he parted with her in the morn- 52 ADSONVILLE. ing ; to which he answered dejectedly, and in but few words. She noticed hifi countenance and discovered that he felt deeply interested in her health. It was now two nights since he had taken any repose ; and although he did not feel inclined for sleep, yet as soon as he found himself alow- he retired in the dark to his bed, where he waited impatiently for the doctor's return, until he had the satisfaction of hearing his voice below, enquiring for him, he also heard the family eagerly enquiring af ter Caroline, but could not hear the doctor's reply, as th^y continued for some time in con versation in too low a voice for him to under stand. This increased his alarm ; but at length the doctor entered the room, held the lamp over the btd, and perceiving Edgar to be awake, smile ci. " How is Caroline?" said Edgar. The doctor answered carelessly, as he was laying off his clothes, " I think she'll be likely to ..',ed upon was, before he left the city, to ascertain who it was that had attracted his attention the preceding evening; and he was not without ardent hopes, that he should meet with Caroline. When prepared to depart on his journey, he drove to the door of the house in question, and a servant appearing to hold his horse, he alight ed and was ushered in ; being met at the par lor door and "conducted by an interesting and polite young lady. He now began to feel something awkward at not having at hand an excuse for calling ; but it was a suitable op portunity for him to put in practice his gen eral rule, which was never to be engaged in the pursuit of an object he was ashamed to avow; when, therefore, he perceived that all in the room were raising to receive him, he informed them that he felt as if his business was of but little consequence. { His amiable and prepossessing appearance and manners, together with his style, would have made the 7* 78 ADSONV1LLE. young ladies willing to have heard him avow a more important errand. " When I came in town last evening/' said he, " 1 imagined I saw a lady hy the door or window with whom I am acquainted. You can, probably, inform me whether I am mistaken. I am some dis tance from home, and if such a stranger be here, it wuld be agreeable to meet with her.* Two or three of the family appeared simul taneously disposed to answer him, but they checked their inclinations, and looked at Em- eline, the oldest of the daughters, requesting her to answer him. " It was Miss Adson, sir," said she, *' and her father, who lodged with us last night." " And are they gone?" said Edgar quickly. " Yes; they started early this morning, with an intention of reach ing the end of their journey by night." " Do you know where they are bound ?" said Edgar. " Not exactly; it is in Dutch- ess county Miss Adson is going to a board ing school." He then held his head down for some minutes thoughtfully, until Emeline ask ed him if that was the person he supposed he had seen ? He smiled, and answered yes. J he smile was contagious and passed upon all in the room. He enquired if they were connec ted ; and if not, how they came to make their house their home ? adding, they are my neigh bors and reside more than two hundred miles from this place. " They are strangers to us," said Emeline ; " only that we fell in company n the road, and by stopping together at the same inn. My father and myself were so pleased with their company, that we insisted ADSONYILLE. 79 upon their patting up with us, instead of go ing to a tavern ?" " No doubt it was much more agreeable to Caroline," said Edgar ; 6i your company must have been much more congenial than any she would have met with at the tavern." " I am not sure of that," re turned Emeline, smiling, '' if you were there; but be that as it may, we were much pleased with her. I rode with her in their carriage one day. She appeared delighted with the prospects that our country affords at this early season, and kept herself in tolerable spirits, unless the school was introduced, when she would instantly grow sad. She said if I should go with her, she thought she could stay a year contentedly.''' " I wish," replied Edgar, ' you could be her school mate ; for, I appre hend, it would much contribute to her con tentment ; you appear much like her."-" I thank you, sir, for the compliment ; it flatters me." " It may any one," said Edgar. " I mean," said Emeline, " it would flatter me if I supposed there were any grounds for it : but among so many girls as there are at boarding schools, she will not fail to find one who will form for her a more agreeable com panion." Caroline had taken her leave of this agreea ble and hospitable family, with a heavy heart, expecting to arrive at her destined home by the close of the day ; she realized already the return of her father and her lonely situation : for some miles the tears flowed profusely, and the splendor of a beautiful morning and highly cultivated country, through which 80 ADSONV1LLE. they passed, were not permitted to soothe the agitations of a mind working with con tending emotions, and struggling for nothing but resignation. Her father perceived it, but did not interfere in the conflict: he appeared himself to he but a little more composed^ al though he maintained a settled countenance. He felt sensible of the keenness of his daugh ter's sensations, yet he could not consent to alter his arrangements, to which Caroline had consented with an apparent cheerfulness ; al though it was avowedly for the purpose of separating her from the possibility of meeting with one who, he had good grounds for be lieving, had touched the finest threads of her sensibilities; against whom no positive ob jections could be raised, and who had shared with her the most appalling dangers, and whose gallant intrepidity .had rescued her from them, and delivered her in triumph to the arms of her desparing and agonized pa rents : he could not find in his heart, to cen sure or condemn her, if she felt a preposses sion in his favour, and disposed to honor him with her preference ; but he had other and different prospects respecting the disposal of his only daughter, who would be heir to t, large estate ; and to prevent their frustration, he was disposed to go considerable lengths ; and as Caroline had been some months without seeing Edgar, he had fallen upon the plan o>" removing her to a boarding school before his return, supposing that another year's absence would effectually remove or divert the pn* sions of both to other objects. ADSONVILLE. 81 If he had allowed himself to reflect, he must have perceived that the real happiness of his beloved daughter depended on his giving her to one, who was possessed of a disposition congenial to hers, and possessed of every manly grace and accomplish ment, and of a family equal in property and respectability ; br.t he had been educated a Quaker. This was sufficient for Caroline's father to start at, and to eclipse every consideration in his favor. The variety of objects they passed, and particularly the sublime appearance of the Kattskill mountains that ranged on the west side of the Hudson, in a line paralh-1 with their road, at length soothed the mind of Caroline; and her sighs grew gradually light er, and less frequent, until placid serenity beamed in her countenance, and resignation calmed the tumults of her soul. Before the sun again hid himself behind the western scenery, they drove before a long house with a portico ; the whole length of which were a group of young ladies, sitting or walking leisurely without their bonnets. Mr. Adson cast his eye upon them, and then looked Caroline in the face and smiled, to let her know that she had arrived at the end of her journey- The movement convinced her of the fact, and so unexpectedly, that it de prived her of the ability to help herself out of the carriage, or articulate a word. Mr. Adson was endeavoring to assist her, and look ing around in consternation at her situation, which the fair scholars perceiving, rushed, b^ ADSONVILLE. forward, offering their assistance, and asking if she was sick, and if she had come to school ? And expressing their joy and congratulations on being informed she had, two of the oldest of them took^her by the arms arid led her in ; at the same time consoling her with the assur ance, that she would in a short time be Very contented and happy. They were met at the door by the amiable mistress, who under standing the cause of Caroline's trepidation, led her into a retired room, where, after see ing her placed comfortably on a bed, she de sired the girls to withdraw, and leave their new friend aloae, until she recovered her composure, and from the fatigue of her jour ney. After they had retired, the worthy matron endeavored to console Caroline with the assurance, that she would soon recover her spirits ; and did not doubt, spend a few months with them very agreeably, and she hoped also to her advantage. Caroline per ceived by her appearance and language, that she was a Quakeress, and her tender regard for her, or some other prepossession, instantly endeared her to her heart. She was too full to speak her acknowledgments ; but as Mrs. S , passed her hand near her face, to adjust her clothes, she seized it, $nd car rying it to her lips, impressed upon it a kiss: then bursting into tears, she covered her face; and Mrs. S , after standing a mo ment, concluded to leave her to recover alone, that composure which must, of course, sun-. ceed such violent emotions. Mr. Adson was unaccountably chagrined at ADSONVILLE. S3 linding that the school he had heard so highly recommended, was condu* ted by a Quaker lady, and was half determined to make Caro line's distress an excuse for tak'ng her home with him : but, perceiving hat many of the young ladies, from their appearance and man ners, were under no restraint on that ground, and understanding that there were different houses of worship in the village, which they were at liberty to attend, according to the wishes of their parents : and s he could not avoid admiring the polite and sensible demea nor of the accomplished mistress and her as sistants ; and the happy contentment, inno cent freedom and gaiety of the scholars, he concluded that rather than lose his journey, he would risk the danger of her becoming con taminated with Quakerism. He spent the next day in observing the course of study pursued, and the order and regularity of the family, with which he was well pleased ; and the succeeding morning took his leave of Car oline, with more agitation and affection than he had ever before manifested. He gave to her an ample supply of money, and desired her not to deprive herself of any thing she thought necessary; and if she chose to return before her time was expired, she should be gratified. Caroline, although now strongly preposses sed in favor of her new home, could not sup press the most violent emotions of sensibility, although she at the same time had the pres ence of mind to assure her father, that they would last but a moment, and that she be 84 ADSONVILLE. lieved she should be happy. She followed his carriage with her eyes, until by turning a corner it disappeared, and then manifested no disposition to leave the spot, until the tender remonstrances of her kind teacher persua ded her to beguile her recollections by appli cation to her studies, which soon became very delightful, and in which she made rapid pro gress. These, with the agreeable company and tender assiduities of her school mates, soon had the effect to make her happy and pleased w r ith her situation. But the recol lection of Edgar, with her conjectures in re gard to what further measures, if any, he might pursue relative to their final union, would occasionally steal on her mind and make her thoughtful and pensive. Their situation was on the margin of Wappinger's Creek, which constantly reminded her of Adsonville. On the shore of this placid and majestic stream, the scholars had a secluded walk, where at evening and on pleasant mornings, they were permitted to w r ander and enjoy the beauty of the rural scenery and the music of the choris ters of the grove. At some distance from the school the river separated into two different channels, and then joined again, embracing a small islet, which was suffered to remain in a state of nature. To this island, on particular occasions, they were treated with an excur sion iri a boat kept for that purpose. Caroline at one time made one of the party; the day had been excessively warm ; but as the sun was descending, the wind raised moderately from the west, bringing with it a most refresh- ADSONVILLE. 85 ing coolness. When they landed on this se cluded spot, Caroline's companions were de lighted to ecstasy with their situation : hut to the heart of Caroline, it brought too forcibly the recollection of past events ; for, besides its being an uninhabited island, she perceived that the change in the air was occasioned by an approaching gust, and the distant thunder already warned them of its approach, i It is no more than could be expected, that a girl of the affectionate and sentimental cha racter of Caroline, among so many girls, would lie likely to select one for a particular friend: in making this selection many circumstances determined her in favor of Penelope S , who anticipated from this excursion a double pleasure from sharing it with Caroline, to whom it would be new ; but her surprize was great, when instead of reading it in her coun tenance, she discovered that to be the index of a contrary emotion, and that as she took hold of her arm, her agitation affected her even to trembling. " What is the matter/* said she, " with my dear Caroline ; some sud den indisposition, I am sure." She then at tempted to call to her assistance her compa nions, but Caroline, smiling, prevented her, assuring her she was well : " What then is it," said Penelope, " that affects my dear sister Caroline ; is it the thunder? it is very distant." " No," said Caroline. Penelope. May I then not know what it is? Surely it must be something extraordi nary ; you were commonly so happy, so plea sed with the scenery and beauty of nature : 8 86 ADSONVILLE. Is it something that must be concealed from thy Penelope ? I want to be thy friend." " Indeed, Penelope/' answered Caroline, " thou art ihe best and nearest friend I have, within some hundreds of miles : I would con ceal nothing from thee that is worth rela- ting." Penelope. Any thing that so affects thee must be worth relating : tell me, Caroline, perhaps I can assist thee. Caroline. It is a mere trifle : I cannot ac count for my sensibility of nerves, unless it arises from the very circumstance, the recol lection of-which causes me to tremble. Penelope. What is it, Caroline ? Caroline. My father's house is situated on the banks of Lake Ontario, and I once was blown off in our pleasure boat, at evening, in a violent gale, into the middle of the lake ; and after being out all night, landed on an un inhabited island, almost out of sight of any other land. Penelope. What were you on a party, how many of you were there ? Caroline. No, I was in the boat, and sup posed her to be fastened until I discovered my mistake. Penelope. But then you were not alone ! what ! alone all night on the water ; and then on a desert island ! how did you get back, or how did you live to get there ? I should have thought you would have sprung to the shore, rather than to have went. Caroline. One cannot imagine what the} are able to live through, until they are put t(, the test. ADSONVILLE. 87 Penelope. So then thou wert alone, wast thou ? Caroline felt embarrassed, and repented ha ving said any thing on the subject; but her friend appeared so interested, that some fur ther explanation was unavoidable ; she, there fore, gave her a succinct account of the Cir cumstances, concealing as much as possible every thing that might lead to a 'suspicion of any particular interest existing between her and the person who was her companion : but this was not done so effectually as to prevent Penelope from saying with a smile, she should like to know who that Edgar was $ but by this time the cloud had approached so near them, with such a threatening aspect, that the fair fugitives were running from every part of the island for the boat ; each with a bunch of evergreens, or a branch of honeysuckle as a trophy in their hands. They reached the house just #s the large drops were beginning to beat on the roof, and with freshened, ani mated countenances, laid aside their bonnets and disposed of their prizes, congratulating each other on their timely escape from the shower, calling over the list of names, to as certain that none were left. Caroline seated herself in the piazza to observe the descend ing torrent and watch the vivid flashes of lightning ; whilst others, who had not been taught to subdue their terror on such occa sions, were hiding their faces iii each others laps. Nothing transpired to disturb the even te nor of Caroline's happiness, but occasional re- ADSONVILLE* collections of he* absent friends, and hese were always qualified with the reflection that it would not be long before she should again meet them, with the improvement of a finish ed education. The recollection of Edgar, with sentiments of esteem, and perhaps some degree of affection, was the most important exception : she would have been gratified oc casionally to have had his company, if it could have been obtained without compromitting her duty to her parents ; but, if not, she felt that she could dispense with it, without ma king her unhappy : she was even surprised, that at some moments, she had been on the point of promising to live but for him; and she endeavored to force herself to be pleased with the idea, that the warmth of affection which he had professed for her had by this time given way to sober reflection, and that he would never again importune her to consi der their happiness and inclinations a suffi cient excuse for temporising with, or thwart ing, the authority of their parents : at other times she would reproach herself with charges of ingratitude to him for the tenderness and preference he had honored her with, and half concluded he might now, whilst she was so happy, be laboring under that dreadful mala dy she had read of in novels, and with the perplexity of not knowing where she was : she regretted her childish freak of fastening her handkerchief to his dog's collar, and then again consoled herself with the thought that it lost off before he saw it, and that it was the^ ADSONVILLE. '39 height of vanity to suppose that any man of the accomplishment, penetration ana* philoso phy of Edgar would be in love, especially with one so unlikely to inspire that passion as her self 5 although, if she had possessed a particle of vanity, not only her glass, but every one who approached her by their marked atten tion, must have convinced her that none could be likely tb wield the arrows of Cupid with more fatal effect. Edgar had returned home not only without any abatement of his passion, but with all that restless vacuity of soul, which the absence, and unknown place of the beloved object will necessarily beget when it fails to effect a cure. He passed the summer in the most intense application to business, without obtaining such specific information of her retreat as should enable him to address a letter, but with the unvaried determination of devoting time in the autumn to finding her. The doctor was his only companion in such short relaxations as he indulged himself with, and the sharer in the knowledge of the fixed and unalterable nature of his attachment, although it was su spected and often spoken of by others. Af his friend frequently called at Adsonville, he would sometimes enquire when they had heard from Caroline, and after her health, as having been his patient ; and also where she was at school. To the last of these questions, he al ways received an evasive or indefinite answer: at length he discovered that a cousin of Car oline, to whom he himself paid attention, uho Iv.d buen her intimate, corresponded 90 ADSONVILLE. with her, and offered to direct a letter to heiy if it should be put into her hands ; but her ad dress she was forbidden to disclose. With this pleasing intelligence he hastened to Ed gar, who lost no time in improving the oppor tunity ; and the next morning gave to her> folded and sealed, the following letter : MOST AMIABLE, Having proved by my long silence that I possess yet some command over my inclina tion, I wish now by writing to assure thee of the continuation and unabated ardency of my affection ; which, deeply rooted in my heart, and founded on no superficial attractions in its object, cannot* fail to throb in my breast, whilst the sanguine streams of life flow in my veins. It is not my intention to smother thy mo desty with compliments and flatteries, not withstanding I might plead sincerity in ex tenuation. I should not expect in that way to succeed in opposition to thy good sense and penetration. I cannot but believe thou art conscious of thy absolute power over me : if there be a shade of doubt of it, banish it for ever ; or permit me to prove it any way, that shall not subject thyself to the impertinence, and me to the character, of a whining and teasing lover. I know thou wilt prefer the frank declaration of a gentleman, and the candor of a man of honor, to all the vagaries and phantasies of a coxcomb, or evea the son- ADSONV1LLE. 91 nets of a Petrarch. The latter my sublime passion can scarcely qualify me for ; but how many of the former, I may be left to play, I can hardly pretend to vouch for. Do not admit the idea and the excuse, that thou canst not think of marriage ; neither do I care for that at present, until it shall be thy pleasure ; but I am discontented until I know that I occupy the first place in thy heart, as thou dost in mine ; it is our interest and duty in youth to lay the foundation of happiness, and ' Fiiendehip alone unfolds to view sources of real pleasure.' 1 0, how all my faculties have been absorbed in listening to that sentimental hymn, modulated by thy own lips : its notes still thrill through, my nerves, and dwell on my recollection. When you remember, Caroline, my protes tations of love, and give me credit for candor, can you imagine how I have supported such an age of absence and uncertainty. I have one precious memento of thee, which I pre serve with the greatest pleasure and most sa cred care : I mean your handkerchief. I; thank thee for that mark of regard : I have almost flattered myself, that it was done to be remembered ; if so, I give thee a thousand thanks for thy condescension, and will promise much more to be assured of it Not a lady enters the store, but I look to find some faint likeness of Caroline. If I am so happy as to discover the most distant resemblance, it im- mediately has the charm of redoubling my at tention. To avoid appearing absent, I hare 92 ADSONVJLLE. avoided young company ; and, indeed, I could expect no pleasure in it. I have attempted to drown the too acute remembrance of thee, in close application to business ; so far as ta subject myself to the imputation of suffering premature avariee to destroy my health. How little do they know the cause, and per haps, the dire necessity of such an antidote to the powerful passion, which, in a state of of leisure, would prey more fatally on my heart: how little do they know the trifling value I should place on wealth, if it were not to be devoted to the happiness of Caroline. To all thy goodness, please to add fliat of writing to me : it will lay me under infinite obligation ; and I beg of thee to think some times of one who never can forget thee; foster the prospect of one day making him happy. I know the liberality of thy mind' too well to fear, that because he is called by some a Quaker, thou wilt consider him a su perstitious bigot. I am conscious of never giving grounds for such an unfavourable im pression ; neither have my co-religionists, who have had the advantages of information, and Kiany of them thwi wilt find in the part of the.- state thou art now in. I almost hear thee an swer, that thy suspicions would sooner accuse me of an error bordering on the other ex treme : of this, also, 1 desire to, be exonera ted. I reciprocate the reverence for virtue, which I know is implanted in thy nature; but I do not see how any body can be very reli gious until they are married. Thin is 3 bad idea ; but what I mean is that the seductions ADSONVILLE. 9& and allurements of youth are such, that when they become settled to their satisfaction, they are more likely to attend to the one thing needful. If I hear not from thee, or if I am not in the most positive manner forbidden, I shall, in the succeeding autumn, find thee ; one pleasant look will amply repay me for traver sing the long road. I wish, at least, to be assured of the perfect recovery of thy health and spirits. I omit no opportunity of enqui ring after thee, and thy mother was so good as to assure me she thought thou wert per fectly well. There appears yet to be some distance between nae and thy father ; but I think I shall succeed in lessening it, although I have no disposition to be truant to my prin ciples, yet I perceive in passing him, my right hand in voluntarily touches my hat, and my Quaker shoulders are surprisingly pliant. I would willingly add any little information which I might think would be pleasant ; but every thing appears so insipid to me, that I should give but a sorry account of the neigh borhood. Maria, who is to take charge of forwarding this letter, will do it much more to thy satisfaction ; and I have taken the lib erty occasionally of a moontfgt night to walk along shore as far as thy favorite arcade, and spend a f vv minutes in it. But happening, accidentally, to hear of its being haunted with apparitions, and being unwilling to add to the terrors of the ignorant, I have discontinued my evening ramble in that quarter. I have relations who must live within something 94 ADSONVILLE. a day's ride of the place where thou art im mured ; and this, if any other but the true one should be wanted, will furnish me with a pretext for coming. Expect me in Septem ber, and may I find thee enjoying health and happiness, and charitably disposed to bestow it upon one who desires to be permitted to subscribe himself most sincerely thine, for life. E. F. C. Jldson. P. S. Doctor H -, who, with Maria, only knows of my presumption in writing, de sires most sincerely to be remembered to thee. E. F. It was extremely mortifying to Edgar to find that Caroline had not only been placed at a distance, to prevent him from opportuni ties of cultivating the attachment between them, but that even her place of residence had been studiously concealed from him, and those who would be likely to inform him of it : the cause for such extreme objection to him, he had always imputed to the strong prejudice against his profession, and this was certainly the principal, and the one that led her father to extremities : but another mo tive which actuated him, had recently come to the knowledge of Edgar, through the me dium of Caroline's cousin and the doctor. Mr. Ad son had brought up a young man, whose father was a distant relation to him, and who lost his life on board of one of the ADSONVILLE. 95 United States' ships in the attack on Tripoli, under Commodore Preble : For this young man he had obtained a commission of captain in the United States 7 land service ; he had been kept from home at school, to complete his military education, for several years be fore he received his commission ; and since that, had been on duty in the southern part of the states in the recruiting department : so that although Edgar had seen him, and was acquainted with his name, yet they nei ther of them knew each other at present by sight : he had heard Caroline often speak of Kim, and of his expected return home ; but not in such a way as to fix his attention upon him as a rival ; and now, in his cooler moments, he felt but little apprehension on that head; yet, when he gave loose to the unquiet effects of the unruly passion, he was ready to suspect some danger to his views from that quarter ; for, when he considered the advantages the captain would have from allies so powerful as Caroline's parents would be with her, and from the advantages and accomplishments he would be likely to derive from a liberal edu cation and acquaintance with the world, he could not doubt of his ability to carry any female heart he might chose to lay siege to. His apprehensions on this head were lessened by the hopes which he entertained, that the captain's attachment to a military life, and the company he associated with, would divert him from any such enterprise ; but his chief bopes wer D, that Caroline's heart had already declared im his favor ; and that she would U6 ADSONVJLLE. have the constancy to hold out against every other summons of surrender. It was true she had said but Ettle, or rather nothing to war rant such a flattering conclusion ; yet he ima gined he had understood it by a language equally plain, and less liable to deceive than words. Her father, he did not doubt, had good sense enough to yield his own views, without going to further extremities, if he could prevail upon Caroline to confess to him that her happiness was at stake : and of her mother being easily prevailed upon to espouse his cause he had no doubt, as her deportment ever since his visit to them on his departure 1 for the southward, was evidently altered : when he met her, instead of appearing to slight him, she gave him the passing compli ments with a marked affability ; and at one time, when he asked her with apparent and real concern if she had heard from Caroline, and if she thought her health was- perfectly restored, she replied to him with apparent satisfaction, and thanked him for enquiring after her. Any serious opposition from his ewn parents he never apprehended, any fur ther than advice : he had waited with impa tience for am answer from Caroline, until either despairing of her answering it, or fearing if she had, that it had miscarried, he desired the doctor to enquire if Maria had been more fortunate ; and in less than a month from the 4ime he wrote, he had the gratification of being informed that she had received returns from her with some information for him, but which amounted to nothing more than that ADSONV1LLE. 9? Caroline could not give him any more satis faction on the subject on which he had writ ten, than what she supposed he already pos sessed with her best respects, and these again repeated at the close of the letter. 66 What am I to understand by that ?" cries Edgar eagerly. " What," replies the doctor laughing, " why, that you knew her heart* and that it had experienced no change." Edgar. A. change of heart is generally considered a happy circumstance ; but I know not how a change of hers would affect me. How could she suppose I knew her heart, certainly not from any thing she ever said, excepting, perhaps, when she was unconscious of what she did say. Doctor. Edgar, can you seriously enter tain any doubts of her sentiments towards you? Edgar, I can, seriously. I am continually calling up circumstances to decide the point, 4\nd I alter my conclusions half a dozen times a day, or rather during the night ; for during the day I am so occupied in business with people, that I am not at liberty to attend to the subject. But tell me, Doctor, thou art in the constant study of human nature and hu man frailty, what is thy opinion of my case : is it desperate? Do not deceive me as you do people on a dying bed, but let me know the truth. Doctor. I think your case cannot be ..dan gerous any way ; for if it does not determine according to your wishes, I think it will ad mit of a cure ; for if you can forget it during 9 98 ADSONVILLE. the day, only make your day last half the night, .and the remainder part you will be compelled to sleep, and you never, at that rate, will think of it again, and there will he an end of the matter. Edgar. I have no disposition for a cure, and of course shall not undertake to follow your prescription, until I find a more pressing necessity for it ; though perhaps I shall do as many others do put off' sending for the doc tor until it is too late : but what do you think of the probability of my succeeding with Caro line? I want the judgment of a disinterested person, and you know as much about it as I do : you know I am in love with Aer, and that is all I know. If she ever said any thing on the subject, it was in her delirium, and that you heard and I did not. Doctor. Well, then, I will give you my opinion; you have nothing to fear; I wish I stood as well with Maria. Edgar. Is it possible that you have any doubts on that head ? Doctor. Certainly I have. Edgar. Well, then, I will take courage : for, although forue love, like true courage, never despairs^ yet, unlike true courage, I believe it is always full of fears. Doctor. They are, I believe, a very com mon symptom, and a very natural one ; for where we attribute so much excell ence, we elevate the object in our imagination? by our very love, above our own level. Edgar. And do you ever reflect, Doctor, that it is possible this excellence exists, but it ADSONVILLE. 