The ladies' garland. [volume], October 06, 1827, Image 1

About The ladies' garland. [volume] (Harpers-Ferry, Va. [W. Va.]) 1824-1828

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HARPERS-rCRSY, VIR6£KZA, GC7Cr2SR 6, 1827. KO. 17.
VOL. 4
riBLISHi;:) KVKHT SiTfHDAT E-VENING,
15V JOHN S. O W.LAIIKK.
Trims.—One dollar and fifty cents pc-r annum, j
pa\ able at the expiration of the first quarter, or j
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FOR THE LADIES’ OAKLAND.
THE LEGEND OF THE LAKE.
Theft’s nought go monstrous but tile human mind
In some conditions may be brought to approve.
- Whoever stands to parley with temptation
Does it to be overcome. [Lillo’s Fatal Curiosity.
Though all parts of New England arc rc
markable for beauty or sublimity of scenery,
though the loveliness of champaigne landscapes
is uftened heightened by the rugged grandeur
of the mountain range, yet no portion of this fa
voured land combines every variety of natural
charm in a more singular degree than the de
lightful town of B-. Situated on the hanks
of the diminutive but beautiful Chieapoe, which
flows through the romantic lake of Damariscot
ter, ant! surrounded by uplands that rise, in va
negated farms, clothed vv11h Hie richest verdure |
in the happier seasons, gladly toward the Ilea
ven, whose first light they catch, and whose la
test prolong, the lovely little v illage smiles, in
its outward aspect, in gratitude to a beneficent
Providence, and, from the interior of its abodes,
sends forth the hymn of joy and the voice of
praise The snow clad summit ofMonadnoek
mountain is seen afar in the blue air of the north ;
the toppling crags of Mo k s Hill hang threat
ening over pastoral savannahs beautiful as the
poet's dreams of Arcadia ; the expansive outlet
of Damariscotter lies, gleaming in silvery beau
ty, along the vale of the highlands on the east ;
and forests, intermingled with sunny glades,
stretch far away in their majestic wildness to
the south and west. The village of B
has now become a place of importance on the
great highway ; the seat of extensive business,
the. resort of opulent pleasurers, and the foun
tain whence Hows many a stream to fertilize the
fields of science and of literature.
But. in the earlier days to which this tale re
fers, the beautiful plain, on which it stands, was
surrounded only by a few scattered farm houses,
which varied in architecture, according to the
means, not the fancies, of the unaspiring occu
pants. Our staunch and high minded forefathers
were too intensely engaged in more important
business than external decoration; they were
far from being jealous of rival adornment while
the liberties of their chosen refuge hung tremb
ling in the balance. Content merely with com
fort and competence, they displayed no fastidi
ous taste in the erection of their dwellings, well
knowing that the weary stranger would always
gladly exchange the beauty of appearance for
the I rue welcome and solacing reality of the
bountiful hoard. The curious in our antiquities
will, even now, be gratified to behold two vene
raliii' mansions remaining in the town of it
to hear testimony to the fmgahty, the fortitude,
and the inanlv imle|u ndenee of eur lathers; and
front tin- stria-lure of these, lie will he enabled I
to judge of the general aspect of !i-— as it •
was exhibited at the period which n e Ian e eho !
sen tor tin.' illustration of domestic, treachery I
and the fatal tiiumph of tin In gniler.
At the not them extremity of the present town, i
on the lofty eastern hank c t 1 )am iriscottcr, em
bosomed in a nit*ieslic gr- ■ stood the house of {
Colonel M intgomerv The. extensive estates
which he. min-riled from his ancestors it had
been his pride to sacrifice to the liheitv of his
country, in the all eventful war of the Rendu
tion. Hut enough was left to give to his Imu-e
and grounds, and every tiling appertaining, a
certain character of opulence which his less lor
lunate neighbors wanted means to enjoy. Col.
Montgomery had hern accustomed, all his life,
to the‘good old English' style of domestic enjoy
merit; and, perhaps, in all the country, there
was not a dwelling better calculated for the a
bode of those whom cultivated minds and puri
fied affections had prepared fi>r quiet rural plea
sures. Rut, after vainly searching fur pleasure
in lonely celibacy, not many years previous, the
Colonel had wedded his affections to one who.