99 the maniacal hallucination, as Darwin would call it, of our own brain ; but with the divine Caroline, I do not think it can be the case. Doctor. (Laughing.) Neither do I with the divine Maria. Edgar. (Smiling.) That they are much alike I cannot deny ; but Doctor. You are in love with Caroline, and I with Maria ; therefore, the excellence of the one is in your brain, and the other in mine ; that's all the .difference. Edgar. We talk much like men in love, I confess : if our mistresses were present, they could not fail of being convinced of the sin cerity of our passion : what is your opinion of novels, and their tendency ? Doctor. Their tendency varies like all other books, according to the sentiments and principles they inculcate by the example and character of their heroes. They are rapidly (although this is an exception) assuming a his torical and descriptive character, in which form they are far less exceptionable, and are in fact nothing more than a poetical narration of fact, or description of scenery, or a striking and living delineation of character, connected with a moderately seasoned love-tale to please those who have been in love ; for no one who has not been in love can take any satisfaction in reading a tale of that kind ; neither can any one who has, be totally uninterested in them. Edgar. I do not think it argues extraor dinary philosophy, or knowledge of what con stitutes happiness, to pretend to be above be- 100 ADSONVILLE. ing affected with this weakness, even thougfe it looks trifling, and is ridiculed by wise men ; yet we have numerous instances of me* of the strongest minds yielding to its sway. It is only the folly of whining and publishing it to the world, and sickening every body else with their nonsense, that is ridiculous. The notion of never endeavouring to seek a second object of affection, when the first is inevitably lost, is also very detrimental. We ought ne ver to suffer our imagination or desires to wander after impossibilities : we might as well refuse all enjoyment, because we cannot retain perpetual youth and be immortal here. Whilst there is a probability or even possibility of the attainment of the object of our desire, if it be not criminal, the mind cannot be more agreeably em ployed than in the pursuit, with out it interferes too much with other indis pensable duties. With these views, Doctor, I shall set out to-morrow for Dutchess county. Doctor. What excuse will you make for the journey, when it is well known you spent the last winter at the southward ? I do not suppose you will avow your object. Edgar. Then I went on business, and made no stop in that country ; but I have long had it in contemplation to pay a visit to my relations and the place of my nativity. But I must first call and see Maria myself. Perhaps on a promise of the most inviolable secresy, I may obtain information where I can find Caroline : 1 have already a clue. If thou felt as much interest in it as I do, I should rather trust thee to sound her on the subject, ADSONVILLE. 101 Doctor. You had best go yourself, if you get much out of her, you will do more than I can ; and that will not be very surprising nei ther. Edgar, in his interview with Maria, pres sed her with as much delicacy as the urgency of his case would admit of, to let him see the letter, if there was nothing confidential in it that concerned herself. Maria answered him, that it would afford her real satisfaction to oblige him in any way that would be consist ent with her plighted word to her aunt Ad- son, who had informed her where to direct her letters, upon the express condition that she should not communicate it to any other person. Edgar. (With some feelings of indigna tion.) Did she require of you that it shxwld be kept from me ? Maria. No, sir ; oh, no ! She said she had some particular reasons for it, and if I should shew the letter, you would by several parts of it discover where she is ; and no arrow ever flew more directly to its mark, than you would to her ; and my uncle and aunt would censure me severely, although, in reality, I think they would have more cause to thank me. Edgar. Do you really think so ? It was finally agreed that she should retire and obliterate such parts of it as she thought proper, and let him see what remained. The following is a copy of what she permitted to remain for his inspection. a* 102 AD90NVILLE, PLEASANT VALE, August 2& Caroline Mson to her dearest Friend and Cousin, Maria I this day received thy affectionate and ever welcome epistle, and was thankful to hear of thy health and that of my parents and all my dear relations and acquaintance. It is sometimes said, that we never duly appreciate blessings until deprived of them ; and I am inclined to believe the reflection is not with out foundation. I feel you all infinitely dear er to me, since so many cruel and long miles separate u^ ; but let me not tax the distance with cruelty, if it increase in me those senti ments which it is my delight to cherish to wards my friends. I live in a delightful situation and most agreeable family. There are not many schol ars as old as myself, but one I cannot refrain from mentioning : her name is Penelope Smith, and her parents live a few miles from the school. She is said, and I believe, with ranch truth, to resemble me in appearance j uer hair is of the same non descript colour, but looks extremely well on her. Some pre tend to say there is a similarity in our voices, and I believe all strangers , take us for sisters. This has induced us to aaopt each other as and that appellation we make use of addressing each other. I cannot restrain womanish disposition from informing you of >ne circumstance j from some cause unknown ADSONVILLE. 108 to me, she cannot tell her age any nearer tha the year. She confessed that to me, and ap pearing somewhat distressed at it, I would not pry into the cause. Her disposition is most amiable, and I look forward to the time of parting with her with regret. Our superin- tendants and teachers, and most of the schol ars are Quakers, and every thing in the house conducted according to their practice ; the religious books are all of their authors. I have read them with much satisfaction. Olarkson's Portraiture of Quakerism is, from the description it contains of their peculiar manners and customs, as entertaining as any novel; and Barclay's Apology for their Re^ ligious Tenets, 1 should consider unanswera ble ; and if I have any religion at all, I am in principle a Quaker. Believe me, Maria, they are not that super stitious, and misanthropic people, their singu lar appearance has led us to suppose ; their dress ,and address is all that makes them ap pear so ; they are liberal in their views, and many of them well informed. Their reasons for rejecting music are not satisfactory to me. and are chiefly, the waste of time it leads into in attaining a proficiency in it; without which it fails to please ; and in the eifect it has upon the mind to divert it from seriousness, reli gion, &c. Their arguments against the use of it in church appear to have more weight, and I believe that I could not in conscience .sing with the choir, because many of the words would be untrue from* my lips. What will rny dear father say to this? What wilt 104 ADSONVILLE. thousay ? (you see I have adopted their lan guage;) thou wilt expect to see me return with a little round eared cap ; though hy the bye, few girls wear them here. The young Friends dress in a tasteful manner ; nothing but their white or drab silk bonnets distinguish them : and as to the young men, I protest I cannot say by what I can distinguish them ; and yet I fancy I can always do it : there appears a certain smoothness about the breast, perhaps from the absence of ruffles and cornered lap- pells : they wear all colors that are worn by others. If it would not swell this letter to an extrav agant extent, I should be willing to give some account of a Quaker wedding, which 1 received an invitation to witness. It was 'celebrated in the church, which is a large spacious plain building, divided into two equal divisions, in stead of pews ; one of these is for the men. and the other for the sisters ; and folding doors, if I have a right understanding of it. are so contrived, as to entirely prevent com munication even by sight : these are never, however, suffered to interfere with the unity of their worship ; but are put under requisi tion only when one sex have business relative to church discipline ; or when some charitable service is to be performed for a necessitous brother or sister, who they do not wish expo sed; for their meetings on such occasions arc always carefully cleared of those who do not belong to them, and those who do not preserve the most inviolable secresy : so that many who receive occasional assistance, especially in the ADSOXVILLE. education of their children, pass in the view of the world as livers above board, and avoid the humiliating and deadening influence which conscious pauperism must create in a sensitive mind. Here so much oi' the property of the rich as is necessary for the support, or assis tance of the poor, is considered as common stock, and the mendicant feels more like re ceiving his due than mere alms. But of all this I can know but little let me then " away to the wedding." The ceremony, as I said,, was performed in the church. The young gentleman, with one of his particular young friends, (and one or two older ones who were there to assist in the ceremony,) were seated in a conspicuous and elevated seat, fronting a large congregation, as heterogeneous as three or four miles of the surrounding country could furnish; indeed, there were so many, like myself, who had come from motives of curio sity, that although an hour was allowed for silent recollection, and perhaps adoration, I found it impossible to receive any farther edi fication, than what I derived from the placid, serene and composed countenance of the beau tiful, innocent and sweet looking-bride, who, to judge from her appearance, although evi dently of a modest deportment, was far less flustered than any other person in the house. I thought all the ribbons and ruffles of a French belle could not add, but on the contrary, must detract from the beauty, as well as the simplicity of her appearance. After the meeting, the spectators became quite impatient with suspense, and some be* 106 ADSONVILLE. gan to leave their seats : leave was given by one of the gentlemen who sat with them to proceed. At this, there was a general, al though not turbulent stir, which, with the fear that possessed me that the little thing would make some embarrassing miss before so many, set my heart to beating that I could not com posedly enjoy the novel spectacle ; and I was actually so fearful of fainting, that I took off my bonnet, and I do not know but that I should yet, had not a young lady who sat next, whispered to me to know if I was going to preach. fter the parties pronounced the vow, and were reseated, they signed their names to a writen instrument, which was by the gentlemen in attendance placed before them. It was then audibly read, and contained a recapitulation of their names, of the places of their abode, of the consent of parents and parties concerned ; and, in fact of every thing, excepting the particulars of their worship. After this, all who felt an inclination, were invited to sign it as witnesses. This took up considerable time, and it was to me quite amu sing to see how the girls would have to gripe the pen, to overcome the tremor of their hands ; and also to observe the smart looking beaux blush as they came down the galleries and walked up the long and broad aisle, to affix their names to a marriage certificate. After this was through, I was much surprised at the unexpected sound of the clear and shrill voice of a young sister, who addressed us in a, yith cream, butter, nut; 108 ADSONVILLE. megs, cinnamon, essence of lemon, \\ine. brandy, eggs, &c. and the cakes, with the addition of rose water. The dessert consist ed, besides West-India nuts, of preserved transparent musk- melons, citrons, peaches, gooseberries, currants, plumbs, and sundry other articles, which I could not recognize, as they were so disguised in sweets or bewilder ed in^jellies. Yet, Maria, you must not suppose that they are as much celebrated for luxury as we had supposed them to be for frugality; for it being whispered that I had expressed some surprise on the occasion, an elderly lady and relative of the family took an opportunity to speak to me aside, and apologize for the cha racter of the Society and for the bride's pa rents, by saying that the lady of the house had until recently lived in New York, and being but step-mother to the bride, she was over solicitous to manifest her good feelings towards her adopted daughter. But I forget I am only writing a letter. I must conclude this subject by adding that the afternoon was spent in conversation on different subjects, and in a walk to a hill at a small distance. No music, not even a hymn, and nothing like di version, except putting together some maps \vhich were dissected, into towns, counties, &c. One of the company did propose a di version, which she recommended as both amu sing and innocent, which was this : One counts a line at the head of a sheet of paper, on any subject, and then folds it over so that none but the writer knows what it is ; he then pro- AD80NVILLE. 109 Claims what the last word is, and requires a line written under, that shall rhyme with it. This is done, and that folded over, then the line of another verse and its correspondent line; and so continued until the sheet is full, when it is unrolled and read to the company, and sometimes from the versatility of subjects, produces considerable merriment. You mention about the organization of a Society of young females for charitable pur poses, &c. and that the most conspicuous place is reserved for me. This honor I am neither worthy of, nor inclined to accept ; for rea sons, some of which, perhaps, I have derived from my new friends : for the names of girls to be published and blazoned in public, as of ficers, &c. appears little better than to adver tise themselves for notice. There are never lacking means of dispensing charity, in a way more consistent with female delicacy and mo desty, and equally beneficial to the destitute. Perhaps it may be well encugh for the men; but even with them, it looks too much like blowing a trumpet before them. My health is good, and my constitution has, I believe, fully recovered from the shock it received by that eventful whirl to Juan Fer nandez ; excepting that sudden frights affect me wth tremor and faintings, and my dreams sometimes transport me to that desolate, though under different circumstances, delightful isl and. Perhaps you will soon see him who was my pilot on that occasion : assure him I shall never forget his attention and solicitude. Had t not been for the happy familiarity that sub- 10 110 ADSONVILE. sists between us, Maria, I should not have ventured to request tliee to offer him my thanks for a note 1 received from him. In form him that I cannot, consistent with my ideas of propriety, write to him at present and that if I should write, it would not be in my power to give him much more information than what I supposed he already possessed. I think, Maria, you cannot guess what it is about, and I have no fear of your telling any body but the doctor ; and to him it might be so new, as to make him have recourse to his hartshorn : you will have to confine the mighty secret to labor in thy own breast : but that this, nor any thing else, may make it the seat of care or trouble, or disturb its peace, or sully its an gel purity, is the sincere wish, if not prayer, of, Maria, thy lonely, nay, happy CAROLINE ADSO::. Maria Jldson. P. S. I felt, whilst writing, as if I had been actually talking with my Maria, and did not feel as if alone until 1 came to bid her adieu. I am in the school room, and my sister school mates are all in the arms of each other and oi' Morpheus. I have no fear of ghosts or ap paritions. There are real evils enough, with out creating imaginary ones. Since finishing the foregoing part of my letter, I seated my self by the window to indulge my imagination with a transient view of home, and all my dis tant friends : at the same time my eyes were ADSONVILLE. Ill dwelling ou one of the most soul-soothing pros pects imaginable. A row of tall poplars, with their branches intermingling, are but a small distance from the door, and guard the margin of the placid, broad and deep creek. The moon shines with the lustre of silver, and the trees are again exhibited in their shadows thrown across the stream, their tremulous leaves appear just on the point of becoming still, and then another gentle breeze puts them in a general rustle : the broad street and the houses on the opposite side appear light, and yet deserted of the song and hum of life and activity. I feel as if the world was deserted, and I alone left. Farewell, remember me to thy good and my kind physician : I feel under obligations to him for his unremitting care of me ; and, to his friend do not fail to convey my best respects. How sudden is the transition of feeling ! Since I again commenced writing, I felt again as if I was talking with thee : but I must oh, I must bid thee adieu. I shall now dispose of my writing materials in their proper places, and after walking through the chamber, and taking a serious view of the little innocents, sweetly sleeping until the morning of resurrection, (if it is not sacrilege to use the term,) I shall retire to my dear Penelope ; and where, before I sleep, I shall offer pray ers or tears, and for what I cannot say. But to-morrow, when I shall not feel so perfectly bewildered as now at the lonely hour of mid night, I shall be happy. Once more I repeat Farewell ! Maria, Farewell ! C. A. 112 ADSONVJLLC, Maria had erased the name of the place from whence it was dated, the name of the Creek, and some things said about the doctor, &c. and then re-entered; still looking over it as if uncertain whether she had fully comple ted her precautionary measures. Edgar soon went through with what was left, reading part aloud, part to himself, and making occasional observations. " What!" says he, * k has friend Adson put her to a Quaker school ?" (Reads.) i Why she is turning Quaker herself. I sus pect she has fallen in love with some Quaker boy instead of the soldier." " I * xpect," says Maria, with an unfeigned giggle, " she has fallen in love with some Quaker boy." " Down there, I mean," says he. carelessly, as he continued to read, until he got through with the mutilated scrawl, and then folding it carefully in its proper form ; u Is this super scription her writing?" said he, with an arch smile. She approached to look at it, and at the first glance cried out, " Oh, mercy, there is the post mark ! what have I done ?" > ic Nothing very bad, I hope 1" replied Ed gar, laughing at her feigned terror. "Noth ing bad, I know; but when they hear you are gone to see her, will they not be likely to question me ?" Edgar. If they should trouble themselves so much as that, thou canst inform them that I already knew where she was, near enough to answer my purpose. A boarding school is not a very obscure or difficult place to fiiid, wh^n we know within a few miles of its situation. It was mostly curiosity that prompted me to ADSONVILLE. 113 trouble thee about the letter ; and, in return, I shall be very happy to be the faithful bearer of any dispatches, however important, that thou mayest have for her. Maria. Unimportant, you was going to say. No, sir ; I dare not write to her by you : it will make me too knowing about your jour ney. You must kiss her for me : I enjoin it upon you. Edgar. (Taking her around her neck.) I will carry one from you for her. It was in the forepart of September that Edgar, with the approbation of his parents, left home, to spend the winter in Dutchess county, with his mother's relations. His close application to business during the summer ap peared to justify his intention, and render such a release from care necessary : For, du ring the preceding summer, it had by all his acquaintance been remarked thai he had al lowed himself but a small, if any, share of relaxation ; avoiding company, except where it was unavoidable. The true cause of this alteration was by many suspected, to whom the pertinacity of Mr. Adson against Edgar was unaccountable. The effect of Edgar's str.ong attachment was discoverable in the exquisite polish and sensibility it gave to his manners in general, but to the fair sex in particular, all of whom he respected on Caroline's account; their wishes or embarrassments he could dis cover and relieve before another would have suspected them ; and this was performed with such grace, good nature and unaffected polite ness, as rendered him an idol with that depen dent, feat amiable part of the creation. 10* 114 ADSONVILLE, On the morning of his departure he took leave of his father's family, and his friends and par ticular acquaintance, who parted with such marks of affection and respect as is seldom wit nessed in a family or neighborhood: they con tinued to follow him with their eyes, until he was out of sight, and one of the family threw an old shoe after him, as a certain omen of good luck. The day, of course, we would have to be one of the finest in early autumn : he passed through some settlements and villages along the Lake, and then leaving the new and unfi nished turnpike, took a road passable with a chaise only on a walk, through a continued and stately forest or wilderness, which would in little more than a day's journey again lead to one better calculated for his favorite mode of travelling. The only inhabitants on this route were scattered at a distance of from ten to twenty miles apart, and consisted of some neressitous or adventurous characters, who subsisted by levying small contributions from travellers, in return for such refreshments as they could furnish, which consisted generally of venison, bear-meat, fine potatoes, maple sugar and whiskey, when their jug was not empty. Edgar was well informed of their circumstances, and had provided himself with such additions to these articles, as should not only supply the deficiencies of the inns on this part of the route ; but his mother, out of kindness, and exaggerating the diffi culties, notwithstanding all his remonstrances, had loaded him down with more gingerbread ADSONVILLE. 115 than could be peddled off at a general train ing. No incident occurred during the day to excite his attention from the object of his journey, until in its decline he met two young men with knapsacks on their backs, and each an axe under his arm, with their faces flushed with heat and perspiration, and straining eve- ry nerve to make good speed. Probably, they thought to gain the next log tavern before night; the distance to which they enquired, without halting ; but looking back for an an swer, it took some moments for Edgar to re collect or form a judgment, and by the time he answered them, they had got some distance from him : they then said, u You will soon meet with trouble." They .lid not say how, and Edgar did not think enough of it to en quire. After making the next turn in the road, he came to a marshy tract of land, where for a bridge trunks of trees were laid trans versely and contiguous to each other without being flattened, over which horses accustom ed to them will pass with tolerable facility) otherwise with reluctance and difficulty, es pecially if incommoded with blinds and checks. The inequality of the surface of these cause ways communicates to wheel carriages the most intolerable jolting imaginable, the wheels alternately ascending and descending the up per section of the large logs. He had scarce entered on this trembling bridge when he dis covered half a dozen Indians, standing some on either side of the way, and waiting his ap proach. At the sight of them Edgar conclu ded the young men he had met, having come 116 ADSONVILLE. from the lower and old settled part of the state, and unacquainted with the Indians any further than what they had heard of their most savage characteristics, had been panic struck at meeting with them in the wilder ness, and were making so much haste in order to make a safe encampment for the night, and that it was the difficulty he had been warned of: but he was too wefl acquainted from his father's extensive dealing with them, with their character and the political relation they stood in with the United States, to have any apprehensions of danger. On the contra ry, the sight of them was quite agreeable, as he had had so little variety through the day. When he came up he perceived they were laughing, and highly amused at seeing his horse walk so awkwardly over the logs ; after greeting them familiarly with the term Sago- la! and having cleared the causeway a short distance, he understood better what the young men referred to : for he discovered a huge tree had fallen directly across the road and completely prevented him from proceeding further j he was not long in deciding upon an expedient, but immediately shouted for the Indians : he was promptly answered, and in a few minutes discovered them coming like deers, Indian file, their line apparently regu lated by their relative speed. He desired them to assist him in lifting over his carriage, after having unharnessed and leapt his horse over : this they did with great glee and loud shouts of laughter. Amongst other articles which Edgar's friends had put up for his ac commodation on this part of his journey, \YSS ADSONVILLE. 117 a small elegant mahogany case, containing four square cut glass bottles, holding a pint each, of wine and different kinds of ardent spirits : as the things were taken out of the carriage to lighten ic, this article particularly attracted the Indians' attention ; they delivered it to each other, that all by turns might enjoy the pleasure of handling it : after every thing was prepared ready to start, Edgar applied the key to it, and delivering a couple of the bottles to them, desired them to empty them speedily: to this they consented without further persua sion ; each bottle circulated through the whole gang several times, and as it was applied to one of their mouths the eyes of all the others were fixed upon it with the most piercing sharpness, to see that he did not settle it be low a proper proportion, of which if they dis covered danger, they did not fail simultane ously to apprise him. When they tasted a new bottle, and perceived it to be of a differ ent kind, they laughed, shouted and clapped their hands ; which ludicrous scene, in spite of the pity he felt for them, set Edgar also laughing* and this in return so encouraged them that they made every hill and grotto within a mile resound with their hilarity. Just as the shades of night began to throw the gathering gloom of approaching twilight in his path, he perceived through the vistas of the trees a light, which indicated that he was approaching a clearing; it consisted of a few acres so recently reclaimed from the wil derness, that the stumps remained as numer* ous evidences of the prowess of their inva/ 118 ADSONVILLE. ders ; a log house and barn of equal dimen sions were the only visible improvements : be fore the former, suspended from the limb of a tree reserved for that purpose, was a square piece of board painted with Spanish brown and ornamented with significant hye- roglpyhics of a black bottle, with a current of liquor obligingly ascending from it, and falling over into a tumbler that stood by its side, and under this some uncouth letters de signed to exhibit the name of the tavern keeper. A sensible looking man below the middle age of life, with but few words and without any appearance of pleasure at receiving a guest of Edgar's appearance, began civilly to assist in unharnessing his horse, and inquired liow he should be ordered in regard to watcr^ feed, &c. Edgar observed to him, that as his horse had not been used for some time previ ous to his entry upon his journey, of which this was the first day, he was fearful the im pression of the collar might produce swelling, and desired him to wash his shoulders with a pint of whiskey : The landlord replied that cold water would answer as good, if not a bet ter purpose. Edgar knew that himself, but as he never drank any thing, he wished to convince his host that his guest was not dis posed to be parsimonious. The poor tavern keeper feared from the appearances of things he had a customer above the rank of his ac commodations, and who, if like some rich people, incapable of making allowance for cir cumstances, might cause him much mcrtifica ADSONV1LLE. tion ; but he soon perceived his apprehen sions were groundless. A cow was licking the inside of a dinner pot by the door, and by erecting her ears and look ing earnestly at the door, demanded her cus tomary allowance of slop ; several white head- urchins were sitting in regular gradation of elevation on the wood pile ; when he entered the house, it appeared in every respect to be as well conducted as circumstances would per mit. The landlady's countenance, though somewhat younger and handsomer than her husband, exhibited an index of the same fears. It appeared as if those muscles which draw the angles of the mouth upwards in a smile from long (what the lawyers call) f non user/ had lost their powers. Edgar seated himself in one corner of the fire-place, and remained, without troubling her with conversation, with his eyes fixed on the fire, whilst all the chil dren came and occupied the other. At length discovering a large kettle over the fire, whilst the landlady was gone out to milk the cow, he enquired of the oldest daughter if it was de signed for supawn, and was answered in the affirmative ; this was a favorite dish with the traveller, and in his early days, when he lived in Dutchess county, had been a principal ar ticle of his diet, and he could say with pro priety as the poet Joel Barlow, " Its constellation ruled my natal morn, And all my bones are made of Indian corn." Before this he had felt some hesitation about calling for supper, for fear of embarrass- 120 ADSONV1LLE. ing his hostess, but after what he understood from the girl, he informed her that he should be glad of a little supper, if convenient, if not, he could make out with what he had in his trunk. She replied they had no bread in the house, having let some travellers have, in the course of the day, all they had. Edgar ap pealed to the hasty pudding concern, and this point was easily disposed of. After the landlord had arranged his out door concerns, he seated himself also by the fire, which was as much necessary for a substitute for candles as for its warmth, and took two of his young est children on his knees, with which burden, like the camel, he rested from the cares of the day : neither party being disposed for con versation, each was left to his own reflections. What Edgar's were, we have some suspicions, but the landlord's countenance betrayed no clue to his. The landlady demurely stirred in successive handfulls of meal, and the chil dren were impatiently waiting for their eve ning's repast. A rap at the door was answer ed with, "walk in :' a foot traveller, something advanced in life, entered, and before he step ped a foot from the door asked " can I have entertainment?^ 'Yes, sir.' He then advan ced and took his seat, after laying aside his knapsack. This was the first circumstance that had occurred to disconcert Edgar, who was apprehensive he might be under the neces sity of taking him as a bedfellow, or be com pelled to refuse to sleep with him ; either of which was disagreeable. He was not troubled long with these reflections before a second ADSONVILLE. 121 person also knocking and asking precisely the same question, a .id being answered also with out hesitation in the iiffirmative, put him at ease on that subject, as he now perceived they must have two spare beds. Within five minutes a third (making four guests in the whole) entered with the same formalities, and again made an even number of lodgers. But the last, who was a t ^ecent and agreeable look ing young man, he had no objections to accep ting as a bed-fellow. The table being arran ged the landlord turned short round to it, say ing, who has a mind for a game of pudding and milk with me? Edgar and the young man accepted the challenge ; but the former, fear ing they should reduce the children's share of the rnilk, thought it as favorable a time as he could have to dispose of his s ock of ginger bread. He took from his trunk two or three cakes, of shape and dimensions corresponding with the apparent size of a full moon, after it has attained to its meridian height, and gave to his landlady to distribute amongst them. The other two travellers having a supply of provisions with them, spread their cloth on their knees, which served for a table. One of them, the oldest in the company, was also ac commodated with a bottle of whiskey, from which, during his repast, he took such copi ous draughts to moisten his dry provisions, that it opened the way to sociability amongst the company, and made the evening, which com menced with the most positive indications of dullness and ennui pass with the highest glee nd hilarity. The old man commenced by intro* 11 123 ADSONVILLE. ducing a discourse with Edgar, very minutely and freely enquiring his name, the name of his father, and his place of nativity ; all oi which Edgar as freely answered, without he sitation and with apparent pleasure. After these enquiries were satisfied, the old Fox in formed the company that he knew all his re lations, who at present resided in the place Edgar had given as his native town, and that the family were remarkable for being good singers ; and that he knew Edgar iould sing, and requested him to accommodate them with a song, as he himself was extremely fond of that kind of music. Edgar remon strated and objected to the probability of his account of his relations, as he knew they were all Quakers, and brought that in favour of himself as an excuse : but all to no kind of purpose; he found he must either sing or plead all the evening, or pretend to be an gry. Of all these, he chose the former, and without much difficulty went through the Ex ile of Erin, which being new to the whole company, was very pleasing, and the old man triumphed in having convinced the company, he had stated no more than he knew. The other young man being also called upon in his turn, sung with such proficiency that it con vinced Edgar he understood music, and he asked him if he ever played the flute ? " 0, yes, sir," said he; " I find the flute much com pany for me since I came into the country." Edgar had an elegant one with him, but un derstood but little of playing upon it himself; he immediately brought it forward and pre- ADSONVILLE. 123 sented it to the stranger, who modestly re quested Edgar to play first, but easily accep ted his excuse and proved himself to be a pro ficient with that soothing instrument. The landlord had thrown off his reserve since sup per, and proved himself to be all that Edgar at first took him to be for ability, and who possessed an uncommon degree of shrewdness, sitting near to Edgar, and observing the flute occasionally played a dancing tune, he whis pered to him that his wife was a great dancer and wished him to urge her to dance. Ed gar immediately proposed it to her : when he had first arrived, there was nothing he would have thought himself less likely to succeed in; but her fears respecting the temper of her splendid guest being dissipated, and her mis anthropic disposition, the effect of a sudden alteration in circumstances, a separation from her relations and the scenes of her youth, and a rapid succession of children, being softened by -Edgar's liberality, and the effect of the music, which recalled to her recollection the days of other years ; he proceeded to impor tune her on the subject, whilst her husband slily encouraged him to persevere, and the old man also taking it up in earnest, offered Ed gar for her partner, and he could do no less then, than to accede to it, although he said he would give the privilege to the other young man if she preferred him, but he said his of fice was to be musician, and during the time that this importunity was going on, he would frequently commence on different tunes, \\hich would evidently lighten her in the chair, and 124 ADSONVILLE. confirmed them in the belief of what her hus band continued to persist in, that she was a good dancer, and had been brought up in Con necticut, in the Presbyterian church. Her children were all asleep, excepting her oldest daughter; who might be between twelve and fourieen years of age, and who had placed herself by the chair of her mother, in a posi tion that would not admit of her sitting much lower, and manifested the most exquisite en joyment of the entertainment. The importunity of the company? and Ed gar's standing before her insisting on her dan cing with him, seconded by her own secret in clination to show her proficience in the science of agility, prevailed over her acquired tem per, so far that she began to question what: they should dance, so as to be sure before she arose that it should be something she was ac quainted with, until pretending to get up to go to the other par of the room for something, in passing by she took a sly peep in the glass> to see if she looked any as she had once ; for tunately the light of the fire was not so bril liant as to manifest every trifling depredation of time and care, although they had deprived her of a considerable share of what never fails to please, where it does not excite envy. She adjusted her hair, said her husband would teaze her to death about it afterwards : but if he ever did tell of it he might do his own dancing for the future ; she then looked half consentingly towards the floor, which Edgar perceiving, led her out, and the young man ta king the favorable moment struck up a lively ADSONVILLE. 125 tune, and giving the signal by a stamp of his fjot. No French mademoiselle ever sur passed the agility and precision with which she kept time with the instruments, or the grace of her turns and reels ; her partner was so astonished at it, that in watching her he missed the step himself, and could scarcely avoid stopping in the midst of a figure to observe her ; their musician, with equal astonishment, kept his eyes 6n them, and played with great animation double the usual length of time ; and when he ceased a general burst of applause produced what for a long time had been a stranger, a smile, on her countenance ; and the evening, which commenced with uncomfortable, melancholy reflections, on the part of some, and sour mis anthropy with others, without the aid of wine> but by the means of innocent mirth, ended in eheerfulness, restoring each to that state of mind, which, but for artificial cares would of ten return, and retard the progress of decay f both the mental and corporeal faculties. 11* 126 ADSONVILLE. CHAPTER IV. .To love, to be beloved again, and know A gulph between us, aye, 'tis nr.se ry, Better tar, To weep o'er treachery or broken vows. Athcneum. At Albany* understanding that by the line of steam boats he could make a trip to New-York arid return with ; n a few days, he concluded to give his horse time to recover from the fatigue of several days driving, and himself an opportunity of enjoying the de lightful prospects and variety that such a voyage could not fail to bestow. The morn-, ing of their departure was without a cloud in the horizon, and the atmosphere so nicely tempered between heat and cold, and its in fluence so genial to the mind, that although the noble vessel was thronged with passen gers, who most probably had their secret views and adverse fortunes ; yet when she left the wharf and passed majestically like a brilliant and living metjetir off in front of the city, every person on board wore pleasure in his countenance, and paced the deck with deliberate strides of complacency ; whilst the ladies gathered in clusters to concentrate their delights and make their mutUc. observations. ADSONVILLE. 127 On the wharves, although the scene was no novelty, ytu for a moment, all business was suspended ,*nd every eye rivetted to this stu pendous monument of American ingenuity and enterprise, which hore the name of her illustrious projector. Edgar was much grati fied at ftelmg so much at leisure in the midst of so splendid an assemblage of people, from, perhaps every tjuarter of the civilized world. When his lUeuuori was not absorbed by the romantic islands or- the scenery on shore, he could, without breach of privilege, pass from group to group, and listen to the subjects thafe engaged their discussion, which would take in the whole circle of sciences. One of the passengers he soon discovered was a co-religionist of his, and his singular appearance effectually prevented all possibi lity of remainingN incog, if he had been dis posed for it ; but to this he seemed no ways inclined ; his garb, which was as plain as was ever worn by Job Scott, appeared to be con sidered by himself rather as a badge of honor than a cross ; although it could hardly be said it was an honor But to an Idol's shrine. Tho' blest with health and wealth and friends* And gaiety about me ; Ah, what is health, or wealth, or friends, O Caroline, without thee ! The three first verses he read to his com panions, designing to conceal the others ; but they, perceiving he had supprest a part, plea santly threatened to make him suffer the fate of Esop, if he did not read the whole, and ADSONV1LLE. 130 compelled him by their importunities to give it up to them. The people with whom our party had lodg ed had advised them to take something of a diagonal course, which they pointed out to them, and which would lengthen the distance, but render the ascent more easy. But one of the party, in opposition to this, proposed to strike what he called a bee line, directly to their object, and conquer all the obstacles in their way. This was unluckily acceded to by the rest, and led them into many difficulties, having frequently to assist each other by turns up perpendicular rocks to a great height, and to the great danger of a disastrous retrogade. It was past 12 o'clock before they arrived at the mountain hotel, where they met a bril liant assemblage of gentlemen and ladies, from the counties of Columbia and Dutchess, and ther parts of the state, preparing for a splen did ball : but our romantic pedestrians, from their excessive fatigue, were prepared for any thing else, rather than dancing ; and those who parted with them at Kaatskill, ral lied them without quarter. After partaking of refreshment, they retired to rest, in order if possible, to be in a situation to enjoy the di version of the evening. Although Edgar was not superstitiously principled against dancing, as has appeared n a former occasion, when it is practised sim ply as an exercise or diversion from the im pulse of the moment ; yet he was decidedly averse to such appointments that led to such expensive preparations, and competitions in 132 * ADSONV1LLE. gaudy dress, which seldom fail fto promote jealousies and envy, instead of philanthropy and good feelings. If he should meet with his young friends on a green, or other suita ble place, and the humor of the moment should prompt them to cut capers and exercise their corporeal agility, he would raise no serious bjections ; but where well informed people, capable of rational and intelligent conversa tion, should make appointments from month to month, and spend part of the intervening time in preparation for it, he considered it below the character of a man of principle and elevated views. In a couple of hours Edgar awoke from so sound a sleep, that at first he did not recol lect where he was, nor the time of day ; he was, however, soon at rights on that subject, and on viewing, found the house totally deser ted by the company, with which it was anima ted but so short a time before. On enquiring of the servants he was informed, that they were gone to view a water- fall at some dis tance. He followed and found them formed into a crescent around the spot from where the waters take their adventurous leap : their position was exactly where curiosity to look below, and a prudent care to keep the centre of gravity above, would respectively place them, according as the one or the other most governed. After their curiosity was satisfied and they were returning to the hotel, Edgar, who was nearly in the rear, observed a lady to turn her head, and give him a short and earnest look : at the same time he fancied ADSONVILLE. 133 her countenance appeared familiar ; but after easting it for a moment in his mind, he con cluded it was accidental, and thought no more of it, until, being assembled in the ball-room, their eyes again met. Edgar now looked more earnestly at her, and then with his brows a little lowered over his eyes, and a studious countenance, endeavoured to convince her he was trying to recollect her, which brought a slight indication of a smile on her lips, on which he instantly advanced to her, and on beginning to frame an apology for forgetting her name, he recollected it was Emeline, at whose house Caroline and her father lodged on their way to the boarding school ; he was pleased that so far from home, and so unex* pectedly, he had found one person whom he had seen before. Although he could not lay claim* to an acquaintance with her, he enqui red after the oilier part of the family with at least seeming interest: and she, in return, enquired after Caroline, and if she had return ed home. The party who climbed the moun tain with Edgar, had so far recovered their spirits as to be active in the arrangements. The company was so large as to require spe cial care that none should be deprived of their share in the diversion ; they had not forgotten Edgar, and knowing he was a stranger, and that he had come from their invitation, they had his name down at the head of the list ; for this Edgar had but little disposition to thank them, and endeavored to excuse him self ; but this they would not consent to- Qne of his comrades was searching for bin 134 ADSONVILLE. through the company, and found him whilst talking with Emeline, and informed him his name was called, and that he would introduce him to a lady for a partner. " But, per haps," said he, " you would prefer this lady. I did not know as you had any acquaintance here. I will not deprive you of the lady of your choice. You will please to walk for ward ; the music waits for you." Edgar thought it was 110 time to reason with either his friend or himself, on the immorality of dancing: he therefore asked Emeline if he might presume on their short acquaintance so far, as to request her to do him the honor to dance with him? Emeline. Nothing would be more agreea ble ; but I should interfere with this gentle man's arrangements. " Not in the least," exclaimed the young man, " any lady would be proud to have him for a partner ; but I have not promised him : so step along, step along if you please." He was so anxious to have no time lost, that he kept dancing himself with impatience. Edgar had asked Emeline carelessly if she had seen Caroline since he was at their house,, without supposing it possible, but was answer ed in the affirmative, just as they were inter rupted. When Edgar and Emeline came forward, the floor was cleared, and a few moments de tention on their account made them an object of general observation, and a whisper of ap probation at their appearance, from heads in clined sideways together, ran, through the as- ADSONV1LLE. 135 sembly. As soon as they had passed down, Edgar, quite impatient, led his partner to a seat and enquired when and where she had seen Caroline. Emetine. I saw her here something like three months since on a private party. Edgar. Is it possible! can you not be mistaken ? but of course you spoke to her. Emeline. I knew her well, several of our family were with me and knew it to be her : for we have always agreed she was the hand somest girl we ever saw : but Edgar. You of course spoke with her. You would not see her at such a place as this and not speak to her; then certainly you would find out whether it was her. Emeline. There is something mysterious about it. I do not wish to put you to the same perplexity I have been at myself to re concile it ; for I have no doubt you are inter ested in every thing that relates to her. Edgar. What dost thou say! there was something mysterious in it that perplexed thee? There is something mysterious in her having been here at all to me, but it is possi ble : her parents never restrain her inclina tions, they are so well regulated ; no doubt they have given orders for her to be indulged in any thing that will contribute to her health or contentment what passed between you? I have a curiosity on this subject more than ordinary. Emeline. That I am well satisfied of, or 1 would have let you know before. For some rea sons, best known to herself, and no doubt. 136 ADSONVILLE. some good reasons, she did not wish to he re cognized hy me. She professed she did not know me. Edgar, (with a distrustful shake of the head) No, Emeline, no, that could not he true of Caroline ; there must he some mis take. Emeline. Believe, sir, that I am mista ken. I wish you should, but I can but be lieve she had some good reasons for her con duct, which I neither know, nor can conceive any idea of. Edgar. Why you have a good eye a quick recollection; you knew me before I did you : but how can I believe ! I mean, how can it be reconciled with Caroline. Please to ~lell me all the circumstances. Emeline. I never was more mortified. When I first saw her, I ran to her and was going to kiss her with the highest pleasure ; for when she parted with me, she kissed me with tears in her eyes : but she started back with affright ; you never saw an assumed part acted with such perfection : she turned ten times more red than her beautiful hair, though by the bye, her hair is not red, but something approaching to it. She protested I must be mistaken, that she never was at Hudson in her life, &c. Edgar. Then I it was not Caroline ; no circumstance possible under heaven could induce her who was with h r; what company ? Emeline. Her gallant had the appearance of a military officer, and my brother said he ADSONVILLE. 137 belonged to the United States service ; and he asked him if the lady in company with him, had not come from a boarding school in Dutchess county, and he answered in the af firmative, a'ud' enquired if he was acquainted with her ; to which my brother carelessly an swered that he was not, but that his sister ima'gined that she had seen her before. It was out -Edgar had hitherto flattered himself that Emdine was mistaken, but now he yielded to the conviction that she was*cor- rect. He knew that the captain was in some part of that country, and concluded that Mr. Adson had oh that account placed his daugh ter at the school, which before was unaccoun table "to him in some of its circumstances. He thought it probable also that he had represen ted to her teachers that the captain had been a member of his family, and possessed his confi dence. This was like a daggerlpIuBged into his bosom ; he inadvertently let fall an expression which seldom fell from his lips, and Emeline saw that this decided the point in his mind : but in a manner not to contribute to his peace. It was vain for him to dissemble his distress. Emeline wished now to know a little more about it. You know this officer ; do you ? She has such a friend or acquaintance has she? Edgar. I suspect, indeed she has, but Emeline waited some moments for him to proceed, but perceiving he did not, said, " You appear to be deeply interested in her. I knew it before when you called at our house; we all knew it 5 but I would not have you 12* 138 ADSONVILLE. be discouraged : she can explain it all to you, and you cannot take too much pains for her : she will amply reward you. You must tell her to call upon us on her return and explain herself. I will accept any apology." " Angel of consolation." said Edgar, 6 * s& long as I could he with thee, I should never die for her." This was a compliment for her gratuitous attempt to allay his jealousy it was not strictly his feelings on the subject, although he admired Emeline. > At this juncture their discourse was inter rupted by something which drew the attention of the whole company to the upper end of the room, and Edgar arising, as if to discover what it was, others pressed Forwards and separated him from Emeline : when he found he was un observed he left the room, muttering to him self " Ah ! little think the gay licentious proud, Whom pleasure, power and affluence surround: They who, their thoughtless hours in giddy mirth. And wanton,' often cruel, riot waste ; Ah, little think they whilst they dance along. How many feel, this very moment, death, And all the sad variety of pain." The exhilerating sounds of the violin were now, to him, transformed to a sonorous scream of continued cat calls, and the dancers appear ed, like puppets dangling by joints, and the splendid assemblage of smiling coimtenan- ADSONVILLE. 139 ees, were insufficient to render him insensible to the sudden demolition of all his imaginary castles of happiness, on the tapis of a union with Caroline; he sallied forth but the night was too much illuminated by the rays of Cynthia, already riding high, to harmonise with the gloom, that spread like a tornado over his mind. Almost the whole of Dutchess and Columbia counties were distinguishable by moonlight; which also shed an equivocal light through the tall forest in which he wandered, careless, without regarding what course he took, nor Iiow far he proceeded : he felt an unconquer able reluctance to pause and consider the oc casion of the sudden transition in his mind, which like the fall of Adam seemed to affect the whole creation. All he suffered himself to remember, was, that Caroline was lost, that all his hopes, his life, was gone; a state of mind approaching to madness governed his actions; the thoughts of summoning philosophy to his assistance would cross his mind, but he despi sed the idea, and chose to suffer and resign himself to all the horrors of despair. Caro line, said he, is never to be mine ; her charms, and her more charming company, are to soothe and delight another : I am left alone in the world, and the world is left to me in exchange, a miserable, a despicable compensation : cre ation will smile no more to me ; every beauty of it will enhance my misery, when I can no more share it with her, without whom every thing is vapid and tasteless. In this state of mind he climbed the rocks or descended the precipices as they interfered with his course j 140 ADSONVILLE. whilst the idea of danger, if it crossed hlv mind at all, was the only circumstance that af forded a ray of delight. The reflection that perhaps Caroline's happiness would be promo-, ted by it, scarcely appeased his discontented and distracted mind : he was tempted to re gret the waves had not swallowed them togeth er ; then checking himself in his unhallowed pavings he would say what selfishness, what folly, what meanness in iove, it is myself, my OW1T happiness I seek, it is myself I love; that she is happy will not satisfy me but it shall ! if she be happy I will rejoice although I am miserable. With these reflections he conti nued his uncertain course, sometimes sliding down the steep surfaces of rocks without know ing the distance of descent or acuttness of dip, until he brought up at the bottom, until the moon having gradually shrunk behind the mountain, he was left in such absolute dark ness, that yielding to it, and to the fatigue he had undergone since landing at West Camp, he stretched himself on a rock, and after in vain raising his head to discover what compa ny he had, that kept a rustling in the leaves, and scratching on the trunks of the trees^ he fell into a sound sleep. Sleep on, disconsolate lover! whilst around Thy rocky couch the writhing panthers bound . Unconscious thou of all but love's alarms, The gods protect thee from all other harms ; Thy fev'rish brain to calmer dreams incline, Once more to embrace thy darling Caroline. ADSONVtLLE. 141 The first beams of the morning sun had gil ded the top of the mountain, and the noctur nal prowlers of the forest had retired to their dens, before Edgar again awoke to the recol lection of the scenes of the preceding night, and the fatal intelligence which had driven him to despair, all of which seemed to him like a dream, as with his limbs chilled and shivering he sat and listened to the approach ing hounds. At length he discovered two of them ascending a ravine, sometimes passing under the projections of rocks, or leaping over detached fragments. The humidity of the morning dew retaining the scent of the animal which thev followed, encouraged them to fol low with great animation : their long tails were elevated, and kept in such constant mo tion, that they were lacerated with the sharp rocks, and their sides from them spattered with blood: intent upon their object, they passed within a few rods of him, just raising their eyes ; and he felt A sense of pleasure in listening to the sound of their exhilerating voice, until it died on his ears. He had not altered his position, nor resolved upon what course to take, when he perceived a hunter following up the glen, the course of the hounds, he approached within a few rods be fore he discovered any person in his path, he then stopped short and regarded Edgar with mute astonishment, until he smiled, *' have the dogs passed this way ?" says he. Edgar re plied " they have so, they are just out of hearing." He then came up, and looking at him more earnestly seemed inclined to pass 142 ADSONVILLE. on, but stopping again, he said : " Where have you come from ? I started from the foot of the mountain before daybreak I" To this- Edgar was not in the humour to answer. " What brought you here ?" said the hunter again. " My feet, I believe, by the looks of my shoes ;" said Edgar, observing for the first that they were cut to pieces. " Your feet, sir ; I did not suppose you had come on your head !" retorted the hunter, *' have you been here all night ?" Edgar. I slept here on this rock, I be lieve ; I awoke here at least. After a long pause, the hunter remarked. " I believe you know but little about it your self : it is no common thing to meet such a lady-looking man as you are on the mountain, with your fine clothes, and gold watch-chain : where is your gun? I have heard of very re spectable people getting crazy, and straying off, and if that is the case, you had best OWE it, and Fll take care of you, any way : if you Want my assistance you shall have it, I have started an old she wolf, and the bounty on her head would be a round sum ; but Fll let her go, and wait upon your honor : if you have slept here, you want your breakfast. I have got some bitters here, (taking out a bottle of whiskey) though I don't know as you'll drink rye in the sheaf, as so.me call it. Edgar be gan to consider himself obligated to treat hira with more courtesy, as he discovered in him traits of real benevolence ; and as he found it necessary for himself to make some exertions towards returning to the hotel, he concluded ADSONVILLE. 143 to accept of a swallow of his stimulus, but ob jected to the hunter's being detained or diver ted from his pursuit of the wolf, to assist him, as the bounty might be an object. But the hunter replied that the bounty would be no object to him, in comparison to the pleasure of assisting a fellow creature in distress, even, says he, if I was sure of getting the cur, which I a'nt by a grand sight, for I expect she'll run into some hole in the rocks, where the d*#l can't squeeze in after her : where do you live where do you wish to go to ? we can follow this gully to the foot of the mountain,, and find a house sooner than any other way. Edgar. How far are we from the Pine Or chard ? I must go there and pay my bill, or they'll think I've run away : dost thou know the place. Hunter. Indeed I do, I knew it beforc t.here was a stick amiss : it is three miles abcut in a direct line ; you'll find a rugged path on't. Edgar having consented to the hunter's pi loting him,- they proceeded a diagonal course up the ravine, until they turned south upon the summit of the mountain. The world again burst upon his view, as if placed before them ky enchantment : for a moment he was anima ted with the prospect ; but the chilling recol lection that all hopes of the attainment of the object of his journey being blasted, deprived him of the pleasure he would have otherwise derived from having within his view, the very place which contained it. He enquired, how ever, of his guide if he could point out to him in what part of their prospect the town of ADSON.VILLE. Plainville was situated. The old man took him by his shoulders, and squaring his face to wards the southeast, desired him to notice a low, regular shaped mountain, that extend ed from a northeast to a southwest direction ; it is Stesink mountain, said he, it looks from here as if a man might set astride of it, but it is considerable of a hill ; nothing, you know, but heaven itself can look high from here ; the place you spoke of lays just at its southern extremity, and is distant from here about fifty miles forty miles on an air line. Edgar was possessed of a healthy constitu tion and athletic symmetry, took great de light in exercise, his deportment in general reserved, his countenance thoughtful, his eye not the most agreeable, but when taken in connection with his brow, possessed a scruti nizing feature : his appearance, on the whole, rather forbidding to familiarity, unless when he noticed an individual by nodding or bow ing to him, or when he spoke, which would give to his countenance quite another charac ter. He was inclined to a sanguine temper ament and exquisite sensibility; his heart could melt at the tale of woe, or kindle with indignation at the report of villainy or oppres sion ; the crying of a child would move him with reflections on the miseries of the world ; and the sound of soothing music on (( the spirit-stirring drum and shrill fife," would ef fect him with corresponding emotions. He was himself conscious of his sensitive consti tution, and governed it with such success, that lie passed amongst his acquaintance for a man ADSONVILLE. possessing a mild and agreeable temper. He was sensible that these properties, in opposi tion to a phlegmatic habit, were the materials necessary to the formation of every estimable character ; and that it was only when, uncon trolled by reason, that they became engines f destruction to the peace and happiness of individuals or communities. To the necessi tous tales of the poor within his circle, he al ways listened with kindness and respect, and if he could not always relieve them, they ne ver had cause to repent their confidence : his interest in their case, and the encouragement they always received from him, made them de part with some relief, and they never failed to eulogize him to the next person they met with. At all occasional assemblies in his own vicinity, every one who met his glance of eye advanced to give him their hand; the poor, because it was a pleasure to them to have en quiries after the health and welfare of their families, with as much interest and politeness as was extended to the rich. It was from the same benevolent disposition, and not from coquetry, that he treated all the female part of society with the most unremitting attention and politeness, insomuch that some who could not lay claim to those superficial attractions which regulate the manners of clowns and dan dies, derived no inconsiderable satisfaction from his attention. In fine, wherever known, he was considered by both sexes, as without an equal, either in person or manners. The older part of the Society to which he belong ed were somewhat uneasy at his departure 13 146 ADSONVILLE. from the simplicity of dress peculiar to them; for it must be acknowledged, that he would hardly by his appearance be recognized as of their cast : he received, with great urbanity and apparent submissiveness, occasional lec tures on the subject ; but his friends felt but little disposition to find fault with one whom every body else recommended. As Edgar was silently following the knight of the woods as he selected his path through the obstructions which lay in their way, the latter suddenly turned, and with a wild turn to his eye balls, desired him to listen. He ap peared to hold his breath for several minutes, during which time the distant yells of the hounds broke faintly on his own ear; when they had listened a few moments longer, they ascertained that they were coming towards them. " Let's hurry," said he ; " they have not holed her : she is coming for the east side of the mountain and must pass between them two ledges, if she ha'nt gone by a ready. 7 ' They seated themselves under a crag, where they would neither be discovered nor see the wolf until she came directly opposite them. The sound of the dogs became every moment more loud and distinct, the hunter raised the pan of his rifle, stirred the priming, pressed his thumb nail across the edge of his flint,, and then composedly lowering it the length of his arms, whispered to Edgar, " She, there, the dogs wouldn't scream so irregular if they wasn'nt close haul upon her." At length, with the most vociferous yells, they entered the space between the ledges and ap- ADSONV1LLE. 147 peared just ready to pass ; with a disappoint ed look, the hunter said, " we are too late; she has gone by." They stepped around the point of rock from their hiding place to stop the dogs and take them off, when within three jumps of them they met an enormous large she wolf, and at her breaking her motion in discovering a new enemy in front, the dogs fastened upon her. She had one under forth with, and the other fastened upon her in a part not likely to disable her. The hunter brought his rifle to his shoulder, vociferating, " What shall I do ? D-< n it. I shall kill my dogs if I shoot ; and if I don't, she will/' Edgar answered not, but springing astride of the wolf he fastened a hand upon each ear and locked his legs around her body. The wolf feeling this additional weight forsook her hold of the dog, which she had already killed, and with the most violent doublings, leaps and plunges, made a desperate effort to change po sitions with her rider. They rolled several times over, and although there was no contor tion or posture in which the infuriated and desperate animal did not writhe herself, yet he held his grasp with the certainty that its relinquishment would be instant death ; the hunter was petrified into a statue at the un expected temerity of his companion, and con firmed in his former opinion, that he was deranged. As soon as he recovered his pres ence of mind, he threw down his rifle and ta king his large knife, attempted to approach and cut her throat ; from this he was for some time prevented and several times knocked 148 ADSONVILLE. over, by coming in contact with her, in her violent boundings : at last on her becoming more exhausted he succeeded, and Edgar re leased from her, fell by her side exhausted al so with the exertion, and bruised in several parts of his body : the hunter raised him up enquiring if he were dead, and would not be satisfied until he stood up to convince him that lie was not seriously injured. The hunter desire*. I :lgar to permit him to take him on his shoulders, and bear him the remainder of the distance to Pine Orchard, but he assigned that honor to the wolf. Be ginning to feel some embarrassment at return ing, after his taking a French leave the pre ceding evening, he conceived that returning with the wolf in triumph would effectually di vert the company from being over curious about the causs of it. They accordingly pro ceeded with equal difficulty; the huntsman from the weight of his load, and Edgar from his fatigues, wounds and heaviness of heart. They arrived at the hotel, as the company were preparing to depart, but the movement was suspended to gratify their curiosity with the sight of a dead wolf, and listen to the hun ter's account of the manner in which she had been taken ; which they did with the utmost astonishment and admiration, and so much did it occupy the mind of the huntsman, that he forgot to say any thing of his finding Edgar, and no one thought but that they had gone in pursuit of her together. Two or three young physicians who were present, examined his ADSONVILLE. 