in every respect, was a contrast to himself. She
was young, gay, and thoughtless; he was ma
tured in life, grave, and meditative. She was
profuse in every expenditure, which regarded
nor own personal convcrnonre or atiurmnont,
bul to the last dfgrec penurious in cveiy thins
bearing the remotest relation to deeds of benefi
cence; he despised the luxuries of life while
thousands larked even the comforts. lie was
the. very pattern of chivalric magnanimity;—
while, under cover of a ssttiele lie ccrur, which
never appeared to think or feel, she conceal.<1
passions stronger, more violent, and indNcrinii
nating, than the tornado in its wrath. Yet love,
of all passions the least discriminative and the
most absorbing, palliated all foibles and extend -
ated all defects, even while the heart sighed
over the frequency of their occurrence. The
affection of a soldier, like that of a poet, is not
subject to change, when once bestowed ; faith
fulness and truth, vigilance and honesty of pur
pose, grow into his very nature, and lie can as
readily suppose it possible that calormiv -hould
tarnish his courage in the field, as that treache
ry should lurk beneath tlie bosom of her whom
he Inis sworn to cherish and protect. Though
Angelina, as month followed month, and years
tied away, constantly displayed an unanieliora
ted perversity of mind, and apparently incorri
gililo levity ul heart, yet her much injured hus
band bore patiently with her eapiices while off'
lus duty, and forgot in the hurry of warfare,
and the tumult of the battle, that, perhaps, the
least anxiety for his life and welfare was felt in
the sanetitude of his own abode. Though grief
eoold hut weigh upon his spirit in moments of
loneliness, yet imperious duties led him often
amid scenes too absorbing to admit of one fo
reign thought, and the happiness which was <le
rued him at home, w as fully bestowed by a pure
conscience, and an elevated morality.
The war of the revolution elosed, the armies
disbanded, and thousands returned, like Cinri
natus, from the fn-ld of glory to the plough —
But, even to such men as composed our septen
nial battalions. tIif camp, 1:kf the theatre, is
am thing but a .school lor morals. Many u ho
hail engaged in u aria re inure from cupidity that)
print-i|*lf, mure from idleness than patriotism,
ulii'ii they eoohi in lunger set ten their enormi
ties hehiml the privileges of uar, and riot ill
spoils,in livpoenlie.il dev otion to their Country’s
good, displayed at once their abandonment of
all morality am! their faithful knowledge of the
worst parts of a soldier’s life, bv forsaking all
honest industry, and. through different expe
dients, preying on the eumtnuni’v which they
claimed to have protected The disbanding of
large armies i- a fearful outpouring on society
of its worst elements ; it i- like the breaking up
of Alpine snows, and Ihe terrible fall of avalan
rhes among the glaciers There are always re
velry and r< j icing, and not unfri quentiv riot
and plunder follow in their train Hundreds
are left without employment; let loose upon the
wuihl, their habits disordered, their feelings in
duruted, their principles utterly tainted, and.
reckless of character, they are ever ready to do
a deed of blood to shun the alternative of la
bour or starvation.
When the voire of our Great General pro
claimed the freedom of America, and hade the
il' i < li ii. ii l1 > tin ll lainiiii t ii in i ii k i|ip,
the enjoyment of their 11herlie>. and lilt' culli
vation of their lands, ('■>! Montgomery left the
tent of the soldier for the downy conrh of a hus
band ; and, as he rode toward his secluded
dwelling, happy in the thought that his wealth,
his influence, his example, anti his sen ices, had
somewhat contributed to the glorious consum
mation of American Independence, he looked
forward to his h me with devout nspiiing and
eager hope. However undeserving to fill sueli
a heart as his, Angelina w as beloved with deep
and strong affection ; and he had just received
from her a letter as demonstrative of anxious
love ami impatient expectation, as treachery
could dictate, or hyprocrisy transcribe She
had been suffered, in her early youth, contrary
to the practice of Now Kngland parents, and
common prudence alike, to study novels and rn
manees until her very spirit was imbued with
their delirious poison, and her heart prepared
for anv adventure which passion might suggest.
She was not. therefore,defective in terms of.cn
dearment, for her memory readily supplied
what her heart could never have conceived.—
The soldier reached his home, where he hoped
to end Ins d.iV' in peace, and joyfully embrace
the wife w horn he had chosen to soothe his cares,
and lead him gently down the valley of time.—
Flattered by the honours he had received more
than by the services which he had conferred.
Angelina, in a crimson dross, (as emblematic of
war,) threw her arms around him, called him
her “ dear hero," her “ right nolde Paladin!”
and begged and besought that he would instant
ly give a banquet and a dance of rejoicing, for
she was half dead with -ix months’ennui, and
her knight was famished and stitT with march
ing.
“ After the toils which I have encountered,
would it not be well to defer our festival for a
time, and in solitude enjoy the pleasures of our
re union, nay dearest Angelina ?”
” No, no, my immaculate Templar' solitude
has no pleasure for me. 1 assure yo u Who
could bear, so well as 1 have done, the hornlls