149 wounds, and more from febrile symptons, than from the danger of them, they advised bim to retire immediately to rest* and not leave the place, until his prospects of health were bet ter than at present ; but he, fearing that a con firmed sickness might ensue, and preferring in such a case any place to that devoted to pleasure and company, the same afternoon hi red a conveyance to Kaatskill, where he lodg ed the night, during which he perceived that his imprudence and folly had reduced him to the verge of a settled fever, the event of which indeed, he felt no anxiety about, as all hopes of earthly happiness had fled from his pertur bed bosom ; yet he desired, at all events, to Feach his relations, and, if fate so decided, die there. He passed, alone in his chamber, a restless night, attended with a partial and conscious delirium : he frequently discovered himself to be speaking aloud, his room ap peared to be crowded with people, who got on his bed, pulled off his covering, making him start up to recover them : then he would recollect himself that the appearance was all ideal, and the effect of the state of his brain. On the succeeding morning being something better, from a temporary intermission of fe ver, but in a feeble, languid state of body, and unhappy state of mind, he procu red a coach, to convey him- to his uncle's, in the town of Plain Ville, where he was determined to arrive, before assistance and nursing became absolutely indispensable. He arrived feefore evening, and the coachman 13* 150 ADSONVILLE. opening the door, with faultering steps, a bur ning fever, and partial delirium, he descended and reeled towards the house. He was un known, personally, to his relatives who from the window observed his movements, so much at variance with his genteel appearance. His uncle and aunt, who had not the least suspicion who he was, met him at the door. " 1 believe I am in liquor," said he, " but cannot account for it. I think I shall die, and I want you to bury me, and inform my parents and Caro line; here is my pocket-book to defray the ex pense : you will find in it also some letters for you." His relatives not being forward to ac cept of it, it fell to the floor, and he would have followed but for their timely assistance. They asked him his name, but he replied in coherently. The coachman, hearing what he said, informed them, that he had drank nothing but water through the day. As soon as he was placed on bed in a state of insensibility, recourse was had to the letters, and the instant one was opened, they discovered who he was. His amiable character they were no strangers* to. and nothing can describe the hurry and conster nation of the family; two or three proceeded to take off his boots and clothes ; whilst expresses were dispatched to every physician, within a reasonable distance, and orders being given to have a fowl killed, two or three boys and ser vant girls, with as many dogs, chased one sev eral times around the house, and through the long piazza, seizing their prey directly under the window 5 the victim with long and loud ADSONVILLK. 151. notes of lamentation bewailed its approaching fate. Mrs. S. went out and chid them for their inconsiderate rudeness^ although they did it to manifest the readiness and alacrity with which they could perform their part of the service for the sick stranger. 152 ADSONV1LLE. CHAPTER V. These were the charming agonies of love, Whose misery delights. THIS family had no children of their own. but had adopted one of whom they had be come more fond and doating, than is common even for parents whose affections are con centrated upon one object. This was a girl who had early been taught to consider her self their child, although officious persons had sometimes pained her by hints to the contra ry; yet as she considered she had been by them, at least, elevated to the rank of an only daughter to wealthy parents, her affection was augmented by gratitude. She called her foster parents father Mid mother, and all their relations, by relative appellations. This girl proved to be the Penelope to whom Caroline had become attached, and was now absent from home at the school; and so soon as the first consternation of the family had subsided, it was determined to send for her the same eve- aing. Her parents, as we shall still call them, knew the pleasure it would afford her to assist in waiting on her cousin, as the love and af fection to them extended to all their relations. ADSONV1LLE. 153 whose recognition of her as of the family, af forded her inexpressible delight, and stimu lated her on all occasions to manifest her grati tude by the most affectionate and attentive de meanor. It was late before the carriage ar rived at the school ; Caroline and Penelope had retired to their lodging-room, but not to bed : by the light of a lamp which was by the yard gate Penelope knew the carriage, and laying her hand upon Caroline, said with aa agitated manner, " Oh Caroline ! some thing is the matter at home, there is our car riage after me at this hour." Caroline de sired her to suspend her alarm until she went and ascertained whether that was the case : on her return she met Penelope on the stairs and putting the least alarming countenance upon it said, " thy cousin has arrived and is sick, but I expect not much, perhaps only fatigued by his journey." "Who is he, what, cousin ?" said Penelope, pressing by her and hurrying down stairs, kf how do you do John> who is it that is sick at our house ? John. I do not know, I believe it is Mr. S. ? s sister's son from the northward. Penelope. It must be Edgar F : we have expected him for two or three years. Is he very sick ? " I believe he is, ma ? m," answered John. " Edgar F !" exclaimed Caroline: " Is it possible?" letting the lamp fall from her hand ; and discovering her to be inclined to fainting they flew to her assistance, and by placing her in a chair, and the timely admin istration of water and hartshorn prevented it. 454 ADSONVILLE. Penelope continually calling out, what is the matter with Caroline ? what does this mean ? and before Caroline was in any situation to an- , swer, she asked her twenty times if she was acquainted with Edgar F. " Is he thy cousin?" at last she articulated, " is he at your house., and very sick ? go then, do not delay on my account ; thou canst not do too much for him. Let me go to bed," said she, resolutely raising up, ** what an idiot I am." So saying, she took the light and made for her chamber. Penelope put on her cloak and bonnet; but not yet willing to leave Caroline, without knowing something more of the mystery, ran up stairs, and found her with her clothes on, upon the covering oi the bed in a flood of tears, with a pillow over her head to smother her sobs. Penelope was astonished and cried from sympathy : Caro line after several vain attempts at last said. " sister, I thought you had gone, do not stay on my account." " How can I go," cried Penelope, " and leave thee in this situation,'* and it is impossible to tell how long she would have remained in this state of indecision, if their mistress had not come and decided the point in favour of her immediate departure, promising to remain and sleep with Caroline herself if necessary and agreeable. After Penelope's departure, Caroline assu med a degree of composure, and lamented to her teacher her weakness, and the exposure which she had made of it : and perceiving thar delicacy alone prevented her friendly care-ta ker, from making enquiries on the subject, arid fearing she would form an opinion more unfa- ADSONVILLE. 155 vorable, or attach more importance to her con duct, than the real cause would warrant ; she attempted to give some account of it, but made a most confused story, by saying he was a neighbor of theirs, with whom she had no par ticular acquaintance ; he once risked his life to save me from danger of being drowned no, I believe I did for him we had both like to have drowned together : my surprise arose from hearing that he was here : and, she ad ded, after some pause, that he was dangerous ly-sick: (here she was again on the point oi bursting into tears,) and when she further at tempted to justify herself by describing his character, and saying that any one of his ac quaintance would have been equally affected at hearing of his being sick so far fro in home. The living fountains again overflowed their shaded margin, and moistened the sweet soil with streams of exquisite sensibility, and she again turned her face upon the bed to hide her emotions. Reflecting, however, on the silly appearance she was making, she summon ed all her fortitude to her assistance, arose from the bed with firmness, and proceeded to adjust her hair for the night. On discover ing the disordered state of her countenance from weeping, she felt a degree of contempt for her folly : and looking round to her mis tress, smiled significantly, and with affected cheerfulness proceeded to undress for repose. This was the triumph of reason arid resolution over sensibility, but it was not so complete lut that an occasional sigh would escape from her struggling bosom. We will not, however. 156 ADSONV1LLE. attempt to watch with her through the night, feut return to Edgar, who is in, by far, the most critical situation. Penelope wept all the way home, so as to have none of it do after she had arrived there. She felt now doubly interested in the recovery of her cousin, as she perceived that Caroline must be deeply interested in his fate. By the time she revived, the first emotions ha ving subsided, she was in a right state to en ter immediately on all the duties that her af fection and goodness would incline her to per form for her relation as she considered him. The physician pronounced his disorder to be an inflammation on the brain, and expres sed doubts as to the termination ; but that a short time would decide the point. The pa tient appeared insensible of his situation, and had no recollection where he was. calling aunt. *' Mother !" and talking indiscriminately and indistinctly of his business, the wolf and Caro line. Towards the close of the next day, the physician having expressed himself encour aged with the symptoms, Penelope wrote to Caroline the following note. My Dear Caroline, I was right in my conjecture ; it is noue other but E. F. I should have written in the morning, but appearances were then so dis couraging, that I deferred in hopes of a fa vourable change, which I have now the satis faction of informing you has taken place, fin ADSONV1LLE. 157 the Doctor's opinion ;) although not much al teration can in so short an interval be expec ted^ be assured that nothing which can be done for him is omitted. I attend upon him constantly in administering the medicine pre cisely according to the directions of the phy sician. I do this with the greatest pleasure, as I know thou art deeply interested in his re covery. I have heard him call thy name ; it was not from the resemblance that exists be tween us, for I have not discovered that he has noticed me ; I will inform thee every day how he is. In the mean time \\e will hope he will soon recover, when I will come with " him to the school, and have the pleasure of seeing you meet. P. S. C. d. Caroline received this billet, which in a de gree, relieved her mind ; and farther to reco ver her spirits, or indulge herself in reflection without interruption, she put on her bonnet, and throwing a shawl over her shoulders, left the house without any one to accompany her. The sun appeared through the autumnal haze of a deep red, and about an hour's distance ?bove the horizon. She took the path which led along the banks of the Wappinger's Creek, and designed to continue her walk as far as she thought would allow her to return before dark. She followed the windings of this stream, deliberately contemplating, at one time, the still and placid current silently and slowly moving towards the Hudson ; and at 14 158 ADSONVILLE. other places ripling over loose stones, or foaming over ledges of rocks : some times she passed through long and spacious meadows, whose even surface still exhibited the wide and parallel swaths of the emulous swains. The tough green sward overhung the mar gin of the river partially undermined by the insidious current ; here she beguiled her en nui by springing on the trembling and projec ting turf, to catch a glimpse of the speckled trout, that like lightning would dart from un der it ; again her path stole through thickets of alders and willows, or lead at a distance to meet it again at another bend. In this way she continued insensible of the distance she had proceeded, or the lapse of time, until the soft approach of twilight attracted her notice, and excited her alarm ; she precipitately chan ged her course and re-entered a thicket from which she had just emerged into a large mea dow; in her hurry she inadvertently took a path which after insensibly winding round a swamp brought her out again in the same mea dow, and on a course diametrically opposite to the right: without suspecting any such change, she was making all the haste she could, when she observed a young man who had just re leased a horse to graze, running towards her: when within a few rods he called to her, with a voice indicating a familiar acquaintance. Ashamed to have a race with him, she slack ened her pace, and with an air of dignity and grace continued hep course. When he came up, he very politely informed her that she was not the person he had taken her for ; but. ADSONVILLE. 159 says he, I ain surprised at meeting with a girl here at this time of the evening, who is so much of a stranger to me. Where art thou going ; or where dost thou belong ? Her heart beat high, but his agreeable and good natured countenance forbade any apprehen sions which she might otherwise have enter tained, and she answered, with a smile on her trembling lips, that in taking an evening walk she had wandered further than she was aware of. " But where have you come from? I feel an interest in knowing : have you come down," said he, smiling, "from, above?" His gentlemanly, prepossessing appearance, although a farmer's son in his every day cos tume, had banished the trifling fright which she received at his fim accosting her, and she rather admired than feared him. ' I have come from the boarding school," said she, " and you will excuse me ; I have not a mo ment to loose." So saying, she started on, but the contrary way from the one which would have brought her to the school. " Hold, hold!" he cried earnestly, at the same time springing after her and gently taking her by the arm. " Villain !" said she, looking at him wildly, " let me go. Your countenance won derfully belies your heart." " My dearest angel," said he, instantly letting her arm fall and stepping back a respectful distance ; " ex cuse me you are going from, instead of to wards, the school ; and you are already much further from home than is prudent for you." " Please not to detain me," said she, and with hasty steps again left him, disregarding 160 ADSONVILLE. what he said ; for having turned insensibly? she had no idea of its possibility. He stood for a moment, looking after her and hesitating what further to do for her, imagining she wan dered in her mind as well as her walk. But it will" not do, thought he, to suffer her to pro ceed ; she will soon be involved in darkness, and without a shelter. Again he started after her which she perceiving, and being now re ally apprehensive he wished o decoy her out of her way, at this inauspicious hour and place, and knowing no other, she was compelled to have recourse to the expedient which many a brave man has resorted to with success. She started off with the speed of a deer at the first alarm of the hounds; but although her pur suer could at first but hold his own with her, yet he was not to be deterred from his kind pur pose, and his perseverance soon overcame his deficiency in speed, and enabled him to place himself before her saying, " You cannot escape me so : why do you >vish to ? why do you fear me? do you take me for a ruffian ? is there any thing in my looks that should so terrify you?" ** Not so much as in your actions, sir!'* she retorted, panting for breath and with terror. " I solemnly assure you," said he, " that you are going wrong. I know you are bewildered ; you are going a different point of compass from what you think. I would sooner die than insult you than frigh ten you ; but if I suffer you to proceed, you will inevitably be out all night, which I can not permit. If you have your senses^ madam, you will certainly hear to me. If you. unfor ADSONVILLE. 161 Innately have not, I shall take you by force to my father's house, where my mother and sis ters will take the best of care of you." " Is it possible/' said she, " that I am lost, and that you intend nothing but kindness?" " Ea sily possible," said he, " if you knew my heart, you would suspect me. of nothing else. I will convince you. Do you wish to go up or down the stream?" " Down, certainly," said she. " Step here then," said he "to the bank of the river. See you were going up the stream." " I see," she replied, wring ing her hands, and looking around at the still but darkening horison, ' I have wronged you, insulted you, past aiU forgiveness. What have I called you ! I have riot even time to apolo gise. Will you now suffer me to proceed the right way?" *'< I will, if you say so, but not alone ; it will soon be dark, and you are at least five miles from home. I invite and en treat you to go home with me." Caroline. 0, I cannot. What would be thought of me! and our peopl would alarm the cpuntry : they will as it is. The young man replied, that if she was de termined on going home, she must permit him to take her behind him on his horse; and, said he, taking out to the highway, I will have you home in a few minutes. Caroline. I must go Siome ; any thing else I leave to you. I distrust you no more. Highly elated, he MOW rr<'i for his horse; but with so much haste. Mar. ^ie hig i spirited animal frightened at his sudden approach, and his nerves being braced vmn the coolness of 162 ADSONVILLE. an autumnal evening, started off, and eleva ting his head the length of his neck, and lay ing his long brush upon his back, coursed it two or three times across the meadow with such a formidable appearance, that Caroline climbed upon the fence for safety, hi very mo ment spent in this way was adding to her em barrassment and distress, as a return through the fields was impossible ; and if she should be compelled to take the road on foot, it would be very late before she could get home ; and to go home with her new acquaintance appeared worse than any other expedient ; from this anxiety she was relieved by seeing the horse at length cautiously approach his master, and smell at the extended hand, whilst with the other he was seized by the mane and bridled. At one motion the young man was from the ground on his back : and wheii he rode along side of the fence to receive Caroline, although she was practised to that manner of riding ; yet his strong and fiery appearance, in any other circumstances, would have deterred her from risking himself on his back. He was in such g od condition that the length of his spine was marked by an indented line, and so round and broad on the back as to form a safe and convenient seat, which without hesitation she occupied, and embracing her new friend firmly with her right arm ; " With head held high, And braided mane, and comely browj"". ADSONVILLB. the noble steed, as if proud of his ability to convey his precious burden, with restrained jumps, galloped across the intervale, and with the same speed and sure feet maintained his course OV.T the rising ground, amidst numer ous and large loose stones rounded perhaps^by rolling in the retiring waters of Noah's de luge. At the entrance of every field, they passed through a large swing gate, balanced by the upper bar extending back four or five yards over the main part, with stones placed in a box on it. These were opened arid pulled too after them by the young man's dexterity, without dismounting : at the same intrepid gait they passed on the margin of fresh plough ed lands, through Indian corn fields newly harvested, with the white husks left standing, and rattling in the breeze; through extensive orchards, down a way dug in the side of a hill into a wide and deep valley ; ascending from which, on the opposite hill, at a distance, they discovered a line of lights extending for a mile in length, at irregular distances, and in a transverse direction to the course they were so rapidly pursuing. At that house where we see the first light, said he to Caro line, which we shall soon pass ,1 watched last night with a young gentleman, who came there sick from a great distance to the North. 66 What village is that ?" said Caroline. " Plainville," was the answer. As she pass ed by the house, she observed a bed with the curtains drawn partially back, and two or three persons standing before it. She had 164 ADSONVILLE. no doubt who it was, but her own situation occupied her attention too much to permit the circumstance to have that effect upon her nerves, which at another time might be ex pected from it ; for as soon as the horse ap proached the high way, and turning, felt the hard road under him, he appeared more than ever inclined to exert his utmost speed ; his gallant rider placing his hand on Caroline's arm, and pressing it more closely to him, said, " now my angel, hold to me and we will soon be at the end of our race ;" then easing upon the bit, they went with such tremendous swiftness, that Caroline had to lay her head to his shoulders, to avoid the current of wind created by their velocity ; and the sound of the horse's hoofs echoed through the stillness of night from the distant wood in one con tinued roll. After, at this rate, turning sev eral sharp corners, descending hills, and rat tling over bridges, they saw the length of a long, straight and level lane, at the end of which more brilliant lights arose in viewj where they finally drew up, and the young gentleman informed Caroline she was at home. " Now," said he, " you are safe ; give me your hand." " Yes, sir," said Caroline^ extending it. *I can never express my gratitude/ she con tinued, " I shall never forget your goodness] I would offer you money, but I have already insulted you too far ; you would greatly ob lige me, and relieve me of a weight of obliga- gation to accept of a reward." " I will, in deed," said he> " accept of ample ADSONVILLE. 165' and this is it, pressing her hand, which with the considerate . of having served you and done my duty overpays me. Perhaps I may see you again," said he, releasing her hand : ^Heaven bless him/ ejaculated Caroline, as she ran into the ftouse, whilst the young man slip ping his bridle rein, walked towards home with the horse smelling leisurely on the ground by his side, his coat laid close, and his flanks smoking with sweat. Edgar remained until the third evening without a perfectly lucid interval, at which time his recollection returned, whilst his aunt and Penelope were sitting by the fire/with the room but partially lighted, in order to promote sleep in their patient: *%t the first return of his reason, he was sensible of having beeii deprived "of it, but unconscious how fong; the room he could recollect no acquaintance with, nor could he devise at all where he was. He remembered sitting out on his journey, and successively every event up to his en counter with the wolf, and leaving the moun tain ; the information that Eraeline had there given him also was but too quick too assume its place in his memory : he was not certain whether he had arrived at his uncles r not. He perceived by the blisters and his weak ness, as well as by a table and the mantletree shelves being covered with phials, teas and bowls of powders, that he had probably been some time sick ; he reflected that his wantonly giving himself up a prey to despair at dis appointment, was the sole cause. The extent of his disappointment he was still as sensible 166 ADSONVJLLE. of as ever ; but as he considered it now voidable, he must either conclude to die un der the weight of it, or become reconciled to it so far as to live with some degree of se renity and happiness. As he was not sure that even should he choose it, the first alter native would be in his power, he resolved to appeal to religion and philosophy to aid him in the latter; and deciding on this, he began immediately to feel the resolution of it to have a salutary effect. From the first moment of the return of his reason, he had kept his eyes .fixed upon the persons in the room, to dis cover whether he could recognize them ; but without success, as they were all strangers. When Penelope, observing him to lie so long quietly, approached softly to his bed-side; her strong resemblance of Caroline instantly struck him with the idea that it was really her, which he thought was not impossible, how ever unlikely, as he knew she was in that part of the country. This made him look so earnestly and wildly at her, that she did not discover the favorable alteration in his disor dered mind as well as body ; her looks said it was Caroline, but his reason and probabi lity spake another language ; he was almost, ready to conclude he was dreaming, or that he had not yet his reason ; she asked him to take some medicine, to which he assented, and thanked her in such a manner, that con vinced her he had come, as she expressed it, to himself. After he had taken it, he ex tended his hand for hers, which she gave him : he then requested the candle to be ADSONVILLEc 16? brought to the bed, which being complied with, he regarded her for a minute with the most fixed attention ; he said it is not her ; but no one could be more kind, not even . He stopped short, without mentioning any name. Hut Penelope, from the circumstances thathad occurred, knew who he meant and smi led; at which he again thought he was mistaken and that it was her, but with one more earnest look perceiving it was not he gave his hand to his aunt, saying, this is my aunt : I have been insensible what a troublesome visitor I have been to you. 'I hey both denied that he had been any trouble to them, and assured him of the pleasure they felt at seeing him so much better. He then called for his uncle^ and spake to him as for the first time that he had seen him. He wished to know whether the coachman, who brought him there, had been remunerated : he was answered, that he said nothing about pay, and they supposed that he had already had it. On a moment's reflection, he said he believed he had paid him when he engaged him. He then desired some person to go to Albany for his chaise. This he was assured should be done, and after he had given directions for finding it, and re specting the payment of charges, &c. he was requested to trouble himself no more about any such concerns until he had recovered more strength. During the time since the recovery of recollection, his eyes would involuntarily rest upon Penelope, surprised at her strong resemblance of Caroline, until the circumstan ces became more familiar to him. 169 ADSONVILLE. As he continued to grow better his mind was continually occupied upon the phrensy his passion fcr Caroline had reduced him to. He concluded from her not answering his letters, and from what he had heard from Emeline that Caroline had decided against him ; or rather that she was determined to yield to the wishes of her parents in relation to the captain. This accounted to him for the extraordinary cir cumstance of Mr. Adson's placing his daugh ter so far from home, that it was not so much on the account of preventing his keeping Ca roline's company (which might otherways have been prevented) as it was to place her where she would be in the way of having the cap tain's. He no longer permitted his imagina tion to dwell upon those charms and virtues which were once the theme of his wakeful dreams and hopes of happiness. He magni fied the difficulties that might arise from their prejudices of education, which would be likely to lurk with them through life. And when he felt well enough, would spend much time in pleasant and facetious chat with Penelope, and so much did her kindness and open heart ed disposition win upon him, that he would .sometimes entertain a hope that in time his af fections might witness a bona fida transfer ; but the idea yet would scarcely yield him plea sure : and the image of Caroline, more perfect than Penelope could represent her, would fre quently recur to his imagination. And Pe nelope not doubting but that Edgar and Caro line were irrevocably attached to each other, ADSONVILLE. 169 would often introduce her to his remembrance, boasting of her acquaintance and intimacy with her, which contributed to demolish the ibrti- iications which he erected in his mind as fast as he could build them. He said but little in reply, only to rally her for praising herself, as they were so much alike. Whenever Pe nelope called Caroline handsome, he would ask if she did not look much like herself? Thinking it a favourable time, however, to find out something more to confirm himself in the certainty of his fate being decided, at one time, when his cousin, as he called Pene lope, again rallying him to raise his spirits, as she said, about Caroline, he replied; " you know a great deal about Caroline, dost thou know any thing about Captain W y ? hast thou never seen him at the school ? At this Penelope blushed, and dropped her head, and without making any answer, cast a glance at her mother, to see if she noticed it ; which she did, and without manifesting much pleas ure on the subject. It is scarcely necessary to add, that he interpreted this in such a way as to leave himself in the belief that they were acquainted with the Captain and Caroline's intimacy ; but wished to keep it from him. Penelope final!; got rid of the question by saying, " the Doctor says I talk too much to thee." He eaid he was willing she should say no more to him on that subject ; but on any other she could not say too much. la -this he was very sincere, as he was now more than ever convinced that all his conclusions were well grounded ; otherwise, why did she 15 170 AD90NV1JLLE. answer him, without hesitation, in the nega tive. Penelope knowing that it was the custom sit the school occasionally to indulge the schol ars from a distance, who had no relatives near, with a ride, had interceded with the mistress, and obtained her consent that a par ty of this kind should be formed, of whom Caroline should be one, to call upon her be fore her return, with the view of bringing Edgar and Caroline together, as soon as he had so far recovered as to render it prudent ; ha ving no doubt of a mutual attachment subsist ing between them, although neither had given fcer direct information of it. Caroline heard every day of Edgar's gradual recovery, and laving no doubt that he would call upon her the moment he was able, and seeing an inter view could not be avoided, concluded it might Uke place at Plain Ville with as little embar rassment as at school ; and accordingly, when the mistress proposed the ride to her, without designating where, although Caroline suspee ted from hints she had received from Pencl- pe, yet she accepted the offer. Her late anxiety 'on Edgar's account, had half convin ced her of the deep interest she felt in his existence, and although she was unwilling to confess to herself, that this interest ex tended beyond respect and friendship ; and half persuaded herself, that it would give her real pleasure to hear of his being agreeably married to any person worthy of him ; yet the interview she dreaded, and at the same mo- desired she felt anxiotts to {>rofes$ to ADSON\ r lLL. 171 him her happiness in his recovery, yet feared she should strengthen that dangerous plant in hoth their hearts, which might yet have to be eradicated by the roots. If she had not put on the most favorable constructions upon her own case, she would have foolishly yielded the point that she was in love, and then like a hypocondriacal patient, would have become subject to all the torments of its reality. Her spirits had been a perfect thermometer, which varied according to the prospects of the ter mination of his disorder : although she avoided too much reflection on a subject so dangerous to her peace, by occupying the hours not de voted to study, in some other innocent and di verting employment, particularly in attending to a numerous collection of flower- pots, and in selecting and gathering from the garden such seeds and roots, as she thought would be an addition or improvement to her own. In this employment she took great delight, and pas sed most of the time in tolerable serenity; yet it was impossible for her at times to avoid a review of her acquaintance with Edgar, and the present state of it. Circumstances were Hot wanting to convince her of his attachment to her, and tfut he actually had, according to the promise he had made in his letter, come more than three ha ndred miles on her account. This preference from hira she considered an honor, and on the score of gratitude, was not inclined to indifference, but felt as if she could not be happier herself than in promoting his happiness, and finally, that her heart was more his than she ever intended it should be anv 172 ADSONVILLE, man's, but that marriage, should he propose it.* of which she could not doubt, was impossible ; not only on the account of the repugnance of her father to it, but also because Edgar be longed to a society that she highly respected, whose rules forbid the proceeding on his *7art on pain of excommunication ; which conse quence she was unwilling to have such ;\n im portant agency in; nor could her high sense of honor be brought to brook the idea of going into a family where her introduction would be considered a misfortune ; such a humiliation she felt if she should submit to, she should be unworthy of Edgar, for whom she held the most exalted esteem as a man of both talent and sensibility, as well as possessing every man ly grace and accomplishment. These reflec tions almost shook the fabric of admiration, which had lately been raised in her mind in favor of the society, and but for this she could not have been persuaded that any regulation of their police could have interfered with the ra tional happiness of any of its members, "in any possible case ; but now, if Edgar's happiness, as he had assured her, depended on an union with her, every door to it was barred by hon or or principle. If even, said she mentally, I am as- firm in the belief of their principles as is Edgar, still no allowance can be made; he must be stigmatised by excotnm nication, or what is worse, by sending a hollow hearted ac knowledgment of what he hud deliberately per formed, which if hypocritical is wicked and dis graceful; if sincere is a thousand twnes worse : she who would consent to be a party in such a ADSONV1LLE. 173 proceeding must be lost to every fear but tbat of celibacy; and if to obviate the difficulty, as I am informed is sometimes the case, I sliould request to be received a member, such indeli cacy and double dealing would meet its meri ted reward, contempt from every member, wllbse good opinion was worth preserving. Thus Caroline reasoned, and whether right or wrong, it had the effect to destroy in her mind all probability of a matrimonial connex ion with him; and like Edgar she was compel led to fortify her mind for what would* in de fiance of her fancied disinterestedness, appear a rugged path ; she thought if she could now see him married to his satisfaction, wheretione of these impediments were in the way, it would yield her the highest satisfaction ; and the re collection that she had ever inspired him with a partiality, would compensate to her for the loss of its legitimate advantages. The time fixed upon for the proposed ride had not been disclosed to Caroline ; but on the last day of the week, as she had closed her ftook, and was observing the animation with which many of the scholars were preparing to go home, and return on the commencement of the succeeding week, her kind mistress re peated the proposal she had spoken of, " to ride to a friends' house for the afternoon ;" Caroline asked where? to which the mistress replied, with a smile, that they could make no long stay at any place. Caroline replied firmly, " I will go, if you please." The scholars, who accompanied Caroline, could not account for the thoughtfulness, and the inat- 15* 174 ADSONVILLE. tention to passing objects which she manifest ed on the way : her mistress was better able to assign a reason for it, and judged that Caro line understood where they were going, and that the visit was of more importance than she would be willing to acknowledge. Penelope was prepared for their reception. She had waited upon Edgar so long, and with so much affection, and he had, 'for reasons al ready given, chatted with her with such iree- dom, that she regarded him on his recovery with as much pride and pleasure, as she had but a few years before her doll, and talked to him with as little ceremony. She had on this occasion insisted OH having him dressed in his best clothes, with his cravat and every thing in style, in order, as she said, to shew her cousin to the best advantage to her school* mates. He wnlked several times across the room, with her assistance, which was render ed with so much innocent freedom and cheer fulness, that it greatly endeared her to him, and raised his spirits under the weight of the idea of losing Caroline. She had given him to understand that her mistress, with some of the scholars, were coming to se^ him, and he calmly waited the event; doubting whether Caroline would be induced, if permitted, to accompany them : but when they arrived, Penelope informed him she had come, and that she would intro duce her alone after the others had been in. She then entered with half a dozen young la dies, holding each other by the hands, and ac companied by their mistress, who successi A.BSONV1LLE. 175 congratulated him on his recovery. He was pleased with their enlivening appearance, and smilingly thanked them for their goodness. They then took their leave, and strung out of the room, and from thence to the orchard, which gave Penelope an opportunity to lead in Caroline. She entered without her bon net, arid virrssrd vvith more than ordinary care. Edgar was lying on the outside of the bed, with his head raised : as their eyes met, he smiled and called her name, and she, in return, faintly articulated his. Penelope pointed her to a chair at the head of his bed, and retired. py ; and for me ADSONV1LLE. 17? it. If you prefer another to me, only say it.'* To this she was determined to answer distinct* ly ; bat the last words were uttered with so much difficulty, that she took the handker chief from her face to discover if his exertioa and agitation had not overcome him ; she per ceived him with his eyes closing, and his head falling helplessly on its side. Her alarm re stored her to the exertion, which in some ca ses it would have deprived her of; she in stantly, attempted to loosen his cravat, crying, 66 0, my dear Edgar, you are dying !" she meant to have said fainting. He opened his eyes, and seeing her bent over him in the at titude of affection, attempted to smile, but it was too late to arrest his fainting : with tremu lous haste she loosened his cravat, and tore open his vest, then seized a tumbler of water, but turning to apply it to his face, and seeing him lay to all appearance dead, she had not courage to dash it in his face, but dismissed it, without actually letting it fall, and flew to call for assistance ; but in her trepidation, unhap pily took the wrong door, and finding she was lost, sunk down herself into a swoon. In the mean time, Pern-lope, thinking the audience had been protracted as long as would be for the health of her patient, entered the room, and at the first, glance discovered that Car oline was gone, and then that Edgar appear ed wakening from slfep, with his cravat loose about his neck, and his vest unbuttoned, she asked him where Caroline was ; but he knew nothing of the subject, nor hardly noti ced the question. Penelope had been out with 178 her schoolmates, and did not know but that Caroline had gone out into the room where the family were, and from thence out of doors ; she, therefore, flew in, and asked the mistress if Caroline had come out, and being answered in the negative ; she cried with astonishment, " where then is she?" and ran back. This brought her mother and the mistress after her, all of whom, with consternation in their coun tenances, asked each other where she could be. Edgar had now so far recovered, as t* discover their confusion, and that Caroline was missing, or that something had befallen her, he enquired where she was ; but not receiring any answer, he pitched off the bed and made for the door : whilst to prevent it, they all sur rounded him. Caroline, who had inadvertently shut the door after her, having recovered, and hearing them entreating Edgar to be pacified, now entered, and coming up behind him, took hold of his arm. " Here," said Penelope, ff here, cousin Edgar, is Caroline." 1 He turn- ed, and falling towards her, clasped ner in his arms, whilst he, from her recent misfortune, scarcely able to sustain her own weight, sunk under the addition of his, and the carpet, by receiving them both, fortunately kept them from coming to the floor. After it was discovered that no serious acci dent had attended their mutual descent, it had the agreeable effect of banishing from Caroline, at the same time that it restored the colour to her cheeks, that distressing and indescribable sensation which deprives the tongue of utter- ance j and although she had no opportunity ADSONVILLE,. 179 of speaking to him alone, yet she endeavored to convine him of her tender feelings towards him by attention, and pleasure in her counte nance, which, but for this purpose, she would, before company, chose to have avoided. Pe nelope said she had calculated on some the atrical scene between them when they met, and she was now fully satisfied ; indeed, such was the effect upon the whole company, that until their departure, no two who were in the room could look each other in the face and maintain their gravity. When Caroline took her leave, she said in a low voice, that her happiness depended on nothing so much as his perfect recovery. '* What does the sweet tormentor mean by that?" said he, as he was left alone, whilst the visitors were attended to the carriage. ' When I supplicated an answer to my suit, in the most humble terms, not a word could I get ; but now she has volunteered something, which must be, from the manner in which it was given, more than a compliment, that will be sufficient to keep me on the rack a month longer. ?? But the most rational construction he could affix to it, was that* although she could not give him her heart, yet she wanted to do every thing else which would compen sate for it, or answer as a substitute. Edgar's health improved so fast that he was soon able to walk out, and make observations n the place of his nativity, and where he had spent the days of his early childhood. Some of the most remarkable features of it were faintly >TI pressed en his memory, but the most part 180 ADSONVTLLE. was entirely new. The village was almost se cluded, both from the view and corruption of the rest of the world; the prospect not extend ing over two miles in any direction before it rested on the surrounding hills, or became elevated to the blue horizon or fleecy clouds : the white fronts of dwellings, in retired situ ations, smiled through close rows of poplar;s and locusts, whose tall branches whispered peace in every breeze, and now began to ena mel the yards with their autumnal tribute of yellow foliage. The easy countenances and cheerful demeanor of all he met, convinced him that some more than ordinary cause con tributed to the happiness of this favored spot. The inhabitants were generally connected ei ther by blood or marriage, and being mostly Friends, lawsuits have never been suffered to sow the seeds of lasting enmity ; nor tav erns and alehouses to corrupt the youth, nor tempt the weakness of age to rob the afflicted wife of the company and affection of her hus band ; or the hungry and naked child of the labor and support of its father. A drunken man in the streets would cause as much alarm, as the escape of a desperate maniac, or a wild beast of the forest. No midnight revelries disturb the rest of the spheres : no delicate young lady is heard, at the break of day, coughing and knocking at the servant's door, to be admitted from the ball. Yet at the close of day might often be seen platoons of young parties sitting in the piazzas, walking down some shaded avenue, or standing on some re tired eminence, which overlooked a dell be- ADSONV1LLE. 181 low, perhaps to admire the artificial elevation ajid windings of a rivulet along the grassy feanks, from whence to dispense its variegating streams over the sloping meadows, or to carve their names, or that of an absent friend, on the bark of a wild poplar, to spread with the growth of every successive year, and some times, alas, to remain as mementos of those who were absent, never more to return ; or^ perhaps, they contemplate from this distance the peaceful appearance of their respective homes, or the luxuriant fields of grain, or dis tant pastures, where the scattered flocks of sheep resemble white specks on the sides of the hills, or to watch the descending curtain of falling eve. Yet these are not their most social parties; successively they invite each other to assemble for the purpose of preparing apples and peaches for preserves, by paring and dissecting them into quarters and remo ving the seeds. On these occasions may be seen a room filled with baskets of fruit, each surrounded by a circle of youth and beauty j where jokes ?r songs, stories, hints and charges of attachment succeed each other, sometimes producing blushes that vie with the red streak in deepness. After the task is performed, and the baskets removed, plays of forfeit are intro duced, where the swain, condemned to kiss all the girls present, submits to the penalty with pleasure, in order to come at the one^he loves. Huskings are a very common entertainment in autumn in the vicinity of this place, but the good people of Plainville do not patronize 16 182 ADSONVILLE. them, considering them as endangering the health, by exposure to night air ; and their morals, from the practice of taking spirituous liquors, and opening a door to the attendance of other night and popular diversions, from the love of company first contracted at these places. To those who are unacquainted with the term husking, the following description may give some faint idea : which is, to sepa rate the ears of Indian corn from their invelope of husks. The corn being severed from the ground, is drawn into a yard near the barn or crib, and laid in a large winrow, several rods long, and in a semicircle, so that the hus- kers are placed on the outer side, where they sit and throw their husks over their heads, and their ears forward over the heap. From sun-down until after twilight, the com pany are successively assembling ; and is com posed of men and boys, of all ages : the young bucks do not now appear in their Sunday bests, but en the contrary, take a pride in wearing tn old great coat, with perhaps their father's cast-off broad brimmed slouched hat; arid thus arrayed, they advance sedately, and take their stand or seat, as they choose, and maintain a pertinacious silence, whilst those who are there before them, at every new comer, ex pecting their particular comrades, lean for wards and backwards, out of the line, and peak and squint to discover who he is, and thus continue until they are successful, when he throws off further reserve, and enters into the general conviviality, if it may be called general, where the long line is formed into sociable sec- ADSONVILLE. 183 tions, each consisting of as many as can hear, and take a part in the discourse, which, in its subject, varies according to the taste of the one who gives the lead. At one end four or live men, who are past the age of frolic and fun, having the circulating medium of life a little accelerated in its motion by passing black Betty in her occasional round, derive the highest satisfaction by a retrospective enjoy ment, in recounting what scrapes they had been in together in time past; whilst the next club are gravely descanting the merits of their schoolmaster, and censuring his novel method of punishment, as not so rational as the simple birch ; or commending him and telling of the improvement of their children, or how many times they read around in the forenoon, and how many times in the afternoon, besides spel ling. If theology should chance to be chopt by them, it is always some hacknied subject, and seldom varies from the momentous ques tion of fore-ordination, or foreknowledge; the former of which they would find little diffi culty with, but for the interference of the latter. Further on, four or five youngsters have their heads as near together as circum stances will permit, and speak so low that no thing can be discovered of their discourse, further than that the girls are the subject of it. In the next group, half a dozen are urging the seventh to sing, ".The girl I left behind me," and just as he has coughed and expect orated, with the intention of complying with their request, a loud voice at the further ex tremity strikes up with, " There came to the 184 ADSONVILLE. beach/ 5 &c. At this, every individual in the whole lifte stops the rustling of the husks, or hunches his neighbor, who is speaking, to lis ten until they catch what tune is out, and then proceeding in their business, as many as can lay the most distant pretensions to being singers, join with it ; and although some are lamentably out of tune, by being too far in the rear, yet others are a whole stave ahead; whilst the rest, still more unlucky in having got a different tune, compensate for the mistake, by the loudness of their vi ices, which makes such a crossing of flats and sharps, rising and fall ing, that with the influence of the whiskey, with which they wet their whistles, the very stars appear to dance and keep tune in the blue expanse over their heads. After the husking is performed, two or three more, according to the number of stacks, of the most active required, take each a posi tion, whilst the others seize upon the stalks, and by armfulls hurl them upon the stackers, who struggle to keep above them, until they suddenly find themselves elevated to the top of a stack, and out of the reach of any further addition ; and the whole labor being now com pleted, wrestling, running, and other diver sions ensue, until they repair to the house, where, on a long table, at convenient distan ces, huge platters of hot pot-pye send their curling exhalations in smoky columns to the ceiling ; as these disappear, they are replen ished by two or three hale looking damsels, who with smiling countenances, and newh starched bibs and tuckers, sail around the room ADSONVILLE. 185 with all the celerity and velocity that the pre sence of so many beaux, never fail to inspire girls conscious of their charms, and the excel lence of their cookery. As this kind of food is dry, and calculated to excite thirst, numer- . ous white bowls are kept brimmed with well wrought, and sparkling cider, which are lifted to the lips as often as they apprehend the quantity of pot-pye introduced, may require moistening. After this course, the scattered bones of the legs, wings and breasts of turkeys, geese, and other fowls, are collected from the v sides of the plates, and the emptied platters removed, and in their places, others are brought containing huge quantities of pumpkin pie, cut in triangular pieces, and piled pyra- midically with their points inward, and gradu ated off at the top in the shape of a hay-stack, or Chinese bonnet. These are also demolished in their turn, after which the ceremony ends with hunting around the room after their re spective hats, and the company separate, not, however, until after proclamation is made where the next meeting of the kind is to be held. With the older part of society, a rational and moderate intercourse is kept up by giving and receiving visiting parties, without endea voring to extort homage from each other, by outshewing in furniture or luxuries, or insult ing them with sluttishness or indifference, which proceeds from the same corrupt source of pride ; but neatness, comfort, cheerfulness and rational converse, unmixed with backbi- tangs, aixd unsoured by political feuds or reli- 16* 186 ADSONVILLE. gious bigotry, crown all their entertainments. The most conspicuous of this society was the family of him v\ho officiated in the House of Prayer. They were the standard in relation to gaiety of dress and furniture ; to advance Beyond them would be considered an unpar donable deviation from plainness ; their house was always open for the entertainment of all respectable strangers, who should incline to make a stop in the village ; or for the travel ler who desired to sojourn but for the night. From them emanated the refinement and in formation conspicuous in their neighbors ; their library was kept well stored with books, cal culated to inculcate the principles of their so ciety, and general morality, to the exclu sion of works of imagination ; unless, indeed, that busy faculty, instead of being confined exclusively to novels and romances, should find its way into books written under a more impo sing and sanctified character. These books were always ready to be either loaned, be stowed, or sold, according Jto the condition or wish of the applicant. In the rear of the house of Edgar's rela tions, was an extensive apple orchard ; and this was the season when every breeze, *' Shook from the pendant boughs a mellow shower." The long and regular rows of trees, and pro fusion of rich fruit of various hues that cover ed the ground beneath them, with the pyra- midial piles of red arid yellow apples around the creaking cider-mill, filled the mind of Ed ADSONVILLE. i87 gar, as he wandered around with sensations partaking of novelty and pleasure, and opera ted to counteract the effect of the recollection of his absent friends ; and the fading appear ance of the variegated foliage of the forest, which filled his. mind with melancholy. The atmosphere was in that state so delightful to a reflecting mind, called Indian summer, or smo ky days, when the dazzling lustre of a clear sun is shielded and rendered mild and crimson colored by a pellucid haze, which occurs reg ularly in autumn after two or three severe frosts have set at liberty the humidity of such leaves and plants as are fatally affected by their influence. The orchard on the back side ter minated at the commencement of an extensive intervale, through which the Wappinger's creek passed, before he leads his course along the banks on which Caroline pursued her stu dies. Here, on either side, were to be seen some straggling and excessively tall hickory trees, which bore their only fruit far out of reach, excepting when agitated by the strong hand of Boreas, it fell white from the shell and covered the ground, like hail from the clouds of heaven. Here each fine morning with the rising sjjm he would inhale health and spirits, as he (D^med the privilege of accompanying Penelope, or relieving her from the task of collecting such nuts as had fallen the preced ing night, and here he often shook the dew drops from the thick hedge row, in climbing after festoons of wild grapes that hung in clus ters from the promiscuous windings of the ex tended vine. 188 ADSONVILLE. CHAPTER VL " So from the wide, extended round Of all religions, will be found One only Lord of light." ON his return from one of these walks he heard it announced that a preacher of the so ciety, and a stranger, had made an appointment at the meeting-house for the afternoon ; the news is speedily communicated through the village ; and although the messenger carries no lighted torch ; yet it is much like the man ner that Scott describes theHighlander's sum mons to war, and is attended too with equal punctuality ; no secular concern being consid ered a sufficient excuse for absence. At the time appointed he walked towards the place @f worship ; its very situation was calculated to inspire that kind of silent adora^pii, so much the practice of the congregation who assembled in it. It was on a retired eminence, surrounded and secluded by trees and shrub bery of natural growth, which whispered in the breeze over the graves of the silent prede cessors of the village, and hushed every unruly and sordid passion, before the devotee reached ADSONVILLE. 189 the sacred threshold. Here no knotty points of theology are rendered more puzzling? by inef fectual^ ttempts at disentanglement : no theatri cal displays of eloquence, or concerts of instru mental or vocal music, to entertain the head or gratify the senses ; but the object is, by retiring from the world and its cares, and in a manner from themselves, to give time for such reflec tion as shall mend the heart : nothing is in sisted upon from the pulpit, but to give place and attention to that light which, as Hudibrass says, " like a lanthorn they are within us ;" and to inculcate the necessity of preserving those testimonies inviolate, which have been handed down from their predecessors, and in culcating the doctrine of sobriety, peace, and brotherly kindness. As the assembling worshippers gathered around the entrance, a carriage drove up> which, from a whisper amongst some young men near him, Edgar understood had come from the school. Four or five young ladies issued out, and darted directly into the house; but not without his perceiving who one of them was. This was not their ordinary place of worship ; but they had come on ae- count of the appointment having been made by a stranger of eminence, and Caroline, whose curiosity had become greatly excited to be come acquainted with the society, attended with them at her request. During the silence which always precedes the service in those meetings, Edgar appeared thoughtful as if in silent prayer; nor did he ap pear much interested in the commencement of 190 ADSONV1LLE. the discourse, wherein the preacher attempt ed to point out the mistakes which people made in regard to religion, from wher.ce arose all the evils which are, by scepticism, charged to the account of religion. " Religion," says he, " is something which reduces all mankind to one level ; in this all are equally concerned. The king on his throne has hut one immortal soul, and the beggar on the dung- hi 11 has one equally dear, equally valuable in the Divine sight, and equally an object of his paternal regard, and hence his mercy and the offers of his salvation are universal ; he has constituted man with a will and understanding of his own ; a free agent, with the privilege and power of choosing for himself; therefore he cannot, con sistently with man's constitution, force salva tion upon him : universal mercy d"es not require it : but universal justice does re quire that the means of salvation be extended to all. If salvation depend upon the choice of the subject, it must in some shape or other be presented to him before he can exercise that choice : and this is that light, which St. John says, lighteth every man that cometh in to the word, and no man ever stands condem ned but for the rejection of this light; they may reject every thing else, but the rejection of this light alone is what brings condemna tion ; for this is the condemnation of the world, that light has come into the world, but men choose darkness rather than light, &c. This light is that which preaches the gospel to every creature under heaven. In what other possi ble sense can the gospel be said to be preach- ADSONVILLE. 191 cd to every (rational) creature under heaven, but by a universal principle of light, which as John says, lighteth every man that cometh into the world. This light is the new cove nant that was promised in the latter days, that should be written on the heart, fend printed in the inward part : and every man can bear wit ness to the fulfilment of the promise; for there is not a man under heaven, but feels and knows the operation of this principle. It speaks one language, it is the same in China as in Amer ica. It condemns a man for doing what he thinks is wrong. It is strictly consistent in condemning a Jew or Mahometan for eating pork, whilst it will exonerate a Christian for the same ; because the first do that which they think is wrong, which always pro ceeds from a corrupt principle : the man who does a thing he thinks is wrong, acts from a corrupt principle, although the thing L G in itself innocent ; and so vice versa, any ma? doing a thing which he believes is right, dot certainly as regards him right. Angels coulf do no more, and this principle, true to its of fice, justifies him for it. Thus is the mercy, goodness, and justice of Providence manifest, m that he judges man by his spirit, according to that measure of light which they have, and not that which they have not. This is the religion I call you to embrace, a religion which needs not the aid of laborious study to understand, nor sophistry to prove, there is m every man a witness for it ; this is a reli gion which none denies 5 they may dispute what it is, may call it education, conscience 192 ADSONVILLE. or whatever ; but they will acknowledge that all are condemned for doing that which they believe wrong, and justified for doing that they believe right; this very circumstance proves that it is of perfect origin, for the most perfect justice will take the same ground. This makes the Christians in our land doubly accountable for the blessings which they en joy of Christian instruction, and the light of the scriptures ; and it places the distant realms, where it has not pleased Providence yet to introduce them, on a scale of accounta bility, consistent with the light received ; and this is strictly and rationally consistent with the nature of heaven, which consists in right eousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. Heaven is a state, as much as a place ; it is that happy feeling, which always clothes the mind, after having done that which we believe is right and hell also is as much a state, as place ; it is a horrible consciousness of having done that which we know is wrong ; and a wounded spirit, who can bear ? We must expect to enter here into a commencement of that state which is to be eternal we must not limit, nor locate our ideas, in regard to spi rit, nor remain in the childish idea that heaven is a place, located far above the clouds : and hell below the earth : this idea has ari sen from the fact, that virtue and goodness exalts or raises its votary, whilst vice and wick edness sinks and lowers it. And here we see how this will effectually remove all persecution, and all sectarianism ; for we have only to re-, commend men to do that which appears to ADSONVILLE. 193 them to be right. We have no right to judge of what is right for them : all men are born equal in a religious as well as a political sense ? and no man nor church has^a right to judge an individual in regard to his faith towards his Ma ker, to whom every one of us are individually accountable, and to whom none of us can an swer for others. The soul the Creator has re served to himself; it cannot be governed nor compelled by all the powers of man ; fire and sword have been used in vain ; the body may be destroyed, but the mind cannot be forced, where it is disposed to remain faithful. The body or the moral conduct alone becomes cog nizable to man when it interferes with the rights and privileges of others. I may be a Quaker, another may be a Presbyterian, and another a Baptist, or Universalist ; yet if all act in strict obedience to what they believe right, they feel justified and not condemned : and if our hearts condemn us, God who is greater will condemn us also; and so also we have good reason to conclude that if our hearts or consciences condemn us not, neither will he. This is our doctrine of believing in the teaching of the Spirit or revelation : we place religion in obedience to known duty ; it cannot consist in duties unknown, it cannot consist in mere dogmas of faith or belief. If is a mistaken idea, that we place religion in such trifles as a peculiar phraseology, or cut or colour of our garments ; there is no more religion in a straight coat than in one ever so crooked, but we believe that neither religion, feason, nor philosophy, all which must harmo- 17 194 ADSONVILLE. nize, will condemn the idea of not being confor med to all the changeable fashions of the world, in which the lightest and most frivolous minds always excel and lead. In the formation of our discipline, it never wtxs imagined that it would be a subject that would a fleet the men, but the female part of the family, the weaker vessels, who are naturally fond of feathers and trifles. Caroline had been all attention, but on hear ing this she turned her expressive eyes around on the female part of the audience, but not discovering any marks of surprise or indigna tion in the sober countenances of the sisters. she concluded that the fault must be in her self : but when he proceeded to enquire of the men, if one cape was not as good as four or five, and if all over one were not added on account of pride, she again listened with more respect. He said that because plain clothes were put on by dishonest men to deceive, it did not militate at all against the propriety of plainness ; for that sheep's clothing was, in it self, good, even though on a wolf's back. In addressing the members of the society spe cially, he stated that a departure from plain ness lead to a more important evil, that of go ing out in marriage. He depicted the in conveniences likely to accrue from what he called mixed marriages. "Marriage," said he, " implies union not only of hands, but hearts, in the pursuit of the same object. With mutual happiness in view, they must become emphatically one flesh, deriving satisfaction and happiness from ADSONV1LLE. 195 the same objects, and participating in, and thus lightening, such afflictions as shall fall to their lot. Where there is not this unity of heart, they cannot be said to be married, but chain ed to each other, like Prometheus to the rock, with a vulture feeding upon his vitals. Instead of harmoniously drawing together in the yoke, one pulls one way and one the contrary; how much better would it be for both, at least in this world, if neither of them had any reli gion at all; and how is the evil aggravated when they come to be blessed with children : if a blessing that is under such circumstances, attached by nature to both parents, but com pelled by their disagreement to decide be tween them, and condemn the counsel of ei ther the one or the other. Caroline's eyes were fixed upon the preach er, with reference to herself and Edgar : but as this was going farther into consequen ces than she expected, she turned her eyes hastily around, to see if any one noticed her attention ; they met Edgar's with a smile on his countenance, which indicated that whilst she had attended to the preacher, he had been equally concerned to mark the effect his dis course had upon one of his hearers ; she in stantly held down her head, arid remained in thot position during the sermon, excepting when in the application the preacher earnest ly pressed it upon his young friends, to guard their imagination, and every avenue of the heart, to prevent their affections from being ensnared where such consequences would be Jikely.to ensue. She HI her turn had the^curi- 196 ADSONVILLE. osity to observe (perhaps from interested mo tives) what impression it made upon him, but she observed him regarding the Friend with a composed look, that plainly manifested that he was neither afraid to look at the subject, nor yet to be moved by it without sufficient reasons. He had, in fact, the most perfect unity with it, as far as it turned upon a dif ference in religious sentiments, which are not always defined by the boundaries of societies. After this speaker had ended his discourse, another rose, and treated this subject with more plainness, but less delicacy, referring to the idolatrous consequences which accrued to the Israelites from their taking wives of the inhabitants of the land, applying those scrip tures; " Be not unequally yoked with unbe lievers what fellowship hath Christ with Be lial, light with darkness?" &c. Happily his discourse was too broad to be long, and imme diately on his setting down the meeting con cluded. Edgar met Caroline at the door, and took her hand and held it until he had assisted her into the carriage. She expressed the pleasure it gave her to see him so well as to be out, and entreated him to avoid every thing likely to produce a relapse. He said, if he could believe she was really interested in his reco very, it would be to him an object worth at tending to. He, smilingly, asked her how she liked the discourse, and she answered em phatically, u Well ! and wo will betide you if you forget it.*' The coachman was on the box, and the other passengers seated and AQSONVILLE. 197 waiting with polite impatience, for Edgar to release his fair captive, that they might pro ceed, which he discovering, handed her in> and fastening the door, away went once more alibis earthly treasure, like a bird that had slipped from his hand into the wide world.) The young men of the village, with whom he had become acquainted, pressed around him to know something of the beautiful scholar, with whom he appeared to be on such agree able terms. Notwithstanding Edgar improved every op portunity of speaking with Caroline, and still indulged a secret hope that his fortitude had not in this case altogether des.erted him, and that the tables might yet turn more favorable to his wishes ; yet since, and during his reco very, he exerted all his fortitude and philoso phy to conquer or tame the wildness of his passion; to resolve never to see her again, was a step which if he found absolutely necessary, he was resolved should be the last resorted to. All he was by this discipline able to attain to, was to contemplate losing the object of his af fection, without absolute resignation to despair. He could not bear the thought, much less de rive satisfaction from it, that time would ef face her beloved image from his memory, or another supplant her in his affections : sepa rated from his home and business, as he was now, he found his imagination was too much at leisure to renounce the object which afford ed so much scope for the exercise of its aetiv* ity. .17* 198 ADSONV1LLE. On his way from the meeting he determined to procure on the next day a final and deci sive interview with Caroline, and in the event of its sealing with black his prospects in re gard to her, to proceed hastily home and anni hilate himself and her image, in application to business and the company of bachelors. He had been invited to dine and spend the afternoon at the minister's, where the stran ger was also to be, but from his musing hu mor, he did not arrive until all the other com pany invited had entered. After his over- coat was disposed of on the bannisters in the hall. he was introduced into the common parlour : this introduction did not much disturb the company, which consisted of the stranger and his com panion, and several of the most elderly and zealous ot the professors belonging to that Electing : they were engaged in conversation on, and condemning the practice of reading newspapers ; whilst the reverend host, hav ing just received one wet from the press, sat with one foot on the screen, composedly open ing, turning, and extracting all the contents of it, with a slight smile on his countenance, at the superstitious prejudice of his friends, which, as he did not like openly to comlct, he partly affected not to attend to. When they were invited to walk in to dinner, Edgar was surprised to find that he had yet seen but half of the company, and in the hall through which they passed, stood, turned to one side, a coKipany of young people, who were bhang- ing rooms with the older, in order to dine at ADSONVILLE. 199 ' the second table ; and among these he discov ered the company from the school : he would have preferred and insisted on returning to the room with them, hut this was not permit ted to either him or Caroline. He must dine at the first on account of his being a conva lescent, and she, because all felt interested in- her having the company of the public Friends, as they properly enough considered her, a young person of distinguished accomplish ments, who had her eye towards the Society. She was waited upon with the most distin guished attention by the elegant mistress of the house, whose urbanity a*d indefatigable politeness, appeared to impose it upon her as an indispensable duty to smile upon every in dividual in the company, and speak to them in the most obliging accents, thus to spread, like a fairy mantle over the whole company, that cheerfulness and bland humour, which is not so much from natural disposition, as from mental discipline, and the rigid and constant practice of the rules of politeness ; Caroline was astonished at the profusion and luxury exhibited before her by a people whom she had hitherto supposed adhered in all cases to the strictest rules of temperance and plain ness. ' he floor was covered with a variegated, although home manufactured carpet, with a fine figured rug before the hearth : splendid maps were suspended on the walls, and the company were seated in fancy chairs, orna mented with landscape paintings. 200 ADSONV1LLE. One of the Friends, seated by Caroline, in An agreeable way, suggested to her that the manners and conversation of the company she now associated with, must appear singular to her, as she had been educated in a different manner, and unacquainted with Friends. Caroline felt embarrassed at being left under the necessity of replying, and thereby putting herself in the way of taking a part in the con versation, as she wished to remain a silent but watchful listener to the others, who had formed in the spacious room several little in sulated circles, engaged on such topics as had respectively occurred to their attention. At hearing a conversation opened with the one, not a Friend, they generally separated their heads, which, to prevent disturbing their neighbours, had been neared together in their social chit chat, straightened themselves up. and appeared to listen respectfully, without wishing to put to too great a trial her confi dence. Caroline replied to the Friend, that the no velty of her present society was nothing to what she should have expected from her for mer slight acquaintance with Friends. I am every day finding out something new of your practices and principles, and the more I find out of them, the better I like them ; but there are, I confess, some things which I can not discover the consistency of, although the fault may probably be in myself. " And what are they?" replied the sister, at the same time rising up, and urging the stranger or travel ling Eriend to take her place 5 wbieb after ADSONV1LLE. 201 some smiling hints and whispers was complied with. " What are those inconsistencies, child ?'"'* said the Friend, witli a benignant and hum ble manner: (i we know that we are far from perfection, although we hold the possibility of attaining to it, to stimulate us to press af ter it " Caroline. Pardon me, sir, I did not say they were inconsistencies ; I only said they looked so te me. I had reference to what you call plainness, which appears to me to be hut sectional prejudice, as what is allowed of here by the Society, I am sure would not be suffered at the Northward ; and since I hare been at the school, I have understood that there is a meeting of Quakers in France, who are purely such in principle, but whose dress is not marked by any peculiarity from that of their neighbors. Friend. Thou heardst the observations I was lead to make to day in my communication. The peculiar cut of the coat which we wear, was not invented by us as a badge of our own ; it was the common mode in vogue, when we became distinct as a Society, and not thinking it proper to change with every fashion of the world we retain it still. Caroline. I have no doubt that is the way your fashion originated. I have observed even so late as General Hamilton, that he is painted with such a vest as you have on, with skirts to it, and lids over the pockets : but I cannot see any propriety in neglecting im provements that may be made in dress ; any ABSONVILLEi more than in any other article of use ; and 1 think it must be evident, that a double breast ed coat and waistcoat are certainly better adap ted to the use they are intended for, although I admit, and fully believe that the single or straight ones, in the way they are worn by the young Friends are much the neatest and pret tiest. Friend. " Yes/* looking around on the young company, and checking a raised voice. " yes, I think a plain coat is certainly the neatest." Caroline. But if you admit of one thing, or prefer it on account of its beauty, instead of convenience, you must allow the same prin ciple to go clear through : if you do one thing simply to please the eye, you may another. Unless the expense is disproportionate. Friend. We ought not to do any thing merely to gratify the lust of the eye. Caroline. True, but we ought to do as much for the ease and comfort of the eye, as any other part of the body, and more as it is more susceptible ; it is as painful to the eye to rest on disagreeable objects, as it is to the feet to stand on rough places, and those that can conveniently be removed in both cases, it is reasonable should be done. How much na ture has done to delight the eye, and through that relieve the mind from care. See the ve getable and animal kingdom, and particularly the feathered race, how endlessly variegated; how splendidly and minutely beautiful their plumage, which sets at defiance all human to attempt to copy them in their bright ADSONVILLE. 203 est hues. When for our pleasure the Creator has condescended tfeus to clothe creation, shall we endeavour to reverse the order which he has established ; and because he has left us to dress ourselves, shall we attempt to set him a pattern, and instead of clothing ourselves so as to assist ever so triflingly in buoying up the mind in cheerfulness, hang ourselves in such garments as are unavoidably associated with the idea of penance and austerity; old age and gloom of mind will come soon enough of them selves. Friend. Thou art taking in much ground with the subject. I can only observe to it that Providence has seen meet for purposes of his own, perhaps, to give us a faint idea of his power and attention throughout all the minu tiae of nature, to adorn and enamel his crea tion in matchless variety and beauty : yet he has given to us a more important care than imitating inferior creatures, whose only excel lence consists in the tints of their plumage, which are to exist perhaps but for a summer, r at most but for a few. We are here but in a state of preparation to be clothed upon \vith ur house from heaven ; we are rational be ings designed for immortality : when we shine it must not be with perishable ornaments, but with gold tried seven times in the fire, the lustre of which cannot be soiled by the lapse of eternal ages. Our great Pattern wore a gar ment without a seam : he did not endeavor lo buoy up his spirits by the brightness of colors or ornaments, although he condemned *he wide borders of the garments and broad 204 AB80NV1LLE. phylacteries of high professing hypocrites. Perhaps the outward creation is so ornamented and beautified, in order to shew how transi tory such beauty is. The grass withereth and the flower fadeth, &c. Caroline. Y our arguments, sir, have great weight with me ; but when I apply them to myself, they do not seem to fit me. The ven erable and worshipful Pattern you have in troduced, made his appearance in a humbled state ; all the beauty of nature was his ; but he fashioned himself as a servant. As res pects myself, and probably it is so with many others, I verily believe that humility prompts me to dress as much as pride. When I think the least of myself, and the most of the com pany I am going amongst, 1 am most careful to endeavor to render myself more tolerable by dressing ; but on the contrary, if I think I am going into company that I am fully at par with, (though I confess this occurs bur seldom) I think I will not put myself to much trouble. One of the company. Then I think thou hast much honored us by those curls and combs in thy hair. Caroline. Why, it did not cost me so much time to make them, as it did my mistress there to clear-starch her plain cap, and there is muslin and flour which might have been put to other uses : but 1 do not wish you to press me farther in the argument. What I have said has been to obtain light from you ; I am as much in favour of plainness as you are, or rather as much opposed to affectation ADSONVILLE. 205 pride in dress, only my views of moderation are not circumscribed to any peculiar mode, but capable of being applied to any, excepting where the first step is an excess. Friend. I like that idea ; I believe it may be said of us as Paul said to the Greeks : "I see that in many things ye are too supersti tious." To say we must do nothing to please the eye would draw a line that none of us would be willing to walk by ; and on the con trary to attempt to rival the lily or that Ca nary bird, would be still farther removed from possibility. I know of no better rule than to adhere in this, as in all other cases, strictly to our fundamental principle of keeping peace in our own minds. The company in listening to this discourse had become silent and seriously attentive, and when the Friend ended his last reply, Caro line thinking she had lengthened out the de bate, and attracted full as much attention up on herself as was agreeable to her modesty, remained silent, as did all the rest. She per ceived that several had dropped their heads on their hands or breasts, and after some min utes spent in this way, the Friend who sat by her kneeled ; she arose upon her feet with the others, and he made a long and impressive address to the throne of Mercy, commencing in a low and deliberate voice, and increasing in rapidity and loudness, as his feelings became more enlisted in his exercise ; and at last when he interceded for the preservation, and right direction in all things, of the preciously visited young woman who was present with 18 206 ADSONVILLE. them, and far removed from her near and dear relations, and that she might be permitted in due time to return to them, not only without any afflicting stroke of Providence to mar the happiness of their meeting, but that she might, like the little captive Syrian maid, carry to her father and to her mother the message of " I would ye were with the Prophet which is in Israel :" The unexpectedness of such a petition i>n her behalf the solemn countenan ces of all present, and the affectingly earnest ness and sincerity of the venerable suppliant on his knees by her side, overcame her en deavors to maintain a strict firmness, and she liurst forth at once into tears and uncontrola- ble sobs, which were no easier stifled when he referred to the young man similarly situa ted, rendering thanks for his recovery from a sick bed and rolling pillow; and desiring that his future life might evince that as his sick ness was not unto death, it might be for the greater glory of GOD. After this, the sitting broke up, and the stranger passed around amongst the whole company, and shook each one by the hand, bidding them farewell. When he took Caro line's hand, she held her handkerchief to her face with the other, and being unable to re ply to his benediction, she courtesied and re turned his expressive grasp. Edgar stood at the further side of the room, and through his eyebrows regarded the scene in the calm light f moral philosophy; but not without feeling enough to lead her to the carriage in a serious mood, without speaking to herj she hastilv ADSONVILLE. 207 entered and seated herself out of his sight. He soon took leave of the family himself and returned to his uncle's, where, on meeting- Penelope, he informed her in a light and jo cose manner of all that had taken place. She chid him for his irreverence, and expressed a wish that it had as much effect upon him. He was not without reflections, which were of a more serious nature than he chose to mani fest; but he was puzzled to satisfy himself how much of the effect of such opportunities was to be ascribed to an artful play upon the passions, and what part was to be attributed to the special visitation of the spirit. Edgar informed Penelope that it was his intention to pay Caroline a visit on the next day, preparatory to his departure for home, and requested her company as a means of fa cilitating an interview : to this she freely con sented, but at the moment of their departure company arrived, which she could not feel herself at liberty to slight so far as to leave. He, therefore, rather than longer to postpone his painful suspense, resolved to proceed alone. His horse and chair having arrived from Albany, they were ordered ready, and immediately after dining he departed. The red and yellow leaved wood, composed chiefly of oak and chesnut, waved with melancholy and lonesome vibrations before the pressure of the autumnal winds; whilst the sun appear ed to hang powerless over the western horison. On an eminence, in a grazing field adjacent to the road, were assembled an innumerable con course of crows, on the ground, and perched 08 ADSONVILLfi. upon the stakes of the fence and bending mul lins, with one for a sentinel on the most eleva ted twig of a high tree : as they were evi dently in consultation, he stopped to observe their movements, and could discover carriers dispatched to different points, who pursued their course with the most undeviating direc tions until their undulating pinions were by distance lost to the eye in the blue and liquid expanse of ether ; before these started the air resounded with their uniform yells,which were immediately suspended on the departure of the messenger or spy : others apparently of the same character occasionally arrived from distant places, which would again occasion a general expression of sentiment, in which there appeared to be but little variety. On his arrival he was invited into the par lour, where the amiable Mistress paid to him the most marked attention on the account of his recent illness, and unconfirmed reco very, offering him a glass of wine, and desi ring him to permit her to procure him other- refreshment, which he cordially thanked her for, but denied benied being under any neces sity for. After some minutes spent in a fa miliar, though forced conversation, he ven tured to enquire after Caroline, saying that he wished to notify her of his intended departure for home, that she might if she chose improve the opportunity to write to her friends : to this the mistress replied that Caroline had just received letters from home, and that she thought probably such an opportunity as he offered might be acceptable 5 enquired when ADSONVILL13. 209 it would be probable he should start, and ad vised him not to let it be before he was suffi ciently recovered to endure the fatigue of the journey ; and also said she would advise Car oline of his kind offer, and that she would doubtless be prepared for it. Edgar began to imagine that she designedly evaded the neces sity of his seeing her, on the subject which he had before supposed would have led di rectly to an interview ; and before he had sa tisfied himself on the propriety of asking di rectly for such a favor, and whether it might not be an infringement of the established reg ulations of the school, an elegant young man bearing a modest insignia of military office, leisurely entered the room, and the Mistress asked Edgar F. if she should introduce to him Capt. W. The latter expressed much satis faction at seeing him, warmly congratulated him on his recovery; lamented that whilst their homes were so contiguous they had so long remained strangers, and concluded by ho ping that they might no longer continue so. He stated that he had come directly from Ad- sonville, that he had called upon Edgar's pa rents, being informed, said he, by Dr. Hum phry, that you were in these parts, and I have the satisfaction of informing you that they en joy good health; and finally said he had a packet of letters for him, the delivery of which he had intended should furnish him with an excuse for paying a visit to Plainville, which place was delightful to him on account of its association with the most pleasant part of his 18* 210 ADSONVILLE, life, having spent two or three years there at a private school. The frank and affable manner of the Cap tain immediately secured Edgar's favorable opinion, but it struck to his heart the dread ful conviction, that all his apprehensions and fears of him as a rival were better grounded than he had hoped. Hitherto his educational prejudice against military characters had cher ished in his mind the idea, that Caroline's sensibility and nice discernment would corres pond with his own sentiments ; but now at the very threshold of acquaintance, he per ceived that she might accept and admire him, and yet be all that he had ever conceived her to be. In releasing, as he supposed, the cer tainty of his incalculable loss, he endeavored to derive some satisfaction from the idea that she would still be happy, and possessed by one not unworthy of her affections or her in comparable perfections. As their conversation turned upon Adson- ville, the Captain suddenly said to the mis tress, "where is Caroline; she is interested in this chat, can't we have the pleasure of her company?" she replied she would immedi ately call her. This he politely endeavored to save her the trouble of, by offering to go him self ; but she said her presence was necessary in the school, and desired him to excuse her on that account. Edgar admired the ease with which he re quested Caroline's company, whilst to him it would have occasioned considerable embarrass ment 5 his jealous mind was not in the least at ADSONVILLE. a loss for reasons to ascribe it to, and which were no ways favorable to his hopes. After some minutes longer than it would have taken the Mistress to go to the school room, and for Caroline to return, the door slowly opened and the latter entered, without any other marks of embarrassment than a deep blush on her cheeks, which rendered her ap pearance more than ordinarily a most exquis itely finished model of all that in a female form, could be accounted lovely or beautiful. She accosted Edgar with increased colour, whilst the captain appeared slily to watch with a faint smile on his lips, their motion, and ap peared a little disappointed in discovering in Edgar something which had the appearance of distance, whilst the latter regarded the Cap tain's countenance as the involuntary indication of an honest pride in the conquest of such a prize. Caroline took a chair nearer the Captain than Edgar, whothought he had never before observed her to maintain so much prim in her position on any occasion. I suppose, said the Captain, I need not introduce you to each other as you have been shipmates : I have been on that island myself with the doctor, the old people who entertained you there are both dead. Caroline started, and raising her hand to her handkerchief parallel with her head, both dead ! said she, is it is possible, they must have suffered for assistance. Captain. 1 understood from the doctor, that from the nature of the disorder, the old lady, who died on the island, could not have been materially aifected by her situation , she - 212 ADSONVILLE. appeared to have been plentifully supplied with small stores in their cabin, which they said you had furnished them with ; and the old man died at Mr. F ? s, and has left a will or some other document directed to Edgar, which I think likely is enclosed with the other dispatches that I have for you, which are in my trunk at the tavern. I will fetch them immediately. This Edgar prevented him from doing, by saying that if nothing else would bring him to Plainville, he should impose the task upon him of bringing them. After some further conver sation on the subject, it was finally agreed that Edgar should drive by the tavern on his re turn home, and leave the Captain to take his own time in the succeeding week, to pay him a visit, upon the express condition that he should not fail to come : when this was settled the Captain leisurely took up his hat and walked out of the room, evidently with the sole view of leaving the remainder of the par ty to themselves. A long silence ensued, Ed gar holding his head down, as if to prevent his countenance from betraying the heart ren ding emotions of bis soul, at the idea of this being the moment of his final parting with all the hopes that had for a long time fed his ima gination with prospects of rapture and hap piness. Alone (said he mentally) with Car- aline, and no longer at liberty to urge my suit, no longer do I dare even to demand of her that answer which I have before so often assured her, I would calmly acqui- ADSONVILLE. 213 esce in, or submit to. I then supposed that any thing was preferable to suspense, but I now find there was no such resigna tion in me ; it was the secret confidence that her decision would be propitious, that made me demand it ; now that I discover that no thing but a seal of everlasting blast and mil dew \\ill be put upon all my felicity, her ver bal sentence becomes altogether unimportant, I already wither under its execution : I must now tear myself from her forever, violate ev ery feeling of my soul, break the finest strings of my heart, and go forth from her presence, tenfold more wretched than a snow white le per. If it must be so, may I not take one more, one last and parting embrace ; and if I must bid her an eternal adieu, derive one more moment of happiness by leaving it in scribed upon her lips, she cannot be so insensi ble as to refuse or resent it. Why in the name of mercy and heaven has she not long ago in formed me of this, and nipt my ill-founded de* lusion in the bud, before it had attained such a frantic and irremediable height. But I can not censure her, she has never given me grounds to build my presumptuous tower up on, it must now tumble down and bury me in its ruins. Caroline had watchfully and seriously re garded him, and as he rose and walked the room she saw agitation and agony so plainly depicted in his countenance, that she became alarmed for the consequence. She arose and met him in one of his turns, but he appeared not to notice her, until raising her fair hands^ 214 ADSONVILLE. she placed them on his breast; saying, Edgaiy my dearest, ray best of friends, what afflicts thee, so suddenly, so dreadfully ? He started hack, yet retaining her hands he repeated, " thy best, thy dearest friend !" how those words would once have thrilled my heart, but now; The Captain was heard advancing through the hall, and as he entered the door Edgar kissed her hands and released them. " Aye, Caroline," said the Captain, as he passed care lessly by them, " this looks a little more like it" Edgar walked leisurely to the window and appeared as if his attention was taken by some thing in the garden. This instance of Caro line's tenderness towards him had not materi ally altered his prospects in regard to her sen timents of him, 'and the casual observation of the Captain, as it was not made to him, he declined scrutinising, but calling in the aid of philosophy, and summoning what .resolution was left in him to his assistance, he resumed his ehaif-with an air of composure ; which, when Caroline observed it, much raised her spirits, and the reserve which she had hither to shewn, appeared to be lost in the gay free dom with which she criticised the Captain's taste in some pamphlets he had purchased of a pedlar, who had besieged him at the door. She also attempted to extend her liberality to Edgar, but it was evident to him that' it was without the same success. The crimson tide that flowed into her cheeks when she spake to ADSONVILLE. -215 him, gradually ebbed, when the Captain took her attention, and her thrilling blue eyes, the full fire of which the Captain could bear un moved, were fortunately for Edgar, but par tially opened upon him. Edgar conceiving that the errand on which he had come, had now become hopeless, in his despair had forgotten to mention to Caro line any thing about either letters or return ing home, whilst to appearance her attention was wholly engrossed by the Captain. When preparing to depart she manifested a wish to assist him to his cloak, and in a whisper desi red him not to be in haste about going home, saying, " you'll find the Captain an agreeable companion, and he desires your good offices with Penelope's, parents/' Edgar ^ at hearing this, stood motionless and mute with surprise, but- soon answered, " if that is so, I'll stay to all eternity ;" at which she made a feint to strike him on the mouth. The Captain rode with him to the tavern, where he had put up, and on their way occu pied every moment in passing the highest en comiums on Caroline, as a person possessing transcendantly every virtue and charm which ean adorn, or render valuable the female cha racter ; whilst Edgar, although this was no news to him, listened with silent astonish ment at its coming from a quarter from whence it could not possibly be expected upon any other ground than that f disinter estedness, in the object of his eulogy : this reflection connected with all that had taken place during the afternoon, again turned the ABSONVILLE. st ong current of feelings, and produced a tu multuous sea of uncertainty in his breast. He remained in the carriage while his friend brought out the packet, and then urged him immediately to accompany him to his uncle's. This the Captain excused himself from, say ing, " you will require leisure to attend to your letters, I will take some other time." Do not fail, then, said Edgar, you will be plea sed ; but I forget, you say you are acquainted with the place. Better, replied the Captain, perhaps than you are ; there is scarcely a hill, wood or valley, or even a field, in which I have not roamed, sometimes on a scout with Penelope, in search of, and to drive home, young turkeys : and I have often assisted in delivering out the rations to the calves : when I have more time I will detail to you an ex pedition I made once up the hay-meadow brook but I am detaining you. Edgar. Since you have mentioned Penel ope, I will add, that all you have said of Car oline, belongs with equal justice to her. Captain. Did you ever know two eyes more alike? but if we begin to talk about her you had better put up all night. Edgar. I must return, they'll think I'm dead ; they are over anxious. What a nurse Penelope has been to me ! I shall never be at ease until I can render her some service in re turn , I should be most happy in an opportu nity. Captain. Perhaps you may have one, and I hope you may be successful in serving her. J am most happy in meeting you here, al- ADSONVILLE. though we have never been acquainted, when we might have been, yet your character I am no stranger to ; in it I have a pledge for the hasty confidence I place in you : I wish you a good evening. Edgar. Good evening I thank you ; a prospect of further acquaintance opens to me new hopes of happiness, which I should be miserable in seeing blasted. Captain. Go on, I shall keep you here all night. Light and detached clouds were successive ly hovering across the face of the placid moon, by a cold northwest wind, which, however, occasioned no ir*convenience to him : his mind was too intently and agreeably entertained in reviewing the occurrences of the preceding afternoon, and each of them went to discredit the idea of there existing any such attachment between the Captain and Caroline as he had but just before supposed he had such strong reasons for believing. He now resolved that it would have been impossible under such cir cumstances, for Caroline in his presence to iiave carried herself with that easy familiarity towards the captain, nor could he believe had she been under any special obligation to him/ she would have been so indifferent at being surprised by her lover in dalliance with an other ; which he rather thought appeared to gratify her than otherwise. Her request for him to prolong his stay, and that to facilitate the Captain's views in regard to Penelope; and the Captain's frank and unreserved com mendations of Caroline, would, but for the late 19 218 deep impression of despair (which would not be so suddenly entirely erased,) have effects ally dispelled from his mind every doubt of their friendship and freedom being any thing more than what proceeded from having been brought up as children of the same family. He could account now for Penelope's reserve, in regard to the Captain's visits to the school, without their implicating Caroline. On arriving at his uncle's, the first thing that caught his attention was Penelope's white gown playing in the wind, as she listened for the sound of his carriage. She met him at the gate, saying, " Caroline does not love thee so well as I do yet, or she would have sent thee home before dark, on such a windy eve ning, or kept thee all night." " Perhaps," he replied, " upon the right principle for women, of love for love, she has not so much grounds for it." " Aye," said she, " let me go awd hide as Caroline did, and see if you'll go crazy, or hug me down to the floor when you find me. Edgar. You deserve it for a provoking coquette. Edgar immediately retired to his room to examine the contents of his packet. The first was the letter from the doctor. ADSONVILLE. CHAPTER ViII< What tale is this Is there not in't A hoary Maa whose tongue says strange things , A Maiden, down whose alabaster neck Long curling locks come quirling- " LETTER FROM DR. HUMPHREY. Most respected Friend, AFTER giving you to understand that your friends are in good health, I will immediately proceed to inform you, that not long after your departure, an old and infirm man called at the store and enquired for you : after he was informed of your absence, and the time it would probably continue, he did not appear disposed either to tell his business or depart. He was offered victuals, of which he accepted but little Daring the day, it is said, he went up to Mr. Adsoii's and enquired of the 220 ADSOKYILLE. servants for Miss Caroline ; at length towards the close of the day he privately informed one of the clerks that he had a secret which con cerned you, and as you were absent desired him upon his honor to recommend to him your most confidential friend : the clerk did me the honor of designation, as the object of his re quest, in conjunction with your mother, that he might select between us, according to t he- nature of his business. On understanding that I was a physician, he lost no time in delibera ting farther, but immediately informed me that it was at his hut, that you and Caroline found a shelter at the time you were blown on his island ; and that as you had sueli gootr luck, and from the goodness of your heart, and from gallantry on account of the young lady that was with you, he expected you would not refuse him a favor of which he stood in need, in addition to what had already been conferred ; and finally that his old wife was in a strange way, taking no notice, either of him, his household concerns, nor any thing else ; that he had attended to her faithfully and pa tiently, provided for himself and her, in ex pectation it would go off; but she continued to fail, and would eat nothing but what he al most forced down her, and that he had finally become alarmed, lest she should die on his liands alone, and that he had now come for as sistance from you to procure a. doctor, &c. - Although the old man delivered this to me in confidence ; yet I thought best to open it to your father, who immediately ordered one of the sloop's boats, manned with two oars on a ADSONV1LLE. 221 side, and a double complement of men, so as to change when the first were fatigued. The crew was soon made up by volunteers from the sloops and store, and with plenty of small stores. We set out the same evening in great glee, with the old man for a pilot, and his log canoe in tow ; and before day we landed, and proceeded immediately to the hut. Before a light was struck up, I perceived by her breath ing that she was in a deep lethargy : after the light was made, the poor old man endeavored every way he could devise to awaken hei> (which I at first informed him would be use less) and as he found them ineffectual began to be very much alarmed, and called upon her with loud and affecting expressions of grief and lamentation. She lived until the sun once more arose on her forlorn home and then ex pired. We then submitted it to the old man, whether he would have her buried here, or brought away, telling him we could lay her decently in the canoe, and tow her down. To this he answered, that for the present, if she could be interred decently here, he would prefer it, as it was uncertain where lie him self should be buried ; and the only motive he could have in removing her would be that they might repose together. After some consultation among ourselves, we proposed to him, and he acceded to it, that for the want of boards to make a coffin, we would take hi$ canoe, and sawing it off to the right dimen sions close the ends, and make a cover with such pieces of boards as could be found in the and of his furniture, and bury her at sm 2- ADSOXVILLE. clown ; all which was accordingly accomplish*- ed, and the same evening we returned. Since that the old man has remained at your house tmtil the last evening, when he also paid the debt of nature. A few days before which, he handed me the enclosed letter for you, which he wrote since he has been here. I Jiave the satisfaction of adding, that they had not lacked for liftle necessaries, as a good store of them is now left in their solitary and deser ted cabin; he says they were furnished by Ca roline. Enough of this melancholy subject, if so it can be called, which I am doubtful of, for Jiow could they in their destitute situation; ex? pect to have come to a less tragic end. Captain W. will be the bearer of this ; if you become acquainted with him you will find your account in it. He is informed of your views in regard to Caroline, and is disposed to forward them. You will find him instead of a rival, a valuable auxiliary^ if indeed any one is necessary. We are all anxious for your re turn. Please to remember me to the amiable Caroline, and believe that I derive great plea sure in always subscribing myself your sincere friend and humble servant, J. HUMPHREY* Edgar F. On opening the letter referred to, the rea but by degrees to prepare thee for it, Penelope. (Laying her hands on her breast. J How my heart beats ! It can be no thing I have done : what can it be ! but the Captain, is it all about him too? Edgar. No, he is mentioned; there is but little, however, said of him; it relates mostly to thy own history. Penelope. My history ! I know too well^ cousin, that there is something either unkioWR or concealed from me concerning nayself anil parentage ; my dear father and mother are not indeed my real parents but is it knownjf dost thou know who they were ? has any thing new come to light. Edgar. There has : I am the only on earth that knows, and has the vi dance ypur real parentage. 20 230 ADSON\ILLE. Penelope. Oh then suppress it, never let me know it ; I believe every word thou say- est. But how shall it be that there will not be some disagreeable, some villainous, some scandalous, or at least unfortunate circumstan ces attendant. Edgar. No, Penelope, nothing even to make thee blush; nothing to impeach; noth ing to lower thee in thy own, or any other person's estimation : it is to restore thee to rich and respectable connections, already dear to thee. Penelope. Tell me all already dear to me ! oh that it might make thee my brother. Edgar. I am not thy brother, but nothing gives me more pleasure than a prospect of it. (smiling.) Penelope. Do not say that Caroline is my sister ! that will be more ; but I begin rath er to doubt of the whole. You say you arc the only person on earth that knows it ; who wrote that letter ? Edgar. The person who wrote this one, (taking it up) is dead ; and it was delivered, directed and sealed a few days before his death, and after he was certain of his fate. But I wish to ask thee a few questions, which may probably give some weight to my asser tions. Hast thou any recollection, ever so faint, of being carried off by Indians ? Penelope. None. Edgar. None ? Penelope. Not the least. Edgar. Dost thou know any thing about a basket, a string of beads, and perhaps a few rags of a child- s clothing being preserved with more than ordinary care in the house? Penelope. I do, I have them in my own care ; my mother has desired me always to keep them. Edgar then remained silent some time, looking her in the ftice apparently considering whether to tell her further. Penelope. I can bring them if it will aid thee. Edgar. No, Penelope, not now, to me ; it is past all doubt : thou wilt find in the end tkere is no room for a doubt : my beloved Penelope and my adorable Caroline, are not only sisters, but twin sisters. Penelope remained fixed, immoveable as a statue, with her eyes stationary, without their common expression ; contending sensations equipoised her soul and suspended every emo tion but breath. At length she threw herself into his arms, laid her head on his breast, and relieved the spasms of her soul in torrents of tears : she several times attempted to speak ; but failing in that, she arose, and taking her candle laid her hand on the letters, and with her eyes swimming in tears, looked at Edgar for liberty to take them. He shewed her which to read first : she then retired to her room, whilst Edgar, throwing himself on the bed. listened to discover if she should make a further ado on the occasion. Penelope read the first letter through, and the fore part of the second, without much difficulty, only that she thought the candle gave ;.i very clear light, until she came to that part ADSONV1LLE. where it mentioned of her holding to her lit tie basket, when the briny fount again broke bulk, and she sobbed so loud that her father and mother* after calling to her and receiving no answer, both dressed hastily and came to her. And when Edgar heird them in hei- room, he went himself to assist in explaining the circumstances. He found her sitting on the side of the bed, reclined on her mother's breast and choking with sobs. Her father stood by the stand, with the letters trembling in his hand, and vainly endeavoring to find out what they related to, without remember ing in his hurry that his spectacles were" es sential to his object. Edgar took them out of bis hand, and perceiving they were exceed ingly wet with tears, said " Penelope, I must be more careful of these documents : one or two more perusals by such liquid eyes will completely destroy them. Then apologizing for want of prudence and contrivance, and declaring that he had intended first to con sult with them, he opened to them the sub ject, and read the letters, reserving only what was said about himself and Caroline in the Doctor's letter. He concluded by telling them there were none yet who knew it, but those- who were then in the room, and what further steps were taken should depend upon them, His uncle said, it is well enough known that she is not our child. And Mrs. S. after hav ing spent some time in silent reflection on it ; said, Nobody will dispute it that sees them, (meaning Penelope and Caroline ;) there is almost sufficient evidence in their looks, ADSONVILLE. 233 out any thing else ; but the other testimony is incontrovertible. Well, those old folks are dead. Aye; I expected they had been so long before. I do not think Penelope would ever have suffered for any thing, if this never had come out. But I am glad on her account; as she would all her life had turns of grieving. How often has it made me shed tears, when she was four or five years old to see her come in from playing with the neighboring chil dren, crying and saying,, A ? nt you my Ma ma ! Such-a-one says you an't my Mama, and that Pve got none. But now we shall lose her. Penelope had become more composed, but at this reflection upon her gratitude, she broke out again, saying no, no, never; I love no mother, no father but you. They smiled^ and Edgar perceiving it a favorable moment to break up, proposed that Penelope should be left, to take some rest, saying he expected in the morning to go to the school, and hear the second part of the s Edgar was prepared to start, without, as yet, any definite arrangement how he should open the news to the others concerned, so as to af ford himself the most diversion, and them th most agreeable surprise : But Penelope ex pressing an inclination to accompany him, thfc offer was readily accepted, and when he arri ved at the school he determined to remain, himself im the rear, and observe Penelope's success in communicating to Caroline the in telligence. After he had been some minutes ia suspense, Caroline came to the door with her tooth-brush in her hand, and smilingly calling to Edgar, " what does she mean? she does not know, herself." Indeed she had as yet given Caroline but little intelligence, for com ing upon her whilst she was washing her teeth , ADSONVILLEV 35 and before she was aware of her intention in attempting to kiss her, and with the struggles of Caroline to avoid it, had got the black tooth powder all over her pretty face, and raised a general laugh amongst the scholars ; and now. whilst she had laid aside her bonnet to repair that disaster, Caroline had taken the oppor tunity to beg some explanation of Edgar of her extraordinary conduct. Edgar said, he should leave her still to find out the mystery from Penelope, as he was sure that in this way it would not come so suddenly as to overwhelm her. But, says he, Caroline, let me ask thee didst thou ever have a sister? Caroline. I have had ; you know she wa's drowned. Edgar. Caroline, how dost thou know she was drowned ? Caroline. She was drowned or something worse. We were left alone together on the bank of the iake, and when the nurse returned for us, my sister was missing, and I alone was found. We had just began to walk alone; and as they found a hole in the fence, where they uere compelled to believe she had crept through, and fell off the bank into the water $ diligent search was made for her, but the wa ter was deep, and she had on a new chintz frock, which, with her bonnet tied under her chin, might have floated her half a mile be fore she went down. But why, Edgar, why have you set me to telling this melancholy story now; it cannot be new to thee? Edgar. No, Caroline, it is not new ta %ie| I know more, much more about it tfian ADSONVILLE. thou dost ; I know she was not drowned that she was kidnapped, and still lives. Caroline* Edgar! is it so? Edgar. It is true. Penelope must finish the story. (Turning from her.) Caroline never manifested so much reluc tance before, in parting with him, whatever she might often have felt; but he left her to return to Penelope, whilst he drove to the lodgings of the Captain ; who attempted to conceal his surprise at his early visit, and wel comed him with the cordiality of an old friend. Edgar requested him to retire with him to his room, where taking out the letters, he com municated to him their contents ; and he also united in the opinion that the evidence was conclusive, and they mutually congratulated each other on the circumstance so propitious to their most ardent wishes. The Captain further stated that he well remembered the circumstance, and had often heard Mr. and Mrs. Adson express their apprehensions lest some more terrible fate had befallen the child than that of drowning. And so strong ly were the neighbors possessed of the same idea, that they assembled the next morning to scour the woods but without effect. They concluded for Caroline to write. Edgar of fered to be the bearer of the letters immedi ately to Adson ville : whilst they were talking * messenger informed them that Penelope re quested him to send those letters to her : but Edgar chose rather to carry them himself, foi> ftar Caroline should be as liberal as Penelope been, which would materially deface the ADSONV1LLK. 237 precious record. At the door,, the school mis tress met them, and requested a moment's con versation with Edgar aside ; and said she was reluctantly compelled to inform him that she had some time since received a letter from Ca roline's father, requesting her to prevent any intercourse between Caroline and any person who was a stranger to her, excepting the one who was the bearer of the letter, and who he is, said she, them knowest : and after the op- portunity of spending the afternoon together yesterday, thou wii, conclude no doubt that I was not disposed rigorously to follow the let ter of his request ; I had hoped that no necessity would have compelled me to : but since there appears this morning so much excitement, I am ready to think there must be some grounds for his caution, and that I cannot avoid acting according to his instruc tions. Edgar felt too confident in his conscious rec titude, and perhaps somewhat too much flush ed with his present high prospects to conde scend to make any explanations; he, there fore, politely thanked her for her information, and for her liberality to him the preceding day ; and as the Captain had walked in, he took the letters in question out of his pocket, and requested her to hand them to him, and turned to walk from her: she appeared to feel much hurt at this, and earnestly requested him to walk into the parlour ; but he as warmly thanked her, and continued to walk away. She then went to the room where the ladies were with the Captain, and handed him 238 ADSONVILLE. the letters. They all asked for Edgar, but she requested Caroline to follow her out. How the Captain and Penelope liked being left alone, and the tender scenes that passed be tween them, belongs not to this story to relate: it behoves us rather to follow Caroline where she followed her governess, into a retired room, where deliberately setting down, the latter gravely began to open to Caroline, after many introductory and prefatory observations, on the responsibility of her station, as a guar dian over females, at the most eventful period of their lives, whe>> one important step, in a wrong direction, might give an unhappy course to the whole path of life. She at length came directly upon her subject, anH gave Caroline to understand her father's request, and that she had just communicated it to Edgar. Al though Caroline thought her preaching was unseasonable, yet she listened with patience until she had closed this period ; when starting up she said; " and so you shut the door upon him. Oh, Edgar, when will you come to be treated by my friends as vou deserve! whilst every body else delights to honor and esteem you,, it is from them alone you meet with con tumely ; and but little better than that from me. But Pll follow thee now in my turn, it is but fair." So saying, she left her astonish- ished teacher, and went into the street : but after vainly looking each way. without disco vering either him, or his carriage, she was obliged to return to the room to communicate her trouble to her friends, and examine the important letters, with Penelope alone ; whiU AD-SONVILLE. 239 the Captain went to make explanations, and communicate to the Mistress the extraordinary occasion of the morning's bustle. he latter much lamented that she had riot known more of it, before she had spoken to Edgar, as such circumstances must remove every thing like a non-intercourse ; (for the captain took care in the relation to attribute it all to the credit of Edgar:) but, says she, why did he leave as if he was offended ; he appeared tc take it all in good part, thanked me very much for ta king the liberty to speak to him on the sub ject, and politely declined my earnest invita lion towftlk into the room. Edgar, on his return to Plain Ville, made some plausible excuse for having left Penel ope at the school, to satisfy his aunt, and took the advantage of the mildness and beauty of the day to enjoy a walk through the cultiva ted sceneries of his earliest years, but not to indulge undisturbed his imagination in visions of future prosperity and happiness, unmingled with a proportion of the alloy, unavoidably distilled into the chalice of matrimonial felici ty. He had not the least doubt now but the object whieh promised him all his ambition desired, was soon to crown his perseverance with success. But although he felt as a lover, yet he wished to think and act as a man. That if he had committed one error, in being per tinaciously bent upon the attainment of his frail treasure, he might not add to it, by still looking to that one object as the only hope of life, or source of satisfaction ; but that hp might rather look to her as a faithful, unsus- 240 ADSONVILLE. pected 'friend, united to him firmly, by tfie most tender connexion; having no other end. aim, wish, sentiment or opinion, but what centered in, arose from, and coincided with his own, that they might be, as the old Friend said, " bone of one bone, and flesh of one flesh." Instead of being for love, and for Caroline, much as he loved, admired and esteemed her, he considered that which he owed to her was strictly speaking of a secondary nature, com pared with his duty as a citizen of the world; and that his enjoyments derived from her so ciety, instead of being the uniform elements of his mortal life, or the steady field of its exer cise, should be like an occasional retreat from the cares of the world, like a pleasant arbour in a sultry sun, a shelter from the storms of the world, and a hallowed sanctuary where no rude cares shall dare to intrude on moments dedicated to the secret endearments of connu bial devotion, calculated to wind up and in vigorate the springs of natural ambition and industry, and of parental and social obliga tion. Whilst on the brow of a distant hill, he was .thus subjecting his passions to the restraints of philosophy, he saw a carriage stop at his uncle's door. He waited until he observed two la dies leave it and enter the house, and thence discovering, according to his expectations, that Caroline had come home with Penelope he hastened his return, and came upon them whilst Caroline was examining the articles Penelope had in keeping, and ADSONVILLE. 241 with her own, which were also preserved, and every suspicion of doubt removed from their minds. As Edgar entered, they both watchfully re garding his countenance, began to apologize for their beloved teacher's rebuff; and Pene lope said, that Caroline ran up and down the street after him till she lost her comb. Edgar, watching her blushes, said carelessly, it was something very new for her to do so much for him. Caroline* I never can do enough. Edgar. I have thought that the least inti mation of favor or regard from thee, Caroline, would be sufficient to satisfy my ambition : but I find that my demands increase with ev- ry concession, and, like the miser, the more I have the more I want. Penelope. Well, supposing she gives yo* herself, heart and all, will you be satisfied ? you can't have more than the cat and her skin : but Pll go, and leave you to settle it between yourselves, before cousin Edgar lectures me for the use of what he calls vulgar aphorisms. What passed when Edgar and Caroline were left alone, we must not presume to state fur ther than that she no longer waited y than for Edgar once more to renew the protestations of his undiminished, of his increasing, though more disciplined affection, before she confes sed to him that he was already in possession ef all that she had to give ; that her hand she was not sure belonged to her to dispose of, but -that her heart and esteem it was out of her power to retain ; that she had not tamely sur- 21 242 ADSONV1LLE. rendered them, but that he had exterted them from her by a long and steady course of the most generous attention, flattering and unme rited partiality ; and although, said she, it might be still a weakness in me to make the acknowledgment, yet I should blush most for myself if it was not true. Edgar received her plighted affection with the just sense of the inestimable value of her incomparable accomplishments and native worth, which were of a nature not to fade till virtue dies; to a countenance and person which never failed to attract the attention and convey a ray of delight to every beholder, was added a mind every way calculated and adorned to govern it, with a grace which should give additional lustre and interest to such an exquisite model of female perfection. It were hard to tell by her most intimate ac quaintance, whether she was the most naturally grave or gay, whether her demeanor was the effect of constant discretion and reflection, or of native simplicity and the impulse of inno cence whether she loved most to ramble alone through the solitary dell, and listen to the warbling grove, or murmuring rill, or float in the arms and affections of her beloved associates, unconscious of the halo of admira tion and distinction inseparable front her pre sence 5 certain it is, that she possessed that sweetness of disposition and unaffected humility of deportment, that desire to please and never to hurt or offend, which had the power to shine without raising envy. There were none who were not willing to do her homage, ADSOXVILLE. 243 because they saw there was evidently no dis position in her to demand it;. They consid ered that although she possessed the merit of her perfections, yet they claimed the honor of their just appreciation. Edgar and Caroline, before they separated, took into calm perspective such obstructions as were likely still to thwart the consumma tion of their highest earthly hopes Edgar gave her to understand that he had accident ally, become acquainted with her ia\ curable opinion of the Friends, since her acquaintance with them, and asked her ingenuously to con fess, whether she retained that impression yet of them : he did not, he said, ask the ques tion because he considered it immediately re garded their connexion ; but he wished her to consider whether as he grower! older and settled down into more steady habits, if he should become more tenacious of their prin ciples and conformable to their habits, it would be regarded by her as a misfortune, or would have, in her present estimation, a ten dency to render him less agreeable to her. To this Caroline answered, that she knew no reason for altering her judgment in that par ticular, and as to what alterations he might undergo in any respect, she never should suf fer a moment's uneasiness. " But," says she, " Edgar, I have become well enough acquainted with your rules to be aware that if you marry any person out of the meeting, however deserving, (if it was me I should not blame them) you must be consid ered a criminal, and be subjected to excom- 244 ADSONV1LLE. munication inevitably. This will undoubtedly lessen you in the estimation of many of your friends, and subject you to a course of tanta lizing* form, which, however, you may consi der imbecile, cannot fail to be disagreeable. But think, Edgar, if I should be so (other wise) happy as to be the favoured object, how hard it would be, to me, to be considered the occasion of thy offence : couldst thou consent thus to have me looked upon coolly, and treat ed as an interloper ? or rathe? as one who had drawn away from the path of duty, one who otherwise might have been an orna ment to the Society. You have my esteem, you have my gratitude, my heart ; but none of these need make thee unhappy, which my hand may. There are many amiable young women I am acquainted with, and many more you must undoubtedly know, who belong to the meeting, that that Edgar. That is well thought of Caroline. I know also many very agreeable and worthy young men, who do not belong to the society, who will make a very genteel and agreeable woman a husband : I will marry one of those young ladies, if I can get them, and thou shalt have one of the world's people, and theu there will be no infringement of discipline ; and I shall have, thou sayest, thy heart, and thou knowest thou hast mine, so where will be the harm ; I shall certainly have that which I value the most, and without which I would not accept thy hand. But seriously, Caroline, I consider thee as much a Friend as I am in principle ; \\l\\ ADSONVILLE. 245 petition the meeting, then, instead of be ing looked upon coldly ; thou wilt be regard ed as an acquisition ? Caroline. I should be regarded with con tempt, as one who meanly crept in to facili tate another object. Oh, Edgar, never for thee. I wish nothing more sincerely than that I was. worthy, and did belong; it is, or at least ought to be the primary object, but I can give no idea of the enormity, that it is in my view to practise deceit in such a case, to invade the church, and make the means of salvation a mere cat's paw to facilitate my own temporal views. Edgar. Why, really Caroline, when I had just flattered myself with the thought that all impediments to our union were removed, thou art preparing another gulph between us as deep as Lazarus ? s. Caroline. What an extravagant expres sion ! how do I do that? Edgar. Thou wilt not permit me to mfirry out, for fear I shall be excommunicated, nei ther wilt thou join the meeting to .marry in. Caroline. In the first expedient, I fear ('thou wouldst lose more than thou wouldst gain, in giving so many good friends for one : what a fearful odds in the scale ! and as to the se cond I am not fit, I wish to heaven I was. Edgar. The whole world, in my estima tion, would not weigh against thee ; I speak without exaggeration, not but that there may be many who are thy equals in every respect, but thou hast engrossed my affections, and I am blind to the merits of all others $ thou art 21* 246 , ADSONVILLE. all the world to me, because with thee I car? enjoy it, and without thee I can enjoy no thing. Caroline. A sad state ! I should tremble to undertake the responsibility of realising to thee such great expectations. Edgar. It will cost thee no effort, only act thyself, my partiality will do the rest. Caroline. You seem to be sensible of your hallucination : I have often wondered how wise men could be aifected with hypochondria: I believe that philosophers are as apt to be in love as any others, but then (smiling archly) I believe they are sooner over it. Edgar. Thou hast just now given thyself to me ; I have the curiosity to know in what light thou considerest the gift ; not that I mean to beany ways tenacious about the terms, for I accept it on any conditions. Caroline. I gave myself to thee ! it was Penelope that said that, not me. Edgar. Do you think to get off so ? you said I had your esteem, yes, and your let me see gratitude what that may be for, though I cannot tell. Caroline. There's ground enough for it : yes, I said that, what else ? Edgar* And your heart; there now I have you. Caroline. Well, how far does that estab lish your claim to me as yours. Edgar. Why, I do not expect you would be willing to have your heart separated from your body ! Caroline. Indeed; the idea conveyed by ADSONV1LLE. 247 that figure looks horrible ; but perhaps by making use of that term, I conveyed more than 1 meant. Edgar. Well, explain then, let's under stand it qualify it. Caroline. You have my esteem and grati tude, unqualified in its fullest extent Edgar. Thank you for so much; go on> let's see what else. Caroline. And what I meant by adding my heart, was, that accompanying those senti ments, there was a kind of (here she spoke very deliberately) a kind of interest I cannot convey the idea, but (looking up and bright ening in her countenance, and quickening her. words) there's much Edgar, conveyed in the term gratitude, where it is sincere in a female : I do not know, finally, as I could have conveyed my meaning better than I did; I do not feel disposed to take back any part of it, and I also admit, that when the heart is gone, there is little left to contend about : but I do not think there is any need of being crazy to get married, Edgar. Now I think I understand you, you decline taking any thing back if you could ; and when your heart is given, your person is not worth retaining, and yet you think it not important to be married. Caroline. I assure you that you quite mis understand me, or else I misapprehend my self. But the more I say, the more I entan gle myself; may I forever be delivered from having the vanity to attempt another argu ment with you. 348 ADSONVJLL2. Edgar. I hope you may have many if you are not more pertinacious in them than you are in this. Caroline. I hope at least if I do, that I may never forget the vast difference which I owe to your superior judgment and I desire also never so far to forget what I owe to it, as to presume to correct any thing I may imagine inconsistent in you : but there is one trifling circumstance it would be gratifying to be in formed in. v Edgar. What may that be ? Caroline. I discover that in discourse you appear to be altogether indifferent whether you make use of the plain language or that of the world. Edgar. Well I perceive the same in thee. Caroline. True, but I am under no obli gation, it is altogether supererogation with me, if there is any goodness in it. I only use it occasionally because I think it is pretty, and to be complaisant to those who love to speak it, and I suppose to hear it. Edgar. I make use of the common lan guage, sometimes, for brevity, and sometimes to shew that I am not so superstitious as to be lieve it is wicked to use a plural instead of a singular pronomi in the origin of using the plural number to one, I have no doubt it was flattery, and a sin, but it is no longer used in that acceptation, and as words are but merely sounds to convey our meaning, I cannot dis cover that in reality there is much in it. Caroline. But your rules require it. and therefore so long as you are a ntembcr and ADSONVILLE. 249 partake of the privileges of society, you ought to comply with them : and if you avoid it on account of the cross, or for fear of being called a Quaker, it is still sin; forgive me, it is no sin in you. Edgar. Now I think you are very well fitted to he taken in the meeting, and made an overseer of immediately. This discourse was carried on with more of pleasantry than seriousness, but was at length interrupted by the Captain's joining them, and according to his promise to give Edgar an account of an evening's ramble, he commen ced by saying : " When about fifteen years old, I engaged with some other boys upon a night excursion, for hunting raccoons : it was in the commence ment of autumn, and when night fall had re lieved my athletic companions from their cares, we sullied forth, each armed with a fowling piece, and accompanied by a dog celebrated for his activity in this kind of sport, and one or two others, which their owners were anx ious should profi by his example. We fol lowed the course of the Honey Meadow Brook, towards its source, through the winding mea dows that sported its banks ; on either side of which the rising hills, with their dusky sum mits rose in still and solemn grandeur, limiting our moonlight prospect to the valley through which we passed, until we entered the spa cious and stately forest, called the Ludlow Woods. This forest is owned by a rich fami ly of that name, who reside in the city of 250 ADSONV1LLE. New -York, and who tenaciously guard it against the ravages of the destructive axe, thereby preserving it as an ornament to the country, a refuge for such animals as have been ejected from the surrounding country, and as a seasonable supply of timber for fu ture generations. It is covered with the most magnificent white oaks, whose tall straight trunks, with their white bark, give, by moon light the most soothing and sublime sensations, their lofty foliage, uniting to form a canopy, effectually looks down all attempts of aspiring inferior shrubbery to live beneath their shade^ and the spaces are left entirely clear of under brush ; through this scenery, this delightful brook winds its course. On its banks, during the sultry part of the day, in summer, may be seen the wild pigeons descending to quench; their thirst excited by the < Hot thirsty food" of acorns ; from whence, if frightened by the solitary wanderer, they take refuge in the towering tops of the trees, and turning their nodding heads, to bring first one and then the other of their little red bound eyes to bear upon the intruder, appear to consider them selves elevated above all danger from the featherless animals of the nether world. The centre of this forest for many years was the habitation of a family by the name of Hud- dlestone, who from too much pride to be poor amongst the rich, or from a propensity to r. savage life, or contempt of society, an uncon querable indolence, or some unaccountable ADSONVILLE. trait which human nature is prone to, chose this situation; and maintained it against every attempt of the owners or their agents to dis lodge them ; the destruction of their cabin, with all its furniture, (which often befel them) was of so little consequence as to be easily re paired, and the lav/ they were completely be low. The depredatory nature of their tenure, their outlaw character, and their singular and secluded situation, rendered them an object of some curiosity, but more the butt of mischiev ous boys, who were a greater annoyance to their peaceful possession than the owners, for tified by the strength and officers of the law. Against the latter they were compelled to be always on their guard, and a bloodless, preda tory warfare was kept up, wherein many a stripling was ambitious to make a demonstra tion of his courage and address, in slily ap proaching and fastesiing the door of the hut on the outside, or climbing on the roof and intro ducing some foreign article into the stick chim ney, to cause a sudden surprise to the family, and then to make a safe and expeditious re treat. We traversed these woods until near midnight without any vsuccess, although the dogs reconnoitered the ground for half a mile on each side of our path, occasionally crossing close to us without any other noise than what proceeded from their rustling in the leaves, and their panting with exertion ; we then held a council about giving up the pursuit. This was too mortifying to be readily consented to, without some substitute or consolation for our failure, arid an attack upon the Hudcllestone 252 ADSONVJLU2. fort was readily accepted by all, as the condi tion of renouncing our hopeless one upon his neighbors and fellow creatures. If our inten tion was not to hurt them, in our sham attack, we were equally desirous of guarding against accident that might fall upon us; for \\e were well assured that they would not be so chari tably disposed towards us, nor relish our visit as a mere joke, in the same humor in which it was given. A point was fixed upon as a ren dezvous, in case of being separated by a sortie. One of our company had every advantage of the rest of us in strength, speed, courage and good nature, and in such enterprises had always the honor of being selected for the post of dan ger, which he accepted with the more satis faction, on account that in other cases, and in the round of more polished amusements, his countenance, education and rank, denied him not only the preeminence, but even the com pany of those who now honored him with the appellation of captain. The force of the ene my consisted ordinarily of the husband, who however, could not be called the head of the family, as that honorable post was decidedly occupied by his competent spouse. John, for we will fix no fictitious name upon him, was deficient in size, in evry part of his constitu tion, excepting his mouth and front teeth, which fro-n their peculiar and projecting situ ation seemed designed for some animal not fur nished with hands ; as he never wore clothes that were originally designed for him, his di minutive appearance was compensated for in measure by their dimensions, although, ADSONVll.LE. 253 it' he had gracefulness of shape, it was effec tually lost on the beholder, as his coat was generally out of all reason in the length of its waist, and that part of his pantaloons which was made the most roomy, interfered with his natural gait, by draggling at his heels; "his hat was always too large, but this difficulty he in geniously obviated, by wearing that side be fore which its former owner had kept braced up behind he had a maiden sister long aad lank as a gown hanged out to air, with nothing extraordinary in her phiz excepting the length and deep sled- runner crook of her nose, which was scarcely out of reach of a mouth which extended from ear to ear; but which was happily for its neighbours, unarmed with teeth, altho' abundantly supplied with tongue. She had two fine children; but a man of un common stature, strength and ferocious tem per and appearance was an occasional boarder, and one or two other straggling characters, sometimes mingled with them, to share the in discriminate equality in a society unshackled by the forms of civilized life, and to consume the products of a few days' desultory earnings. It was from him, and Huddlestone's wife, that we apprehended the most danger if we should fall into their hands. Having cau tiously gained the summit of a small knoll or hill, immediately at the foot of which their hut stood, we were surprised to discover at this time of night," a brilliant light shining through the numerous crannies, and shooting ift a thousand pointed rays into the gloom of the surrounding wood. Our captain was 23 254 ADSONV1LLE. to be daunted, nor deterred from his purpose by finding them prepared for the attack : and whilst we halted in our present positions, he softly advanced and reconnoitered them through the crevices which were left between the logs of which their house was loosely laid up; and then retured with information that there appeared to be at least half a dozen men besides the family, who were waiting to par take of a sheep which was suspended before the fire : he then submitted to us whether we should proceed on our original plan, or go in peaceably and see who they were, or return without accomplishing either ; giving his opi nion in favor 'of the first proposition, which being unanimously agreed too, he went down again, and seized a log that lay by the house, with his herculean strength, he placed one end on the ground and the other against the upper part of the door : this was performed with great address and secrecy ; but it had not the effect which he intended of barrica ding the door, which he supposed from ap pearance opened outwardly, and which was contrary to the fact ; nrr was he so still, as not to arouse the dog which bolted out of her kennel with loud yells. The crew listened for a moment, each with his head turned over his shoulder towards the door, and then mo ved in a body towards it ; the foremost open ed it, and was immediately forced back upon the others by its motion received from the impulse of the inclined log. This a little dis concerted chem, but being encouraged by the example of their Amazonian landlady, they ADSONV1LLE. 255 all sallied out, and with shouts and impreca tions rushed into the .wood in pursuit or search of the intruders. Huddlestone took the di rection towards us, and unfortunately fop him, liis wife, who had paused to catch a sound, to give her the right direction, hearing him scramble through the leaves up the hill, took after him. When he had arrived within a few feet of 'us, as had been concerted, we all fired our pieces in the air. This terrible report, in the stillness of midnight, echoed through the wood with the most terrifying effect, and im mediately altered Huddlestone's course to a precipitate retreat down the hill ; but by the time he had gained an uncontrolable speed, which fear and the descent of the ground gave to him, he came in contact with his faithful wife, who in despite of her superior stability, he, with his advantages, precipitated back wards, falling himself on to her, but with about half his length over her : she, not compre hending the nature of the disaster, concluded she was attacked, and lost no time in securing a position more favorable for defending her self and acting on the offensive, which she soon accomplished, and commenced dealing out her blows with great rapidity. Honest John endeavored f> convince her of the inju dicious direction of her prowess; but still by the time he got his month open, his organs of speech were, paralysed by her well directed blows, until despairing of bringing her to a parley, and becoming somewhat enraged at his awkward situation, he had recourse to 256 AttSONVILLE. blows, and returned her unwelcome compli ments with as much force and adroitness as his natural defect in physical ability and disad vantageous position would permit. Luckily for him, our brave captain interfered, for hearing such a repetition of blows, accompa nied with that kind of sound produced by expelling the breath suddenly and simultane ously with violent exertion ; he made up to the spot, and seizing the lady by her remain ing drapery, slung her away; and supposing her antagonist to be one of his company, he very obligingly shouldered him and made off in great haste, to avoid the reinforcement of the enemy which was making towards him. He ran but a few rods with his load before he found out his mistake, and was very willing to comply with the fellow's request to let him go. T!l~ "212 v s l u t was alternately *+, Cch of GUI' heels, and did every thing but actually seize upon us. I never can forget that kind of en thusiastic ardor and glee with- which we ran through the woods, maintaining an equal line, as we could discover by the occasional crack ling of broken and dried limbs of trees, al though we were several rods apart. I cannot think that we were really apprehensive of danger; but we feigned the idea, in order to e what exertions, we could make, and enjoy in imagination the triumph of escape. When we arrived at the skirt of the wood, the rat tling down of the stone wall in different places announced that we had all arrived at the place of rendezvous about the same time. Here we halted to take breath, and indulge ourselves ADSONVILLE. 257 in laughing and making observations on our enterprize. After which we proceeded to a peach orchard, belonging to the father of one of our number, and from thence to a cider- mi}], and after regaling in the sweet juice, wt 1*3 disbanded and returned home before day-light." Edgar prepared to depart the next morning for home, and to be the bearer of the intelli gence to Caroline's parents, and have the im portant discovery receive its final confirma tion ; and although Caroline was extremely anxious for this, yet she was surprised to find that when the hour was fixed to be so soon, a reluctance to part with him should be felt, and that the time they were to be separated, really looked as if it would be long. Oh, said she, mentally, I every moment find out more of my weakness ; if it increases in the ratio that it has for a month past, I shall arrive at that unhappy crisis, which I have so much deprecated, when every other consideration will be sacrificed to it, and I shall no longer demur at that which is now insurmountable. She had always considered it a mark of weak ness, and as very improper for a girl to suffer herself to think that she loved, or was herself in reality loved or admired, but to listen to such flatteries as unmeaning words; and the only apology which she could frame to her own mind, was Edgar's steady and tried at tachment, considered with his generous and amiable character. ' 22 * 258 ADSONVILLE. The following is a part of the letter she sent to her parents. Most Honored Parents, Can it be possible that you have not already heard; that no kind spirit has apprised you, of that which will soon affect you as it has me ! I have shed rivers of tears ; I have literally mingled them with those that have flowed from the heart of another ; they flow ed from the same cause they flowed to gether they were tears of joy, for a happy, an unexpected meeting a meeting which neither you nor I expected would ever take place in this world. I have a sister, I have found her, and you have a daughter, worthy of you, that will far eclipse your Caroline she whom you have almost forgotten, through lapse of time, to mourn, as strangled by the the watry element, now lives; not a wandering inhabitant of the wilderness, a companion for savages, hut surrounded by refinement and doating friends; happy as a bird on the wing, blythe as a morning hymn, and healthy as a fresh blown, dew wet rose, and beautiful oh. mother ! but she looks too much like myself to call her handsome ; and the goodness of her heart, who can know its full value ! her unre mitting care saved from the grave the one who restored her to the knowledge of her sister and parentage. How valuable both the ser vice and reward I how justly balanced their accounts ! Mr. F. himself is the bearer of thii| he has the documents, and he must ex- ADSONVILLE. plain to you the whole; and if you find, as you certainly will, all this to be true, you will not refuse him the trifle he asks : you will give him Caroline's glove; what if her hand be in it ! it L valuable only to him, if it belong to r.~y one, it is to him : if you consider it pre cious, he is worthy of it ; he is the only one I could make such a request for ; and you caa never blush to see me walk by the side, or lean upon the protection of one universally honored and beloved, and whose only foible is his partiality for me ; whose penetration and judgment was never in any other case im- peachable : the world will forgive him this; his friends will forgive a single error in a life which belies the doctrine of universal frailty. But, my father, although he has wrested from me the tribute of gratitude and esteem, I have yielded nothing that was under my control, I have promised nothing which was not, mine to give : I am thine only, my father: thy desire is my law, and so far as I can avoid it there shall be no infraction of it. Although I write thus plainly, do not suppose any inconvenience will follow to me, if my request, or rather Mr. F'g. is not granted ? I have not suffered my ima gination to feed on dreams ; a disappointment shall not cloud the sunshine of my peace, nor trace its lineaments on my brow. The name that niy beloved sister now bears is Penelope Smith. She has lived with, and as the daughter of Mr. S. whose wife is sister to Mrs. F. Edgar's mother. The name of Pe nelope, I am in hopes she will still be permit ted to retain; and the other part will 360 ADSONV1LLE. (with your consent) be exchanged for W. one with. whom you are familiar but I shall not attempt to tell more at present ; but have no doubt of seeing you here speedily. In this expectation I bid you adieu ! and still sub scribe myself your's only. CAROLINE ADSON. The era of speechless expression, of averted eyes, of confused hints, tremor and faintings, has passed by : a friendship, firm, affectionate, and respectful, founded on mutual esteem for kindred dispositions, must succeed : they can Walk through the garden of nature, and the idea that one conceives, the other is first to ex press, and every day and occurrence confirms the benevolent sentiment, " it is not good for man to be alone." They parted under the buoying hope oi" soon meeting again, and on the evening of the fourth day, he received the cordial welcome of his friends at home; he selected out the letters for Caroline's parents, which were from her, and her uncle, arid from the captain, and dispatched a servant with them to Adsonville; and at late bed time Mr. Adson himself en tered, and accosting Edgar in the most re spectful manner, said, " you no doubt, sir, kaow what those letters contain, and cannot be surprised that we wish to know every thing relating to them as soon as possible ; my wife could not be satisfied without my coming down this evening, although she expected from the dates of the letters, that you must be fatigued with the length and rapidity of your jour- ADSONVILLE. 261 ' Edgar answered him that he but just now understood th: extent of his neglect, in not coming himself with the papers, as he ought to have known chat such would have heen their anxiety* and was very sorry that Mr. Adson had thus been left to the necessity of coming himself. After some more conversation, Edgar, per-, ceiving that it was only from fear of requiring too much of him that he did not request him to return home with him immediately, offered to accompany him, denying rhat it would in the least incommode him They found Mrs. Ad- son with the letters before her. She arose and met him with her heart and eyes too full to admit of any words ; but not without that friendly grasp and expressive look, which be spoke sensations above the eloquence of words. He remained with them, answering all their questions, making explanations and observa tions, until Mr. Adson desired his wife to look at the clock : she was surprised to discover that they had unconsciously kept him up so late. It is unnecessary to add, that no room was left for doubting as to the identity of Pe nelope ; and it is equally unnecessary to at tempt to describe the feelings of parents in such a case. Mrs. Adson anxiously enquired how long it would take for her husband to go down to Plain Ville and return, smilingly tell* ing Edgar that there was but one thing more than what he had done, that she could have wished, and that was that he had brought both the girls home with him. Edgar's eyes just glanced towards Mr. Adeem, but he was look 2 ADSONVILLE. ing another way, and they remained silent, tilJ Mr. Adsoii reminded his wife that they should keep Mr. F. up until day. He was then shown where to rest, after Mrs. Adson care fully examined that the bed was in proper order, as she wished to shew every attention possible to one who had so suddenly become, in the highest degree, interesting to them. He spent the next day mostly at Adsonville, in assisting Mr. Adson to be ready to depart the succeeding day on his journey, and agreed, tt his request, to spend every evening, and take up his lodgings at the same place until his return. During his suspense, the delicacy of his si tuation in regard to his own parents presented some difficulties in his mind. The prospect daily brightened of an immediate marriage %vith Caroline. Mrs. Adson herself brought forward Caroline's letter, and read it to him, and made observations on her disposition, the indulgence that had been exercised towards her on account of her twin sister, her health, <&c. evidently as if she considered herself talk ing to one to whom she was about to resign her up as heaven's best gift. Jt was desirable to him to have his parents consent to his mar riage ; but yet he knew they were precluded by their society discipline from consenting ts his connexion with one not a fellow member; he did not know but that out of regard to him and respect for Caroline they might still be prevailed upon to do it : but then he could not wish to place them in the light of trans gressors of their own laws. If he should ask ADSONVILLE. 26"3 without receiving permission, he well knew that it would be absolutely necessary to con ceal it from Caroline, and to use the least du plicity or evasion to her was revolting to his mind. As it regarded himself he felt perfectly at ease ; he considered the regulation in soci ety as indispensable to the policy of preserv ing its peculiar institutions and practices yet when the preservation of these interfered with the natural and unalienable rights of its mem bers it became void. As these are paramount to human institutions, and as this was a cam- pact to which he had not become a party oth erwise than by birthright, he did not consider its requisitions obligatory upon him, unless he recognized in them, that which was either for his own benefit, or that of the community, without requiring a disproportionate surrender from him. He felt not the least disposition to undervalue the privileges of society, nor to weaken the force of its institutions, as he con sidered that by them the society had been preserved a monument to the world, of what voluntary institutions, founded solely on moral and without penal obligation, were able to per form in a community. In a religious point of view, he was not so superstitious as to suppose that a compliance with the discipline in this or any other particular would materially affect him. Edgar continued to spend his evenings with Caroline's mother, and win upon her good gra ces, until, as she frequently made Caroline the subject of discourse, he ventured to broach the important subject to her; telling her that fie 264 ABSONVILLE. entertained hopes of yet obtaining her parents 3 * consent to devote himself to her happiness. She did not appear surprised, but said that she presumed that any thing on which her happi ness depended would have due weight with her ; that when they found he had gone to the southward, her father had concluded that on Caroline's return, if she requested it, his con sent should be given. He had written to her teacher to prevent any intercoure between them, as he was sensible that Caroline was par tial to him; he feared they might be led to take some imprudent step, as the romantic no tions which sometimes tincture the minds of youth were not unlikely to affect your pecu liar situation ; and he could not endure the thought of Caroline's tarnishing the unspotted character which had always rendered her the idol of her acquaintance. He has indeed had very different views respecting her, but it is vain for parents to make calculations for their children before they grow up. The most that now sticks with him is, that your parents should be opposed to it, as if they thought Caroline was below them. I do not know but she is, fetit it would be exceedingly trying for us to permit her to go under that impression. It excites his resentment, and prevents him from anticipating that pleasure which he should wish to feel on Caroline's forming new and intimate relations. Do you not consider her equally as worthy as if she belonged to the meeting ? Or to those who do belong, and to whom no objections by your parents would be raised, but who they would receive with cor ADSONVILLE. 65 diality, to you, Edgar, under the influence of education, it may not look as it does to us. Edgar. I would not wish you to entertain the idea that my parents consider the beloved Caroline below any body: they have no ques tion of her virtue, her worth or any thing else that can adorn human nature. But they con sider that the purity of principle, and very existence of the Society depends upon a rigid adherence to this rule. They are sensible that no general rule will always operate without producing private inconvenience : but they suppose that the good that accrues to the com munity at large will so overbalance, that those who have the good of it at heart, will, in those cases, be willing to suffer., What makes them hold at a distance those with whom their children are about going out in marriage, is that their laws require this discouragement to be kept up, therefore we do not in such ease, ask, nor expect consent to marry ; but after marriage we are invited to bring our wives home, and, where this is the only objection, they are honored, caressed and thought mor? of than in ordinary cases. Mrs. dispense. It being contrary to the rules of the Friends to attend a ceremony accomplished by a 24* 282 ADSONVILLE. gyman, for the accommodation of Edgar's pa rents and friends, their marriage, with that of the Captain and Penelope, was celebrated at the house of Mr. Adson, in a manner ap proaching the Quaker form the father of the bride, taking her by the hand, whilst the par ties were standing, asked her intended hus band, if he accepted of her as his lawful spouse, and if he promised to love, cherish and provide, &c. &c. for her until death ; on his answering in the affirmative, he then ask ed the bride if she consented to become his wife, and promised on her part as he had on his, and on her nodding assent he placed her hand in his, and gave them his benediction : the parties then took their seats and signed an article to the same effect of their verbal promi ses, stating the time and place, &c. which their friends present signed their names to as wit nesses; the instrument was then to be record ed in the records of the county clerk's office. This novel method of tying the hymeneal knot \vas very pleasing to the young company who took great satisfaction iu declaring they would never be married any other way. Friend Smith and his wife were quite out of their element so far from home, and soon returned to Plainville, leaving Penelope and the Captain to follow in the spring, where he, renouncing his military profession, they ad ded another family to that insulated and de lightful village, which seemed to be scarcely affected with either the depravity, or conse quent misery which accrued to the world from cur forefather's most fatal repast, ADSONV1LLE. 283 Edgar not feeling himself at liberty to make any acknowledgment to the Meeting, was with much reluctance on their part disowned from being any longer a member with them for which, knowing they were bound to proceed more from their laws than from their inclina tion, he never harbored any resentment, and his former friends continued their intimacy and partiality towards him, which appeared as if softened with additional respect and ten derness, from a secret suspicion, if not con sciousness, of his having been an innocent of fender of their discipline : and they yet anx iously expect his return ; in this there is some danger of their being disappointed, as he ap pears perfectly contented in his situation, left to the endearing delights of his domestic cir* cle, and to the impartial distribution of his charity, unconfined to any other limits than his ability to dispense, without regard to sect or denomination. His partiality, however, for the tenets and practices of the religion in which he was educated, has still considerable influence with him, and his house in the com mon resort of travelling preachers of that communion, who associate with him and Car oline, with as little reserve as if they were both members. This favored pair continue to enjoy as much happiness as this state of existence is calcula ted or designed to dispense; yet they never appear to wish ostentatiously to impose a con sciousness or shew of their property on others less fortunate : they are never under the ne cessity of forming or uniting iu parties for the 284 ADSONVILLE. attainment of pleasure, for it is the constant companion of their domestic duties. Edgar spends the morning of each day in the most unremitting attention to his business (to which he is much habituated) which gives him the close to devote uninterruptedly to such pur suits as his romantic and philosophic disposi tion incline him to ; and Caroline, from the abundance of this world's goods with which she was blessed, being freed from much care, hath takeh into her family an unfortunate but worthy and capable widow, who manages hep family concerns with the utmost skill and faith fulness, subject however to the frequent in spection and oversight of the prudent and amiable mistress, who is studious to manifest by her example, that the peace and happiness of a family depends not so much on abundance of wealth, as in order, economy and regulari ty of its several departments ; every thing is so conducted as to prevent hurry, surprise or confusion on slight occasions, and all causes of petulance from trivial neglects avoided : at a seasonable hour all under her hospitable and extensive roof are comfortably disposed to rest before she retires to hers, and in the morning as much punctuality is attended to in rising, and " her household has their meat in due season. " Affable, kind, condescending and benevolent to all, their relations, to the most remote branches, rich or poor, engage their affectionate dispositions, which cover all their failings, whatever they may be, and the unfortunate and necessitous always receive, if not pecuniary relief, yet the wine and oil of ADSONVILLE. 285 sympathy, consolation and encouragement; private visits to the houses of such, evening walks, and sometimes even a fishing excursion, the library, garden, a month in each year spent at Plainville, in return for one at Ad- sonville, by Penelope, constitute the chief di versions of the amiable, benevolent and philo sophical Caroline. The last time I saw her was in the early part of a day in May, the spring succeeding the one after her marriage. As I entered her extensive grassy and shaded door yard, I dis covered her down upon the grass in one cor ner, where high and heavily loaded bushes of deep red, and pure white roses screened her from being discovered from the public way ; not wishing to surprise her I made as much noise with my feet as the soft carpet would admit, but either from her attention being fixed upon the objects of her care, or suppo sing it to be the approach of one of the family, she did not notice me until I stood by her side, and discovered that she was endeavoring to learn some young ducks to help themselves to Inchan meal; she blushed with all the loveli ness that health adds to beauty, as she adjusted her neck-kerchief, which had been discompo sed in nursing her fat boy: but, doubtless, she will be much surprised to find so trifling an incident mentioned in her history. FIJUS* A 38 THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY